Health and Safety - the well being of our members - is a major concern of Local 201. This series of statements is meant to both describe and guide the Union's actions in this area; what we intend to support as well as what we intend to oppose.

1. We support the mandate of the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) that it is management's responsibility to provide a safe workplace for its employees. We oppose any attempts to shift health and safety responsibility to our Union or its members. We support an approach to health and safety that goes beyond mere compliance with minimum regulations and standards.

2. All health safety efforts must be weighed against their impact on employment of our members and Union solidarity. Under no circumstances will we support activities whose goal is to reduce employment or that pit member against member.

3. The basic vehicle for joint Labor-Management efforts to improve health and safety and eliminate injuries and illnesses will be the mutually constituted health and safety committees. All Company health and safety efforts must be evaluated and, unless the Union considers it inappropriate, coordinated through the area health and safety committees. The grievance procedure is a fundamental recourse to address health and safety issues, when necessary.

4. We encourage our members, Stewards and committee members to advise and provide input to the health and safety process. We reject and oppose any program activities that involve member on member observation, supervision or discipline.

5. We support our elected Union Health and Safety Committee members in their leadership role on the committees. They will communicate and coordinate the Union's positions and activities in health and safety: with area Stewards, in the committees and on the shop floor. We further encourage efforts to institutionalize problem solving as close to the shop floor as possible. This begins with the Steward-Foreman level and our members, before being brought to the Health and Safety Committees.

6. We support Management being held consistently responsible and accountable for health and safety in their areas. We reject the "flavor of the month", crisis approach to health and safety as illustrated by multiple, 3rd party audits or other unilateral programs.

7. We reject the notion of "work and grieve" when irreversible health and safety hazards are the issue. We support the right of Stewards and members to shut down the job when serious health and safety issues cannot be resolved or are unreasonably delayed.

8. We support and encourage the position that good health and safety is good business. Management must see that investments of time and resources for health and safety not only protect our members' lives and livelihood, but also contribute to corporate business objectives.