Shapin’ Up for Life
Knowing the benefits of exercise on overall health and productivity, Frank Polacek, president of AFSCME Local 13 (Council 24), had tried for years to locate an affordable exercise facility for employees at the Mendota Mental Health Institute in Madison, Wis.
It took him awhile to realize it, but the perfect site was right under his nose — in an old storage building on the facility’s grounds.
One day last May, Polacek looked at the dilapidated building cluttered with junk and saw the makings of an exercise facility. “We just had to get management to give us the green light,” he says.
The local convinced management that working out would not only benefit employees, but also would be a boon to management. The local made the case that exercise would increase productivity by helping workers become more focused on the job, while reducing injuries and the use of sick leave.
Management also figured it could save $30,000 from reduced workers compensation claims, Polacek says, and decided to contribute that amount toward converting the shed into an exercise facility. The local kicked in another $6,000 for the project.
One member who has taken advantage of this union-won benefit is Christy Borgmann, who cares for patients with mental disorders such as paranoid schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and anti-social behavior.
“My co-workers and I probably have one of the most rewarding, yet stressful jobs there is,” says Borgmann. “After working out, I can go back to my clients more refreshed and relaxed.”
Borgmann feels a sense of ownership about the facility. She was among a group of union and management volunteers who spent many evenings and weekends clearing the building, painting walls and installing carpets.
PUMP IT UP. Fitness fanatic Terry Zaferakis often works out at another worksite fitness facility in Boston, Mass., that was equipped through the efforts of his local.
“If I miss my morning workout at my neighborhood facility I make it up by exercising at the Suffolk County Jail’s gym after work,” notes the Local 1134 (Council 93) president and deputy sheriff.
Zaferakis can thank one of his members for that. Local member Paul Giglio — himself a big exercise buff — collected $3,300 in raffle ticket sales to help the sheriff’s department buy exercise equipment. As a result, the weight room now has leg and bench presses, dumbbells, weight bars and treadmills.
Zaferakis says exercise helps him cope with job-related stress. “After pumping iron, climbing the StairMaster or walking on the treadmill three days a week, my whole body relaxes and I can then go face the day dealing with some of the most hardened criminals that reside here.”
EASY DOES IT. Even modest physical activity can be beneficial, according to the American Heart Association. Scientific evidence supports the notion that daily moderate and low-intensity activities — housework, gardening, walking for pleasure and dancing — can help lower the risk of cardiovascular disease, the AHA says.
The AHA advises those starting an exercise program to first check with their doctor. It recommends starting off slowly, then gradually increasing the intensity and duration of exercise — for at least 30 minutes, three or four times per week. High-energy activities such as brisk walking, jogging, rowing and swimming are especially beneficial when performed on a regular basis, the AHA says.
Physical activity, the AHA says, builds healthy bones, muscles and joints and reduces the risk of colon cancer and other diseases. It also helps alleviate psychological problems such as depression and anxiety — while heightening a feeling of well-being.
By Venida RaMar Marshall
