Tom Barrett: A Tragic Death, a Great Legacy

AFSCME members of Council 92 and beyond learned with great sadness of the recent death of Tom Barrett. Tom was a carpenter at the University of Maryland/College Park (UMCP) and a member of Local 1072. He made a huge impact on everyone who ever worked with him.

Staff and students at UMCP and University of Maryland University College, owe a debt of gratitude to Tom's courage, persistence, dedication, intelligence, commitment and humanity. When he became aware that he had been exposed to asbestos, he launched a relentless campaign: Nearly single-handed, he filed and won 200 health and safety complaints that were being denied by university management.

In 1991, Tom was one of three AFSCME workers who testified at an OSHA Asbestos Rulemaking in support of a building-inspection requirement, better equipment, stricter procedures, training and other measures to prevent exposure to asbestos — particularly for building custodians, maintenance personnel and other service workers, as well as occupants. Tom presented his story in a soft-spoken but firm and clear manner, describing how he and so many others were needlessly harmed by asbestos. To make his point, he didn't have to be loud.

Tom's efforts not only helped change unsafe conditions in the vast University of Maryland system but also set the stage for negotiations. The UMCP contract now includes the right to healthy indoor air, lets pregnant workers transfer to avoid reproductive hazards, and allows union members to investigate health and safety issues during work hours.

In his understated and unassuming way, Tom Barrett, who was 62, fought back for himself and for others — over grievances ranging from asbestos to other safety and health issues to concerns about basic fairness on the job. It's through the efforts of activists like Tom that we make progress in safeguarding worker and public health, and advance social justice in our workplaces and our society. His death is a reminder of the steep price that workers pay in this country when workplaces are not safe.

Tom, as we observe Workers Memorial Day, April 28, we will honor your achievements by dedicating ourselves to enforcing the gains we have won and by pressing to win more. Thanks for everything. We will miss you greatly.

Sally Davies, President
Maryland Council 92 Executive Board

Craig Newman, Secretary
Local 1072 (Council 92)
University of Maryland/College Park