Health & Safety | Page 4 | American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME)

November 19, 2018

AFSCME Supports Bill Curbing Workplace Violence

The bill would help protect hospital, psychiatric, behavioral health care, EMS workers and others by requiring the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) to issue a federal worker-protection standard.

October 24, 2018

DC 37 and the City Agree on Unlimited Paid Sick Leave for 9/11 Heroes

After weeks of intense negotiations, the union won a landmark victory for our 9/11 first responders and other members who worked at the World Trade Center site during the rescue, recovery and cleanup.

August 31, 2018

OCSEA Responds to Fentanyl Exposure in Ohio Prison

Workers at Ohio’s Ross Correctional Institution were exposed to a mix of the powerful opioid fentanyl and heroin on Wednesday, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

August 06, 2018

Corrections Officer Laid to Rest

“We will not let Joseph Gomm die in vain. We want to ensure that every person who works in corrections can come home safely, and that we can keep our institutions and communities safe."

July 03, 2018

Remembering Joe Patterson of Ohio Council 8

Patterson will be remembered for many things, but his fellow firefighters and emergency medical technicians remember him as a mentor and as a man who could lift everyone’s spirits.

April 27, 2018

Preventing Workplace Violence is a Priority This Workers Memorial Day

New standards are desperately needed at the federal level to combat the growing problem of workplace violence.

April 19, 2018

Council 3 Fights for Safe Staffing in the Department of Juvenile Services After Riot

AFSCME Council 3 is fighting for additional staffing at juvenile detention facilities throughout Maryland following a violent episode at a Frederick County facility.

April 06, 2018

City Cited for Safety Violations in CSEA Member's Death

The City of Watertown, N.Y., has been cited for safety violations in the death of a CSEA member who worked at a sewage plant.

January 11, 2018

Sanitation Work Still Among Most Dangerous – Especially at Private Firms

Fifty years after the Memphis sanitation workers’ strike, trash hauling remains a dangerous profession – especially at private firms.

January 02, 2018

Splash Medics Is Saving Children from Drowning

Lisa La Russo has been a paramedic, saving lives for nearly 30 years. But the AFSCME member in California decided that wasn’t enough.

December 15, 2017

NYC Union Fights State Workers’ Compensation Changes

District Council 37 is taking part in an all-out effort to fight proposed changes to the workers’ compensation system in New York.

November 28, 2017

Bill Filed to Help Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands

Members of Congress led by Sen. Bernie Sanders today unveiled a plan to help Puerto Rico deal with its debt burden and recover from the devastation of Hurricane Maria.

November 06, 2017

The AFSCME Agenda Points the Way to Stronger Communities

With the release of “The AFSCME Agenda: Freedom and Opportunity for All,” our union is reasserting our values and paving the way toward stronger communities.

October 23, 2017

AFSCME Maryland Leads Fight Against ‘Public Health Crisis’

AFSCME is fighting for expanded mental health services in Maryland despite being chronically understaffed.

October 20, 2017

Iowa Prison Stabbing Leads AFSCME to Demand Action ‘Before Someone Gets Killed’

AFSCME Iowa Council 61 is demanding action from Iowa Department of Corrections officials after two correctional officers were attacked by inmates in less than a week.

September 22, 2017

In Memoriam: Alvin Turner, Memphis Sanitation Worker and Labor Hero

AFSCME mourns the passing of Alvin Turner, 83, a participant in the 1968 Memphis sanitation workers’ strike and member of AFSCME Local 1733.

September 01, 2017

Trump Tries to Hide Workplace Deaths, but He Can’t Make Us Forget Them

How many workers died on the job in the U.S. last year? The Trump administration just made it harder for you to find out.

April 28, 2017

Today We Honor Workers Who’ve Lost Their Lives on the Job

On this Workers’ Memorial Day, we honor those who have died on the job and strengthen our commitment to fight for safe workplaces.

March 31, 2017

A Safer Workplace for California Health Care Workers

Healthcare workers in California will get new workplace safety protection rules, starting April 1.

March 10, 2017

Where Can You Find Atrocious Conditions? Try Private Prisons.

A private prison operator forced tens of thousands of immigrants who were detained on suspicions of being undocumented to work for $1 a day or for free, according to a lawsuit.

December 09, 2016

Attacks on Wisconsin Corrections Officers Reach Crisis Level

At Wisconsin correctional facilities, staff shortages are leading to increased assaults, a situation that’s reached a crisis level.

May 10, 2016

President Obama Meets with AFSCME Member in Flint

Tyrone Wooten, an AFSCME member in Flint, Mich., met with President Obama May 4 to discuss the water crisis caused by lead.

May 06, 2016

Correctional Sgt. Rick Neyssen: Professionalism Key to a Dangerous Job

It’s National Correctional Officers and Employees Week. In their honor, we share the story of Minnesota Correctional Sgt. Rick Neyssen.

May 04, 2016

Serious Dangers for Workers Behind Prison Walls

During National Correctional Officers Week, read about Sgt. Curtis Doyle’s harrowing experiences and the effect of his work on his life and family.

April 26, 2016

At Lebanon Correctional Institution in Ohio, 100 Percent AFSCME Membership

At the correctional institution where Phil Morris is president of OCSEA Chapter 8310, AFSCME membership is at 100 percent.

April 19, 2016

Member Takes Workplace Violence Fight to DC

AFSCME Minnesota member Eric Hesse, at a Capitol Hill press conference, called for reforms needed to prevent violence against health care workers.

April 01, 2016

Safe Staffing Big Problem in Iowa Corrections

Prison escapes and attacks on correctional officers led Iowa Local 451 members to say, “Enough!” Then they took action.

November 13, 2015

Archivist Picked for Health and Safety Advisory Council

Library of Congress archivist Nan Thompson Ernst will serve on the Federal Advisory Council on Occupational Safety and Health.

November 04, 2015

EMS Workers Tackle Issue of Fatigue and High Turnover

AFSCME members shine a light on the alarming rate of employees leaving American Medical Response in Independence, Missouri.

October 22, 2015

Ohio CO Taken Hostage After Safety Breach

A convicted double-murderer took a female corrections officer hostage for 11 hours in an Ohio prison Oct. 18 after a “cost-saving” practice called “pull and move” left her in a population of inmates but alone at her post.

Health & Safety Archive

AFSCME Supports Bill Curbing Workplace Violence

DC 37 and the City Agree on Unlimited Paid Sick Leave for 9/11 Heroes

OCSEA Responds to Fentanyl Exposure in Ohio Prison

Corrections Officer Laid to Rest

Remembering Joe Patterson of Ohio Council 8

Preventing Workplace Violence is a Priority This Workers Memorial Day

Council 3 Fights for Safe Staffing in the Department of Juvenile Services After Riot

City Cited for Safety Violations in CSEA Member's Death

Sanitation Work Still Among Most Dangerous – Especially at Private Firms

Splash Medics Is Saving Children from Drowning

NYC Union Fights State Workers’ Compensation Changes

Bill Filed to Help Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands

The AFSCME Agenda Points the Way to Stronger Communities

AFSCME Maryland Leads Fight Against ‘Public Health Crisis’

Iowa Prison Stabbing Leads AFSCME to Demand Action ‘Before Someone Gets Killed’

In Memoriam: Alvin Turner, Memphis Sanitation Worker and Labor Hero

Trump Tries to Hide Workplace Deaths, but He Can’t Make Us Forget Them

Today We Honor Workers Who’ve Lost Their Lives on the Job

A Safer Workplace for California Health Care Workers

Where Can You Find Atrocious Conditions? Try Private Prisons.

Attacks on Wisconsin Corrections Officers Reach Crisis Level

President Obama Meets with AFSCME Member in Flint

Correctional Sgt. Rick Neyssen: Professionalism Key to a Dangerous Job

Serious Dangers for Workers Behind Prison Walls

At Lebanon Correctional Institution in Ohio, 100 Percent AFSCME Membership

Member Takes Workplace Violence Fight to DC

Safe Staffing Big Problem in Iowa Corrections

Archivist Picked for Health and Safety Advisory Council

EMS Workers Tackle Issue of Fatigue and High Turnover

Ohio CO Taken Hostage After Safety Breach