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About Safety and Health
The Industrial Relations Director is charged with responsibility for the health and safety of all divisions of the Union. Article 14 of the National Agreement requires management to provide a safe and healthy work environment for all employees covered by the agreement. To achieve this end, the contract provides for the establishment of joint safety and health committees at various levels throughout the Postal Service.
National-level Labor-Management Safety Committees
At the Headquarters level, there is a Joint Labor-Management Safety Committee and a Joint Labor-Management Ergonomics Committee.
The APWU is responsible for working to ensure that USPS management implements safety programs and policies that will protect workers; reviews new equipment for ergonomics and safety factors; keeps track of the latest developments that affect postal workers' health and safety--including new studies, regulations and standards; works to pass beneficial legislation in Congress and to stop harmful bills; and provides education and information to APWU members and locals.
Under Article 14 of the National Agreement, it is the responsibility of management to provide safe working conditions in all present and future installations and to develop a safe working force. The Union will cooperate with and assist management to live up to this responsibility.
Greg Bell, Director of Industrial Relations is responsible for safety and health for all divisions of the union. C.J. "Cliff" Guffey, Executive Vice President, is responsible for ergonomics. Corey Thompson is the APWU's Safety and Health Specialist.
The Joint Labor-Management Safety Committee includes:
The Joint Labor-Management Ergonomics Committee includes:
Area Joint Labor-Management Safety Committees
Article 14 provide for the establishment of Area Joint Labor-Management Safety Committees. At the Area level, safety problems or items of a significant Area nature are addressed.
Local Safety Committees
The collective bargaining agreement also provide for a Joint Labor-Management Safety and Health Committee at each postal installation having 50 or more employees. In installations having fewer than 50 employees, installation heads are encouraged to establish similar committees when requested by the Union. Where no safety and health committee exists, safety and health items may be placed on the agenda and discussed at labor-management meetings.
For assistance with Safety and Health matters, contact Corey Thompson, APWU Safety & Health Specialist, at (202) 842-4273.
ABOUT THE INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS DEPARTMENT
Greg Bell, Director
Phone: 202-842-4273
Fax: 202-371-0992
The Industrial Relations Department is charged with responsibility for labor management, national negotiations, mechanization, safety and health for all divisions of the union, and the administration of the collective bargaining agreement…
