Health & Safety
Representing manufacturing, production, maintenance and sanitation workers in the baking, confectionery, tobacco and grain milling industries.
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To the BCTGM members in Ohio and throughout America – Senator Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) sends this special video on this Workers’ Memorial Day 2020. “Your work is essential. All work has dignity. We thank you, of course, but we need your workplace to be safe and we need your employers and the Trump administration to stand up and do that….and we need to get pandemic pay to all the hourly workers who are working so hard and putting...

28 April, 2020

This year, Workers Memorial Day is a bit different than in previous years. We are not gathered together in person at union halls, government buildings, worksites or memorials, but we are gathered together as a community to remember our brothers and sisters who have lost their lives, and to fight for safe workplaces and good jobs for all workers. At the forefront of this Workers Memorial Day is the COVID-19 pandemic—a major crisis for working...

28 April, 2020

The COVID-19 Every Worker Protection Act (H.R. 6559) would require the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to issue an Emergency Temporary Standard that establishes a legal obligation for all workplaces to implement comprehensive infectious disease exposure control plans to keep workers safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. Although the CDC issued guidance to protect workers, the guidance is not binding and OSHA currently has no enforceable standard to protect workers from airborne infectious diseases, leaving the...

27 April, 2020

On April 8, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) substantially weakened workplace protections for essential infrastructure workers – like BCTGM members – from COVID-19. The new CDC guidelines for businesses allows employers to require workers who have been exposed to COVID-19 to continue to work following exposure, provided they remain asymptomatic and some additional precautions are implemented. “This recommendation to put essential workers back to work after being exposed to COVID-19 is irresponsible and...

10 April, 2020

by the Union Veterans Council  COVID-19 - Experts tell us, social distancing is our strongest life-saving tool when it comes to fighting the novel coronavirus, but for veterans, social distancing isn't as easy as it may be for others. Along with social distancing, many are facing sudden job loss and loss of wages during this pandemic, creating the "perfect storm" for a mental health crisis in our veteran's community. A large number of veterans are at risk of...

04 April, 2020

From Pittsburgh trash collectors and Amazon warehouse pickers, to Instacart shoppers and Whole Foods workers, workers throughout the U.S. have either walked off the job or held protests for higher pay and better protections during the coronavirus pandemic. Read this article by Dave Jamieson about how nonunion workers are rising up and demanding safe workplaces during this global health crisis. The pandemic has revealed just how poorly many companies treat their employees. Will workers continue...

02 April, 2020

COVID-19 is a new disease and we are still learning much about it, including how it spreads. The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) has developed a training tool that is designed to aid in the development of awareness-level courses for workers in a broad array of industries and will be updated with new information as the situation evolves. COVID-19 is a new disease and we are still learning much about it, including how...

30 March, 2020

On Saturday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act after negotiations with the White House. The bill provides certain workers with two weeks of paid sick leave and up to 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave at 67% of the person's normal pay. The bill, supported by the President, is headed to the Senate. However, the bill does not provide this leave to workers at companies with more...

16 March, 2020

BCTGM members across North America work for many different employers, each of which will have different policies surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. It is important for you to know what measures your employer is taking to ensure your safety. If you are unsure of your rights at this time, please consult your local union leaders. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) the measures for protecting workers from exposure to, and infection...

14 March, 2020

There is currently no vaccine to prevent Corona virus infection, the best way to protect yourself from infection is to avoid being exposed to this virus. Ways to protect yourself and others from coronavirus: Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.Avoid close contact with people who are sick.Stay...

13 March, 2020

Because we spend so much of our public lives at work, all workers need guidance on assessing their risk of exposure. Those who work in front line healthcare and transportation may be at the highest risk, while others will be at lower risk. (Click here to download this flier from the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health) HEALTH RIGHTS AT WORKYour employer is responsible for providing proper training, relevant personal protective equipment, and record-keeping of possible...

13 March, 2020

The world is on the verge of a deadly coronavirus pandemic due to COVID-19 and the disease is now spreading quickly throughout the United States. The impact of the outbreak already has been far reaching and the threat is growing. Current estimates demonstrate that more than 19 million workers in the United States would have an elevated risk of exposure to the COVID-19 virus in the event of a widespread outbreak, a significant portion of...

13 March, 2020

The United States and the world are facing the very real threat of the widespread transmission of coronavirus (COVID-19). Federal health officials have said the spread of the virus is likely and may cause severe disruptions to everyday life. Health care workers, firefighters, police, airline workers, emergency service workers and other first responders will be on the front lines of responding to an outbreak. But as we have seen with the initial response to the...

06 March, 2020