Hospital workers who want to protect their safety and health on the
job recently attended a Saturday training program organized by Municipal
Hospital Employees Local 420 with the assistance of District Council
37s Safety and Health Dept.
The well-attended session Knowing Our Rights, and Documenting
Our Issues, started at 9:00 a.m. and ran until 2:30 p.m. April
17 at union headquarters.
The program featured two main training sessions, What are our
rights on the job? and Identifying hazards in our workplace.
Lisa Baum and Guille Mejia, Principal Program Coordinators of the
Safety and Health Dept., led the workshops.
Members and shop stewards appreciated the information they received
at the two workshops. It definitely helps me, said Eddie
Olavarria, a seven-year veteran who works at Jacobi Hospital in the
Bronx. I wasnt sure what person or department I was supposed
to call in certain situations. Now I understand who Im supposed
to contact in case theres a problem in my department,
he said.
Information to share
Ruby Stewart, a Patient Care Associate who works in surgical medical
clinics, also found the workshops helpful. Now I have some information
that I can share with the members in my hospital, said Ms. Stewart.
Participants also had lunch together and heard from Local 420 President
Carmen Charles. Making sure our members are safe on the job
is a very important function of the union. Its great to see
so many members taking advantage of this workshop on a Saturday when
I know you have so many other responsibilities, she said.
This shows how serious everyone here is about serving the needs
of our members. Local 420 encourages them to keep up the good work,
she added.