WorkSHIFTS : Partnering with Labor Unions on Tobacco Control Issues Susan Weisman, J.D. Director, WorkSHIFTS Senior Staff Attorney, Tobacco Law Center 2005 Conference on Tobacco or Health Chicago, IL May 4, 2005 WorkSHIFTS : Partnering with Labor Unions on Tobacco Control Issues Susan Weisman, J.D. Director, WorkSHIFTS Senior Staff Attorney, Tobacco Law Center 2005 Conference on Tobacco or Health Chicago, IL May 4, 2005 Photo 1, George Cohen; Photo 2, Bob Gumpertz; Photo 3, Walter Doners. Labor Arts Inc.

Overview  About WorkSHIFTS  Impetus for Action  Case Study: Minnesota Labor Unions  Recent Developments  Lessons Learned

Impetus for Action  Missing link in MN tobacco control movement  Unions (blue-collar, service, hospitality)  Desire and capacity to build bridges  To reduce disparities: In prevalence of tobacco use In access to effective cessation services  To encourage union involvement in smoke- free legislative initiatives  MPAAT (Minnesota Partnership for Action Against Tobacco): Funding source

Minnesota Case Study  Minnesota AFL-CIO ― 400,000 working Minnesotans  About 20% of the Minnesota’s working population  1,047 affiliated union locals, statewide and regional councils and retiree organizations  MN industry & occupation employment statistics  Blue-collar workers = 24%  Service or service-related workers = 41%  Manufacturing workers = 16%  White-collar workers = 36%  WorkSHIFTS’ union member survey results (2003)  Approximately 30% of Minnesota union members smoke  75% support union bargaining for reasonable smoking restrictions  Approximately 85% believe cessation programs are an important benefit for unions to negotiate

Long-term Goals  Reduce exposure to SHS for all workers, regardless of occupation or class  Reduce tobacco use among blue-collar, service and hospitality workers  Build union support for smoke-free workplace policies  Build union support for policy action to ensure workers’ access to effective cessation services  Link labor unions with MN tobacco control community

Short-term Goals  Increase awareness among blue-collar and service unions about work-related tobacco and cessation issues  Equip labor leaders and activists with tools and resources to build rank-and-file awareness and to effect policy change  Increase employer and labor-management awareness about health, economic and legal issues  Build bridges between MN labor and tobacco control communities

Strategic Partners  Labor Liaison: University of Minnesota’s Labor Education Service (LES)  A trusted voice on labor education and training  Familiarity with collective bargaining, health and safety issues  Ability to help identify receptive union leaders  Union Leaders & Activists: Partnering in Prevention  Subjects of data collection  Formation of advisory committee: Guidance on strategic plan  Recipients of educational outreach and training  Recipients of technical assistance

Meeting Labor Where It Is Now  Building relationships, partnerships, trust  Recognition that each union has specific needs, limits  Targeting union audiences  Strive to reach those most impacted by tobacco  Data Collection: Listening to labor’s many voices  Key informant interviews of 15 labor leaders  Six focus groups of rank-and-file members  Statewide telephone survey: RDD sample of union members

Union Participation  Series of retreats with labor leaders  Formation & expansion of advisory committee  Laborers District Council of Minnesota  UNITE HERE Locals 17, 21 and 99  UFCW Local 789  IUE-CWA Local 1140  SEIU Minnesota State Council  AFSCME Council 96  UAW Local 879  Teamsters Local 638  MN AFL-CIO

Outreach Materials  A Union Guide to Tobacco:  Tobacco and Labor Unions  Legal Issues  Smoke-Free Workplace Policies  Helping Members Quit  Smoking & Healthcare Costs  Tobacco & Workplace Toxins  Worker & Family Health  4 Flyers for Mass Distribution

Outreach Materials  Poster  Every worker has the right to breathe clean air  RESPECT  Links tobacco to historic labor health and safety struggles  Additional Materials  T-Shirts  Buttons  Hard Hat Stickers  Magnets  Baseball Caps  Tote Bags Designed by Ricardo Levins Morales

Recent Developments  Flurry of smoke-free ordinance activity in 2004  Ramsey County: Includes MN’s capital city, St. Paul  Hennepin County: Approximately one quarter of all Minnesotans  Beltrami County: Includes Bemidji, resort areas  Minneapolis (pool halls, restaurants, bars, bowling alleys)  Bloomington  Golden Valley (strongest local ordinance in MN to date)  Opportunity to work with individual unions  Ordinance language and ordinance adoption process  Partnering to address implementation concerns

Recent Developments  Pursuing opportunities to continue partnerships  Expanding outreach, dissemination of materials  Tailoring activities for individual unions  Providing direct technical assistance  Exploring research and intervention strategies  Linking unions to MN tobacco control advocates  Maintaining contact with unions to respond to needs in response to recent passage of ordinances

Lessons Learned  Meet labor where it is now  Identify receptive leaders: Cultivate relationships, trust  Identify how tobacco combines with other labor issues  Frame workplace-related tobacco issues  Worker health and safety  Healthcare costs  Equip labor leaders with tools and resources  Maintain steady contact and explore new opportunities

Visit Our Website For more information: Susan Weisman, J.D. Director, WorkSHIFTS & Senior Staff Attorney Tobacco Law Center William Mitchell College of Law 875 Summit Avenue St. Paul, MN