October 28, 2025 — The annual Health & Safety (H&S) Breakfast during Convention on Oct. 21 started with a 12-person game of “Telephone,” driving home the point that oftentimes news that travels from person to person loses a lot along the way, leaving leaders with incomplete or incorrect information to work with at the health and safety table.
“Isn’t this what is happening all the time?” asked Article 18 co-chair Leisa Abraham. “We’re not going back to the source, we’re hearing it from the last person, and we act on that final message. We really want to talk about the importance of communication.”
In the vendor area at Convention, PEF Health and Safety staff asked delegates to rate communication, management commitment, union involvement, hazard reporting and fixing, training and knowledge, and H&S committees at their worksites as either positive or needs improvement.
“Communication was one of the biggest things we need to do better,” Abraham said.
Fellow co-chair Gabriela Franklyn said follow-up is crucial.
“A lot of times our members will bring us the last message so we must take our time to investigate and do our due diligence to bring the facts to management so we can address issues in a timely manner,” she said.
Without correct information, little can be done to effect change.
“It’s really important to know what’s happening on the ground,” Abraham said.
PEF launched a “Stop Workplace Violence” campaign this year, where staff and leaders do tabling events at worksites and share information with members on how to protect themselves and what paperwork to obtain and fill out.
“If it’s not written down, what does management do? Nothing,” said Abraham.
In the coming year, the H&S department and union leaders will continue tabling to educate members about workplace violence, and remains committed to growing health and safety committees across the state.
“We have to teach people to be advocates in the moment,” Franklyn said.
