HR 1309 Workplace Violence Protection for Healthcare and Social Service Workers passed US House!

Back when I was a kid, Saturday morning was a time to longe in our PJs and watch cartoons. Between cartoons was a thing called “Schoolhouse Rock,” which put educational lessons to video. One of them was a short video called “I’m just a bill.” Where a bill describes the process to become a law.

This week, in the United Staes House of.Representatives, HR 1309 Workplace Violence Protection for Healthcare Workers and Social Workers Act took a big step on that journey.

What started as an idea among healthcare and social service workers, based on the violence we face on the job daily, based on our co-workers and ourselves being victims of such violence, based on a lack of adequate response from employers and a lack of jurisdictional authority by OSHA, HR 1309 passed the House on a 250-159 vote!

What started as an idea from many sources, but particularly from AFT nurses and healthcare workers, was picked up and championed by my Congressman, Joe Courtney, of eastern Connecticut’s 2nd district. Our members were joined by AFT members from across the country, and by members of other unions and advocacy groups, who spoke to their congressmen and senators, who wrote, who testified, who visited them in DC and in their home districts, who helped them understand the importance of this legislation. Now, just like in School House Rock, our bill moves to the Senate, where Senator Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin it’s championing S 851, it’s companion bill which awaits action. That bill has 29 cosponsors, including both of Connecticut’s Senators.
What can you do?
Check the list on the link of cosponsors. Check the list of who voted in favor in the House.
If your Senator is a cosponsor, thank them.
If not, ask them why not.
If your Representaitve voted in favor, thank them.
If not, ask them why not.
At a time when so much is partisan in DC, this bill received bipartisan support with 33 republican votes.
It took 7 years to get our bill this far (and its still just a Bill) but the work of Congressman Courtney and the advocacy of AFT members and others works!
This bill will establish mandatory training in deescalation and self protection techniques, worksite rules, physical barriers, etc that will make a difference in the lives of caregivers and patients.
The day of the House vote I contacted Joe Courtney’s office to thank them. I also sent them some information on a similar and growing  problem of violence in classrooms that we need to work on.
I told them, “I know, the work never ends.”
But Government works when we engage.
It worked this week.