Unions Lead the Way in Protecting Worker Health, Safety, and Well-being

A union worker holding a sign alongside other union workers.

Union leaders play a vital role in protecting and advancing the health, safety, and well-being of workers. Whether addressing immediate hazards or long-term sources of stress, you understand the realities of work from the ground up. The Total Worker Health® approach builds on that strength by amplifying workers' voices to identify issues, design solutions, and create lasting improvements.

Since 2006, the Center for the Promotion of Health in the New England Workplace (CPH-NEW) has successfully engaged union workers in Total Worker Health (TWH) programs. The TWH approach fits any union context, from the trades and public safety to healthcare and education. CPH-NEW, a Center of Excellence for Total Worker Health, brings proven methods to help unions protect and promote worker well-being.

Wondering how to get started?

Below you’ll find courses and resources to help you to champion the TWH approach for workers.

Build the Skills to Strengthen Protections for Your Members Through TWH Training

CPH-NEW offers both on-demand eLearning courses and virtual instructor-led training options. While both formats are taught by TWH experts, instructor-led trainings are delivered at scheduled times, while eLearning courses are self-paced to accommodate flexible schedules.

On-Demand eLearning Courses:

  • Introduction to Total Worker Health Principles

  • Fundamentals of Total Worker Health Practice

Virtual Instructor-Led Trainings:

Browse the CPH-NEW Course Catalog

Implementation Tools

The Healthy Workplace Participatory Program for Unions and Worker Organizations (HWPP-U) Manual (pdf) was developed for the "Building TWH Leaders in Unions and Worker Organizations Train-the-Trainer" course. It provides step-by-step procedures for union workers and their advocates to lead a worker-centered design process. The HWPP-U Manual is designed to encourage communication, mutual learning, and a shared commitment to worker safety, health and well-being.

The Whole Worker Booklet (pdf) from University of California Berkeley Labor Occupational Health Program provides guidelines and worksheets for labor leaders to use when integrating occupational safety and health with workplace health promotion programs.

Issue Briefs

CPH-NEW's News & Views page provides 2-page briefs on emerging topics related to worker health, safety and well-being. Visit our CPH News & Views online archive to view by topic.

Newsletter

CPH-NEW's quarterly newsletter provides information on worker health, safety and well-being. Join CPH-NEW’s mailing list to receive the newsletter in your inbox or read the latest issue of the CPH-NEW Quarterly Newsletter to stay up to date with TWH happenings!

Webinars

  • Building a Stronger Front: Union Leaders Unite for Member Well-Being in the Workplace Webinar (5/30/24)
    This dynamic webinar featured a panel discussion with union leaders in education, healthcare and corrections, discussing strategies for fostering worker health, safety, and well-being within their memberships. From innovative approaches to traditional methods, panelists explore practical tactics, share success stories, and address challenges faced in engaging members in crucial aspects of their welfare. This webinar provides viewers practical insights, inspiration, and actionable takeaways to empower your membership to create healthier and safer workplaces for all.
  • No One Whistles a Symphony: How to Integrate Safety With Operations Management Webinar (9/21/23)
    In this webinar, learn how to change the internal health and safety of your organization through organizational learning and change management using “change agents”, intermediaries and collective teamwork. Peter Hasle, Ph.D., guest speaker from the University of Southern Denmark, shares his expertise by explaining how to create successful interventions. Through multiple in-depth case studies, he demonstrates how organizational design features can be used to proactively develop and ensure collaboration capable of solving collective tasks and bridging departmental and occupational silos to improve health care delivery. This information is relevant across all industries.

This is a sampling of relevant union research. Visit the Publications page for the full list.