Many people asked us what happens to the evaluations you completed at the Health, Safety & Environment conferences.  Every evaluation, yes “every evaluation” is tallied, read, shared among our staff, and all comments are put into spreadsheets. The union’s HSE Department has its own “lessons learned” on what we did and what we can do better in future years.  We really appreciate the time you take to fill out the evaluation because we want to have the best conference for you to attend that meets your needs.

Your input in recent years convinced us to try 3 Regional - 2011 HSE Conferences in Pittsburgh, Atlanta and Phoenix rather than one large conference.  This year the USW joined efforts with the Communication Workers of America (CWA) to host the regional conference.  In 2012, the USW and CWA will hold one large international conference.  The conference will be held March 5-9, 2012 in Pittsburgh.

The evaluations from the regional conferences this year have been combined since the plenary sessions were similar and the results are as follows:

(Note:  All portions of the agenda could be rated as very good, good, okay, poor, very poor on the evaluation)

The conference overall was rated GOOD and comments included:

Since the conference overall was smaller, it was great to have a chance to talk one on one with some of the speakers – it would be nice if all of the speakers could schedule some time to do that.

I liked the hearing how health and safety interconnects with other initiatives and priorities of the union.

I understand how the union and what we do in safety relates to the larger union agenda.

I like the larger international conferences better.

A lot of good information to use when I return to my local union.

I enjoyed meeting other people who are very active in the union and hear what they had to say.

I wish more speakers used visual aids.

I leave the bigger conferences feeling more motivated about health & safety.

The opening speakers from the USW and CWA overall were rated GOOD and comments included:

Very knowledgeable on current events related to the union.

It was good to have an officer of the union here today!

I’d like to have more time for them to speak.

“Economics” by Lisa Jordan/John Lepley was rated as VERY GOOD and comments include:

Excellent presentation, very appropriate time with H/S issue, contract and socially economic times that we face.

This presentation gave me a better understanding of the way things are that I normally don’t think about.

Loved the PowerPoint presentation and delivery.  Very informational – eye opener.

I was kind of lost in the statistics.

This is good, but it was too much information in the time we had today.

Worker Health & Safety by Mike Wright/Dave LeGrande was rated overall as  GOOD and comments included:

Great – open and honest.

He helped me understand what my local union can do in the face of the economic crisis and our global workplaces.

Very good job keeping topic short, sweet and to the point.

We need more specific information on this topic.

We need more time and training to understand what to do back at our local union and workplace.

Union Political Action Committee by Mike Scarver was rated overall as VERY GOOD and comments included:

Mike Scarver is a great speaker – interesting perspective on the “same old thing”

Every local union should have this presentation at their membership meetings.

Mike really helped me to see the connection between this session and our health and safety concerns.

The panel about state battlegrounds was rated overall as GOOD and comments included.

Examples were great and it provided a personal touch close to home for me.

Very good and motivating.

It was great hearing them speak from personal experiences.

I’d like to see the panel use some visual aids.

Workgroup sessions doing Stop/Start/Continue were rated overall as VERY GOOD and comments included:

Took some ideas, networked and got ideas and materials to bring back.

Good interaction.  Getting people involved together – learned different programs from others.

This was a fun “learning” activity – great way to end the day.

Good interworking with union brothers and sisters.

Okay but really needed more time with this exercise.

Regional conference model:  1 plenary day and training for the rest of the week was rated overall as VERY GOOD and comments included:

Great location!  (We received this comment in each of the three conferences)

Concentrating on one class is more effective in learning, retraining & delivery of information & material

I like to have the National or International Conference to see members from the whole country and learn from each other.

I prefer having a plenary session each day and afternoon workshops.

We appreciate all comments received.  Keep them coming.  We always try to make the next conference better than the last!  Even after the conference is over, you can still let us know your expectations for the next conference by e-mail (safety@usw.org).

Sharon Thompson

Health, Safety & Environment Department