Can Unions Help Reduce Workplace Injuries in Chicago?

Unionization can provide many benefits to average workers in Chicago. Some join unions because they want to fight for higher wages and more benefits. Others want to protect their jobs from being replaced or outsourced in the coming years. But could unions also protect workers from unsafe conditions? This is something you might want to discuss with local union representatives. If you have already suffered a workplace injury, consider continuing this conversation with a Chicago workers’ comp lawyer.

How Unionization Can Improve Safety at Work 

One of the key functions of an effective union is to protect its workers. A union might protect against low wages and job insecurity, but they can also help improve safety standards. Without a union, one might argue that a group of workers has no real negotiating power to push for safer working conditions.

While it’s true that federal and state regulations also help maintain safety standards, these regulations are often extremely minimal. A union allows workers to ask for safety procedures that go above and beyond these baseline standards. For example, a union might push for more extensive safety training for new hires. They might also require the purchase and use of new, innovative safety equipment.

Many unions also lobby local and federal lawmakers to pass new regulations that further improve safety standards. Since many unions have considerable influence in the political world, these efforts have a strong chance of being successful.

For example, a group of workers in Chicago recently took steps through the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) to fight for safer working conditions. Workers at this specific manufacturer have suffered 23 injuries in 2024 alone. Some say that they only received a few minutes of training before working with dangerous machinery.

The Workers’ Compensation Also Incentivizes Safety Culture 

That being said, one might argue that the average business owner in Chicago has a strong financial incentive to reduce workplace accidents. Even if you are not part of a union, your employer probably understands the importance of safety. Even if they do not actually care about the safety of their own workers, they undoubtedly notice when their workers’ comp insurance premiums go up.

When numerous workers at a certain company file workers’ comp claims, the insurance companies hike premiums for that employer. When insurers see that there are serious safety issues at a company, they assign a higher level of risk to that company’s insurance policy. As a result, they increase premiums – often to a considerable degree.

Combined with unionization, workers’ compensation provides multiple layers of safety guarantees for workers in Chicago.

Can a Chicago Workers’ Comp Lawyer Help After an Accident? 

Although unions can help employees fight for safer working conditions, there are other resources available for injured workers. If you’re struggling with medical bills and lost income after a workplace accident, consider speaking with an experienced workers’ comp lawyer in Chicago. These legal professionals may be able to guide you toward the compensation you deserve, so contact Connolly Injury Law today to get started.

Source:

 peoplesworld.org/article/chicago-area-workers-cite-dangerous-conditions-in-filing-for-union/