FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MARCH 7, 2013:
LA Teacher’s Union Passes Resolution to Ensure Safety from Hazardous Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) in Schools including EMF Emissions from Wireless Technology
United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA), representing over 40,000 teachers and other workers in LAUSD, passed the following motion by a sweeping majority last night at 9 PM (Motion for the new UTLA Resolution transcribed from attendee, Shane Gregory’s transcripts):
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16. HOR 3-6-13 #16 (Violence Prevention School Safety Committee 3-6-13 #1):
I move that UTLA uphold the NEA Policy for Environmentally Safe Schools (C-18) and advocate that LAUSD inform all stakeholders of potential environmental, air quality, electromagnetic and radiation hazards for all school sites and work locations in the district and that it include all stakeholders in developing a plan for corrective actions.
I further move that UTLA will abide by current National NEA Policy for Environmentally Safe Schools which states that all employees and stakeholders should be informed when there are changes in their exposure to environmental hazards including electromagnetic radiationand that all stakeholders and the public should be notified of any actual and potential hazards. UTLA will advocate for technological solutions that maintain technology upgrades while not increasing employees exposure to electromagnetic radiation.
Rationale: The NEA National Policy Resolution states as follows:
“C-18 Environmentally Safe Schools
The National Education Association believes that all educational facilities must have healthy indoor air quality, be smoke-free, and be safe from environmental and chemical hazards, and from hazardous electromagnetic fields……..
The Association further believes that school districts must inform all stakeholders when changes in their exposure to electromagnetic radiation occur. Additional health hazards should not be created when facilities are altered or repaired.
The Association believes that school districts must post MSDS and OSHA standards. Students and/or their parents/guardians, education employees, and the public should be notified of actual and potential hazards. All stakeholders should be involved in developing a plan for corrective action. The Association also believes in the development and enforcement of health and safety standards specifically for children. (1989, 2004).”
In May of 2011 based on the latest research, the World Health Organization classified electromagnetic fields as a Class 2B Carcinogen along with Lead and DDT. Current FCC guidelines for electromagnetic radiation explicitly do not cover children or pregnant women. According to NEA Policy our employees have the right to know about changes in their environment which may have adverse health effects.
Violence Prevention School Safety 3-6-13 #1 Vote: Y 3 N 0: PASSED
HOR 3-6-13 #16 Vote: PASSED
This is NEA’s National Policy Resolution C-19 Environmentally Safe Schools from their website:
C-19. Environmentally Safe Schools Cited from 2013 NEA Resolutions www.nea.org/assets/docs/nea–resolutions-2012-13.pdf
The National Education Association believes that all educational facilities must have healthy indoor air quality, be smoke-free, be safe from environmental and chemical hazards, and be safe from hazardous electromagnetic fields.
School districts should conduct periodic testing for harmful water and airborne particles/agents that are detrimental to the health of students and education employees and shall report the results publicly. Further, school districts must complete corrective actions to eliminate the problems and report results in a timely manner.
The Association also believes that it is incumbent on local education providers to be forthcoming with information regarding mold infestation and other indoor environmental hazards in school facilities.
The Association also believes in the establishment and enforcement of standards of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), including temperature and humidity recommendations, to ensure health and safety. The Association further believes that pesticide use should be minimized and, if used, advance notice given of location and date of application.
The Association supports ongoing training and certification of education employees who work in potentially hazardous situations. This training must include proper handling, storage, and disposal of hazardous materials and instruction on Materials Safety Data Sheets (MSDS).
Additional health hazards should not be created when facilities are altered or repaired.
The Association believes that school districts must post MSDS and OSHA standards. Students and/or their parents/guardians, education employees, and the public should be notified of actual and potential hazards. All stakeholders should be involved in developing a plan for corrective action. The Association also believes in the development and enforcement of health and safety standards specifically for children. (1989, 2009) “
