Join Forum on Appropriate Use of Science in Public Policy
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We’ve all heard the spin from extremist groups slamming the veracity of scientific findings by the federal government—like what constitutes a health hazard at work. But such charges have shaken the public’s already-tenuous faith in the regulatory process. On Oct. 27, a distinguished panel of scientists will discuss what can be done to ensure the scientific process is more open, consistent and credible to all stakeholders.
Professionals for the Public Interest: Associations and Unions Defending Professional Integrity (PftPI), a coalition established by the Department for Professional Employees (DPE), is sponsoring a forum on “The Appropriate Use of Science in Public Policy,” Oct. 27 at 4 p.m. at the American Association for the Advancement of Science Auditorium, 1200 New York Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C.
Forum Asks: Does Whistleblower Law Protect Workers?
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What happens to a private-sector worker who blows the whistle on unethical, discriminatory, unsafe and even sometimes downright illegal actions in the workplace? Federal law is supposed to protect the worker from retaliation. But is that law protecting workers from demotions, dismissals, transfers, pay cuts and other management backlashes?
David Michaels, head of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the agency in charge of enforcing the Whistleblower Protection Program, will address those issues Tuesday May 11, in forum sponsored by the Professionals for the Public Interest: Associations and Unions Defending Professional Integrity (PftPI), a group organized by the AFL-CIO Department of Professional Employees (DPE).
The forum, Whistleblowers and OSHA: Strengthening Professional Integrity, will run from 11:45 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), 1200 New York Ave., N.W., Washington, DC. The event is free and open to the public with advance registration. Click here to register. Read the rest of this entry »
Forum to Examine Ways to Defend Patient Care
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A panel of health care experts will discuss how health care professionals—from nurses and therapists to social workers and physicians—can defend quality care when managers and policymakers make decisions these workers know will hurt patient care.
Broadcaster Bob Edwards will moderate a special forum on “Defending Patient Care Against External Pressures: Dilemmas and Possibilities” April 15. The forum is sponsored by Professionals for the Public Interest: Associations and Unions Defending Professional Integrity (PftPI) and is being held in conjunction with the AFT Health Care Professional Issues Conference and the AFL-CIO Department for Professional Employees (DPE). The panel will take place from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Washington Court Hotel in Washington, D.C. The event is free and open to the public with advance registration. Click here to register.
Professional Workers Form Coalition to Protect Public Interest
A coalition of 19 organizations representing professional employees today announced the creation of Professionals for the Public Interest: Associations and Unions Defending Professional Integrity (PftPI) to defend the ability of professionals to do their jobs right, despite outside pressures from bosses, politicians and others.
According to the AFL-CIO Department for Public Employees (DPE), polling over many years has shown that for professionals, the ability to do the job right is a priority as important as, or more important than, compensation and benefits. Professionals choose what they want to do, invest in extensive education and training and value the latitude to meet professional standards.
Yet professionals face extensive financial and political pressures that endanger their ability to turn out quality work and, as a result, endanger the public they serve, DPE says. For example, scientists found that the Bush administration regularly twisted the results of their research to fit a political agenda. Nurses are engaged in ongoing struggles to provide better service by safe staffing, and teachers seek to reduce class sizes.
