Going Universal - VPPPA Region I Chapter
Going Universal - VPPPA Region I Chapter
Going Universal - VPPPA Region I Chapter
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memBer<br />
spotlIGhts<br />
This e-version of The Leader is provided courtesy of <strong>VPPPA</strong> for members only. For reprint permission, please contact the editor at Communications@vpppa.org.<br />
44 the leAder er >> sPring 2010<br />
by KAtie bendorAitis >> membershiP & deVeloPment coordinAtor, <strong>VPPPA</strong>, inc.<br />
as a member-driven organization, vpppa is in a unique position: the benefits of vpppa membership are<br />
largely used and made possible by our members. membership benefits such as the mentoring program, the<br />
annual national Conference and even this publication are only possible because of the active participation<br />
of vpppa members in the planning, execution and utilization of these programs and services.<br />
The vpppa national office is proud of the depth and diversity of the association’s membership and is<br />
constantly impressed and surprised by the numerous ways in which individual members utilize the benefits of<br />
their membership, as well as give back to the association through their participation. The following spotlight<br />
interviews are an opportunity for members to share how they make the vpppa network work for them.<br />
sheIla ross<br />
VPP union rePresentAtiVe,<br />
Puget sound nAVAl shiPyArd, bremerton, wAsh.<br />
sheila ross, a nearly 20-year employee at Puget sound naval shipyard, is<br />
the co-chair of their VPP recognition team and the vice president of local<br />
62 heat & frost union. in addition to her duties in those positions, she also<br />
finds time to serve as a member of the work life balance group and a new<br />
hire instructor for VPP.<br />
how did you become familiar<br />
with the benefits offered<br />
by vpppa?<br />
At a union conference in 1995 the<br />
representatives for the Metal Trades<br />
Union from our site were in a<br />
workshop regarding <strong>VPPPA</strong> and its<br />
benefits. The union representatives<br />
introduced the idea of our site<br />
joining <strong>VPPPA</strong>, but we soon<br />
learned that this wasn’t something<br />
that we could participate in at the<br />
time, being a government agency, so<br />
we tried to employ the four major<br />
elements of VPP into a program<br />
dubbed the “Shipyard Safety<br />
Program.” Our internal program<br />
mirrors the VPP and includes a<br />
steering committee and six teams …<br />
Eventually, as regulations changed,<br />
we were able to become more<br />
involved with VPP and become a<br />
member of <strong>VPPPA</strong>.<br />
Currently, which benefit(s)<br />
do you find yourself utilizing<br />
most often?<br />
Networking with other companies<br />
and taking note of initiatives taken<br />
at other companies that we can use<br />
here in our workplace. We have<br />
a program called VPP Passport<br />
1 and 2, which comes from an<br />
idea we got from Weyerhaeuser.<br />
Employees have a “book of<br />
activities” and they get items<br />
checked off as they complete them.<br />
For this initiative we use a tiered<br />
reward system which includes time<br />
off and cash prizes.<br />
We also use companies that sell<br />
safety products to purchase a<br />
variety of promotional items that<br />
remind our employees to work<br />
safely. Constant reminders to our<br />
employees to work safely are a<br />
priority for us.<br />
how does your membership<br />
with vpppa help to improve<br />
safety, health, moral or labor/<br />
management communication<br />
at your worksite?<br />
One of the biggest things I’ve<br />
noticed lately is that employees<br />
are bringing back very detailed<br />
reports on the operations of<br />
other companies, particularly<br />
updates on possible new and<br />
improved equipment that is more<br />
ergonomically correct for employee<br />
use here at this facility.<br />
Which benefit of vpppa<br />
membership do you think<br />
has had the biggest overall<br />
impact on your worksite<br />
and how?<br />
We appreciate being made aware of<br />
companies that provide various PPE<br />
[Personal Protective Equipment]<br />
and other equipment that’s safer<br />
for our workforce. We also enjoy<br />
networking with other companies<br />
and mentoring them; and we often<br />
learn things from the companies we<br />
mentor as well.<br />
Which benefits most motivate<br />
you to continue to renew your<br />
membership year after year?<br />
Continued cooperation between<br />
labor and management as well<br />
as the educational benefits<br />
offered through both the regional<br />
and national conferences. The<br />
conferences are a great benefit<br />
because, besides the networking<br />
opportunities, we get to attend<br />
workshops which give us ideas<br />
to bring back. Whenever we<br />
have employees return from a<br />
conference, they do a report for<br />
the steering committee on what<br />
they saw, felt and heard at the<br />
conference and how or if those<br />
things could be implemented here.<br />
What steps do you take to<br />
ensure that your site is<br />
getting the most out of its<br />
vpppa membership benefits?<br />
We try to share all that we learn<br />
and receive from the conference<br />
with as much of the workforce here<br />
as possible. H