The UAW’s resolution seeks more help from automakers, which have taken steps to combat the opioid epidemic. Ford backed the Campaign of Hope in 2017, expanding on pilot projects at the plant level. The campaign also trains employees on administering antidotes for overdoses.
That same year, General Motors implemented a pharmacy program to curb the quantity of short-acting opioids employees can receive after simple surgeries. It also promotes safe opioid use and disposal through annual safety seminars and communications.
GM said in a statement that it “recognizes this is an issue that impacts communities and families nationwide” and that it is “dedicated to ensuring a culture of safety, both at home and in the workplace.”
Bill Dirksen, Ford’s vice president of labor affairs, said in a statement that Ford “will continue working with the UAW to find additional ways to help our employees, their families and their communities combat this issue.”
FCA US said it’s working with its pharmacy benefits manager to address abuse concerns and has changed some of its drug coverage rules to try to prevent unnecessary opioid prescriptions.
Scott Masi, president of Unite to Face Addiction Michigan, has worked with the UAW for 10 years providing addiction recovery services and education. He believes the union is in a unique position to support workers facing addiction problems, provided that they have access to a recovery-oriented system that doesn’t jeopardize their jobs.
Initially, he said, the union was concerned about the negative publicity surrounding addiction in its ranks. Now, “They’re starting to understand their importance in the community, and outside the work force how they can help address this opioid epidemic,” he said.
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