Sunday, December 5, 2021

Getting Back Out There—Soon

CLAC representatives have faced site access restrictions imposed by public health and workplace policies for most of the pandemic. And now with Omicron, we are once again facing restrictions

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We have adapted well to dealing with the pandemic. People have mostly followed good health guidance, governments have mostly made the right decisions—with a few missteps along the way—and science has mostly evolved in identifying the worst threats and best ways to stop the spread.

The construction industry has adapted particularly well, being familiar with identifying and mitigating workplace hazards. Our sector has been rewarded by remaining “open” for most of the last 22 months.

For members working in construction, return to work has happened every day since the pandemic was declared. You cannot replace a broken pump or deliver concrete or build infrastructure from behind a computer screen. Your site presence has not been interrupted. Essential workers have kept going, often underappreciated.

CLAC representatives have faced site access restrictions imposed by public health and workplace policies for most of the pandemic, and continue to do so now with the new COVID-19 variant. We hope to return to near prepandemic site access once we get through the Omicron wave.

While we were away, we committed to increased phone and email contact, especially with stewards. We built out mental health support and training and bridged benefits to support members impacted by COVID.

Whether COVID-19 ever gets under control—or we just get tired of trying to control it—most of us are looking forward to life after the pandemic. We are committing to “re-firsts—things that we are doing again for the first time in almost two years.

One re-first CLAC representatives are hoping for soon is getting back out there. The new normal for contact is a hybrid model. We have improved our prepandemic modus operandi with new ways of conducting business that necessity has added to our toolboxes. We have learned efficiency, productivity, infection control.

Meeting online is an option to bring distant people together on short notice, without the need for pandemic controls, logistics, or travel time. But the default for those who work with people is human interaction. Meeting face-to-face is usually the most effective and rewarding.

Once this Omicron wave passes, we look forward to seeing faces and shaking hands again. We’ll see you out there!

Getting Back Out There—Soon

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