Teacher Unions are Taking Action on Wireless Health Risks!

Read This List of Teacher Unions and PTA's Calling for Safe Tech 

United Teachers Federation 

• Their Wireless Radiation states,  “Wireless radiation is emitted by the myriad of wireless devices we encounter every day. It was once thought to be relatively harmless. However, we now know that wireless radiation can cause non-thermal biological effects as well, including damage to cells and DNA, even at low levels.
• They post resources detailing how to reduce exposure Dr. Moskowitz’  Reducing Your Exposure to Wireless Radiation .They posted the highly regarrded Physicians BabySafe Project brochure  What You Need to Know About Wireless Radiation and Your Baby . 
  
  “Taking certain precautions around wireless radiation is appropriate for our most vulnerable populations, including pregnant women.”

New York State Teacher’s Union  NYSUT:  A federation of more than 1,200 local unions.

• NYSUT hosted a  Webinar: Risks of wireless technologies and protecting children and staff in schools

New York Public School District:  Wireless Router Labeling in all Suffolk Public buildings including schools:

• 12/2014 The Suffolk County Legislature passed legislation to require all county buildings- including Schools-  to post notices that wireless routers are in use such as, "Notice: Wireless technology in use."
• The resolution, sponsored by Legis. William Spencer (a physician), warns that every wireless device emits radio frequency radiation or microwave radiation. It notes that studies "that have looked at the effects of low-level RFR radiation on human cells and DNA have been inconclusive."

2013 Canadian Teacher Federation’s Brief  (200,000 elementary and secondary school teachers)

• “CTF is concerned about the lack of definitive research regarding the adverse health effects of Wi-Fi...We propose a prudent approach to the use of Wi-Fi, especially where children are present.”
• “We recommend an education program regarding the relative safety of Wi-Fi exposure and that appropriate resources be developed to educate the public regarding ways to avoid potential exposure risks of Wi-Fi access points and devices.”
• “Pedagogical needs could be met in schools with an approach that limits exposure to Wi-Fi.”

  Read the brief by the Canadian Teacher Federation. 
  
  

“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.”  Section C-19 of the NEA 2013-2014 Resolutions

2013 United Teachers of Los Angeles, representing 40,000 teachers and staff

• Resolution passed: “I 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 radiation and that all stakeholders and the public should be notified of any actual and potential hazards.”

Elementary Teacher's Federation of Ontario - over 76,000 teachers

• Label the location Of Wi-Fi access points.
• Develop a hazard control program related to wireless microwave radiation through JHSC.

The Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association (45,000 Ontario teachers)

• Recommends a wired infrastructure as WIFI “may present a potential Health and Safety risk or hazard in the workplace...The safety of this technology has not thoroughly been researched and therefore the precautionary principle and prudent avoidance of exposure should be practiced.”

BC Teachers Federation adopted Wireless Resolutions and Proposed Resolutions

• “The BCTF supports members who are suffering from Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity by ensuring their medical needs are accommodated in the workplace.”

• Proposed Resolutions  “the World Health Organization's classification of radiofrequency/electromagnetic fields emitted by wireless devices as a 2B possible cancer risk to humans; that the BCTF ensures all teachers have the right to work in a safe environment, including the right to work in a Wi-Fi/ wireless-free environment.”
• Recommendation to the Ministry of Education that school boards “begin immediate installation of on/off switches for Wi-Fi routers in schools, thereby reducing microwave radiation exposure and reducing health risks to members, and/or provide safer Ethernet cables or fibre optics”.

The BC Confederation of Parent Advisory Councils (BCCPAC) of 821 Advisory Councils representing over 500,000 parents in British Columbia passed two resolutions.

• Resolution 17 "calls on each Board of Education to have one public school at each education level that is free of Wi-Fi, cordless phones and cell phones. This school will only be equipped with wired computers and wired telephones for personal, educational and administrative purposes."

• Resolution 18 calls on Boards of Education to "cease to install Wi-Fi and other wireless networks in schools where other networking technology is feasible." passed with a clear majority.

UK VOICE ;The Union for Education Professionals- 20,000 members

• "Voice has advocated that new Wi-Fi systems should not be installed in schools, that existing systems should be turned off when not required and that schools should consider whether they really need to use Wi-Fi, which was developed to facilitate Internet access on the move rather than to be used as a convenient alternative to cables in dedicated IT facilities.”

Greater Victoria Teachers' Association

• Wi-Fi free zones should be available.
• On/Off routers recommended and  record any adverse Wi-Fi health effects.
• Minimal or non-use within elementary schools.

Thank you to the Environmental Health Trust for compiling this information. Please go to their site for more information at  http://ehtrust.org/schools-and-safe-technology/