I just received my first COVID-19 vaccination shot. I did not take a photo of the injection, so I am not going to be posting one on social media. I did not take a photo of my vaccination card, either. But I still see it as an important milestone in protecting myself, my family and my community.
I do know people who are wary of getting the vaccination or who outright refuse to do so. I understand there is a good amount of uncertainty surrounding the vaccine. Recent surveys have shown that the construction industry has one of the lowest rates in the nation of workers who are willing to be vaccinated. I would encourage anyone who is unsure, as well as those who have no doubts at all, to do their own research.
United Contractors (UCON) is a construction trade association in California “that protects, educates and empowers California’s union contractors with labor relations and political advocacy, HR support, safety & regulatory services, professional & leadership development, and industry networking.” Recently, UCON launched an informal campaign that promotes COVID-19 vaccination across the construction industry. It is called, “Roll Up Your Sleeves”.
In a press release announcing the campaign, UCON says “’Roll up Your Sleeves’ provides a one-stop-shop for contractors, union representatives, and construction workers to get no-nonsense, science-driven, and fact-based information about the COVID-19 vaccine. The site contains credible, reliable, and trustworthy information in one place for the construction industry, and includes helpful tools, templates, and resources to facilitate job site talks in Spanish and English.”
The CEO of United Contractors, Mark Breslin says, “No one understands or values safety like union construction. The vaccine is another critical safety tool for our workforces and our industry. Our ‘Roll Up Your Sleeves’ campaign will help our workforce get the facts they need to make the best decision.”
The information you find may just be the shot in the arm you need.
