THIS IS MY FIRST article addressing the entire PACE membership, and I believe congratulations are in order! On January 4, 1999, the delegates from the former UPIU and OCAW were confronted with a historic opportunity and the awesome responsibility to decide the future for the members they represented. Those delegates let go of the past, and bravely chose to confront the 21st century as a new union--the Paper, Allied-Industrial, Chemical and Energy Workers Union.

To the former UPIU members, I want to say that I am proud of your courage to change, I know it was difficult to let go of your identity. To the former OCAW members, I want to say that I am proud that you chose to merge with my former union; this International President is honored to lead you into the 21st century! To all of you I say "Welcome to PACE, a new Union over 320,000 members strong!" I believe history will reveal that the delegates for both former unions chose the right path for our membership.

What will that path bring? To be sure, old unionism is satisfied to confront challenges as they arise along that path. New unionism, and this union, however, will develop a plan to address whatever obstacles are in our path and a vision for the future.

What will our vision be? First, it must be based on core principles to make PACE the best union for our membership. As i communicated to the delegates at the merger convention in January, I believe those core principles are: Listen--Embrace--Educate--Organize and Grow. I will address those principles in depth during my speeches at regional seminars this year. I have also appointed a Futures Committee to develop a mission statement for our new union and a vision for what PACE should look like five, ten, and even 20 years from now.

Not only must we develop a vision, we must also confront our challenges head on. Many of those will require dialogue within PACE to determine the best course of action. One of the challenges that requires dialogue within our union is ensuring the safety of our members who spend at least a third of their lives at work.

Last month, the final issue of The Paperworker addressed a subject important to both predecessor organizations: OSHA Voluntary Protection Programs or VPPs. The center spread took a long, hard look at these programs and behavior-based safety issues. It sought to arm our PACE local unions and their members with the knowledge they need to make an informed decision on whether to engage in these programs, how to review their effectiveness, and, where necessary, withdraw from them.

That article has been the subject of many phone calls, letters and e-mail from PACE local union leaders involved in VPP and behavior-based safety programs. First, let's be clear, PACE is not opposed to incorporating behavior as a part of a comprehensive safety program. It certainly is not our position that behavior does not play a role in creating a safe workplace. Behavior is certainly responsible for a certain portion of accidents in the workplace, but accidents are also caused by the employer failing to maintain equipment and focusing on speed and productivity rather than unsafe acts. Accidents are also caused by improperly designed processes and by lack of focus due to extensive overtime and family or other problems.

What we oppose are behavior-based programs as the only approach to safety issues. That approach ignores the other causes of accidents. Think back to the horrific accidents highlighted in The Paperworker over the past few years. How many accidents could have been prevented by changing behavior? How many of them were caused by other safety issues in the workplace, like unsafe equipment?

We are also opposed to our members beginning VPP's without being armed with all the facts. We want to give you the knowledge to enter these programs with your eyes wide open, asking questions, and ensuring that the program answers the safety needs of both the members we represent and the companies you work for.

This is the sort of dialogue that must occur on controversial subjects like VPP. I have instructed our OSHA Director, David Ortlieb, to develop an action plan to ensure these programs serve our members' interests, as well as the companies in the paper, oil, and allied-industrial industries. Safety is an emotional issue, one that is ripe for agreement: both PACE and the companies we represent can agree less accidents on the job are better for everyone; we must work to develop a comprehensive approach to safety.

In closing, I want to thank our entire PACE Executive Board and our Rank-and-File Advisory Board for their leadership and hard work during the PACE merger. Our center spread this month highlights the Executive Officers of our new union so that you can better know those that represent you. You will also note that we come to you as The PACEsetter, a new publication in style as well as substance. The focus of The PACEsetter will be to educate as well as inform our members.

Tell us what you think. Drop us a line, give our Communications Director Keith Romig a call, or e-mail us. After all, that is what good unionism and a democratic union are all about.