AFGE 916 member first Air Force member selected to National VPPPA

Published Feb. 1, 2008
By Brandice J. Armstrong
72nd Air Base Wing Public Affairs

TINKER AIR FORCE BASE -- Ty Norton is the first Air Force member selected to the National Voluntary Protection Programs Participants' Association.
   VPPPA is a nonprofit and charitable organization that leads the Occupational Safety and Health Organization and supports cooperative safety and health programs, such as the Voluntary Protection Program. As a member of the VPPPA, Mr. Norton, American Federation of Government Employees Local 916 Base Union steward, will help educate others about VPP and OSHA.
   "Union support for VPP initiatives here at Tinker is a vital part of what the program is all about," said Lt. Col. Thomas Painter, 72nd Air Base Wing chief of Safety. "Having a union rep on the National VPPPA Education committee shows that our hard work and efforts here at Tinker are being recognized by a professional organization that is well versed in VPP."
   Mr. Norton said Tinker and AFGE 916, as a union member, enrolled in VPPPA in 2007. Among the benefits, Mr. Norton said VPPPA members could apply to sit on one of their committees.
   "By being a union steward, this came naturally," Mr. Norton said. "At one of the regional VPP workshops, I showed interest in helping promote education amongst the workforce."
   Mr. Norton said he received support from Maj. Gen. Loren Reno, Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center commander, John Over, OC-ALC executive director, and James Schmidt, AFGE 916 president.
   Mr. Norton is on the education committee and said his objective is to ensure Tinker is up to date with the latest safety and health information. Furthermore, he said he aims to strengthen the educational partnership between Tinker and outside agencies, and help Tinker become a world-class culture for safety and health.
   "I shall represent Team Tinker, not just my AFGE 916 peers," Mr. Norton said. "Officers, enlisted, civilians and contractors, all have an equal right to a safe and healthful workplace.
   "I hope my efforts continue to promote as such," Mr. Norton said. "I hope to bring back knowledge, benchmarking, and lessons learned from across industry."