CWA Members Die On the Job

Over the past year, there were several CWA members who were killed on the job. CWA safety and health activists in every CWA district and sector “work to prevent such tragedies by eliminating or at least minimizing members’ exposure to hazardous working conditions and potentially related injuries, illnesses, and fatalities,” said CWA Occupational Safety and Health Director Dave LeGrande.

Fred Bosch, a member of CWA Local 3112 with 15 years seniority, was electrocuted while performing aerial telecommunications work. Employed by AT&T as an outside plant technician, Fred was placing an aerial cable/strand when he came into contact with the live wire. CWA District 3 and CWA Local 3112 are conducting an investigation into Fred’s death and working to provide support to his family. In addition, Federal OSHA is conducting its own comprehensive fatality investigation.

John Hare, a Verizon technician with 26 years seniority, died in December after falling from a ladder while performing aerial work.  CWA Local 2222 is working with Verizon to determine the cause of this tragedy as well as to provide counseling and assistance to family members and co-workers. Meanwhile, the Virginia OSHA has launched a fatality investigation.

Last November, Dennis Martin and Daniel Anderson, members of CWA Local 3676, died while performing their work at SPX Transformer Solutions, one of the largest U.S. manufacturers of medium and large power transformers. After entering a large transformer to perform testing functions, they were suffocated by leaking nitrogen gas. CWA Local 3676 and CWA District 3 have joined forces with the employer to support the grieving families and co-workers. Following the incident, North Carolina OSHA initiated a comprehensive investigation to determine the cause and identify steps to prevent future incidents.

Last summer, a TV news reporter and cameraman on assignment in Roanoke, Va., were shot dead during a live broadcast. This senseless act of violence struck close to home for journalists and other news media workers who are represented by the NewsGuild and NABET-CWA. Charles Braico, NABET-CWA president, said the attack raised awareness throughout the union and also demonstrated how cuts in staffing for news crews has put workers at risk. “Not so long ago, a two-or three-person crew was standard, but now, one camera operator often must do it all, taking away the ability to be aware of one’s surroundings,” he said.