April 2013 District 4 OSH Conference Call

• Participants-

Merlin Milton, President, CWA Local 4004
Brian Hooker, CWA Local 4034
Rick Schrader, President, CWA Local 4300
Jay Walther, Vice President, and Glenn Skeen, CWA Local 4320
Pete Houvouras, Secretary-Treasurer, and Paula Houvouras, CWA Local 4322
Gary Kundrat, CWA Local 4340
Dwayne Phillips, President, CWA Local 4400
Mike Kudlewski, CWA Local 4603
Matt Vachalik, Secretary, CWA Local 4611
David Dunn, President, CWA Local 4703
Beth Dubree, Jason Creger, and Joe Alvarez, CWA Local 4900
Clinton Rodgers, CWA Staff Representative and
David LeGrande, CWA Occupational Safety and Health Director

• Participant Reports/New Issues-
  

Several participants discussed AT&T’s idling policy noting the company’s agreement to relax disciplinary action for technicians’ idling of company vehicles during periods of excessive cold and hot temperatures. Participants agreed to coordinate activities as issues related to temperature extremes occur.

• CWA District 4/AT&T Occupational Safety and Health Committee-

Clinton Rodgers was assigned occupational safety and health responsibilities in early 2013. Since that time, he noted communicating with company personnel re. setting up the next joint meeting. He anticipates a meeting will be scheduled in the upcoming weeks.

• AT&T Violations of Section 11(c) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act-
  

David LeGrande opened a discussion re. the Union’s national campaign to prevent represented employers from violating Section 11(c), the non-discrimination clause, of the OSHAct. After investigating practices of different employers, it was decided to focus upon the telecommunications industry. Following employers’ initiation of policies which appeared to be in violation of Section 11(c), local union officers and activists were encouraged to file contractual grievances as well as OSHA complaints. Several locals across the U.S. filed grievances and OSHA complaints. The first cases resulted in OSHA citations and arbitration decisions against represented employers- most notably AT&T. Each of the citations was contested by the company.

The legal processes finally began to show results during the first months of 2013 when four administrative law judge decisions found AT&T in violation of Section 11(c). Efforts to hold the company responsible for their illegal conduct were led by CWA Locals 4034 and 4009. Subsequently, targeting other District 4 locals, in coordination with District 4 Headquarters and key staff, the Occupational Safety and Health Department initiated mobilization efforts with activists to identify other cases.

As this discussion proceeded, local union activists/conference call participants indicated a total of 34 cases had been identified and filed. Thus far, other than the four Michigan administrative law judge decisions, these cases are being processed by federal and state OSHA offices. In addition to District 4, to date, more than 20 additional Section 11(c) cases have been filed in Districts 1, 3, 6, and 9. These efforts will continue to be expanded to include additional locals throughout the U.S.

As this activity has developed, the Occupational Safety and Health Department has joined with the Union’s Legal Department to develop a legal strategy including meeting and talking with representatives of the U.S. Department of Labor and state equivalents to coordinate and move these cases along. It is anticipated this work will result in resolution of the company’s behavior.

• CWA/USW Occupational Safety and Health Training-
  

Joe Alvarez, CWA Local 4900, and David LeGrande reported on the successful local union safety and health training activities conducted within District 4 and throughout the country. Funded by a joint CWA-USW grant awarded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, conducted training sessions have involved some 75 safety and health activists within Indiana, Wisconsin, and Ohio. In the near future, additional sessions will be held involving other District 4 local union leaders and members. Joe encouraged interested local activists to contact him to arrange training sessions.

• CWA Heat Stress Campaign-
  

David LeGrande mentioned the continued activities associated with the Union’s Heat Stress campaign. Funded by CWA’s Strategic Industry Fund, materials continue to be developed, provided to local activists, and included as part of the Union’s occupational safety and health training activities. To date, several thousand CWA leaders and members have participated in these training sessions. Heat stress training, a key component in the Union’s local union training efforts, has been translated into several successful improvements in member working conditions.

• Date of the next CWA District 3 Occupational Safety and Health Conference Call-
  

The next CWA District 4 Occupational Safety and Health Conference call is scheduled for Tuesday, July 18, 2013 from 10:00a.m.- 12:00 p.m. (EST).