August 2010 CWA District 3 Occupational Health and Safety Conference Call

CWA District 3 Occupational Safety and Health Conference Call
Conducted Friday, August 13, 2010 from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. (EST); 12:00 - 2:00 p.m. (CDT)

Participants-
Steve Shaw, CWA Local 3106
Melissa Pike-Snyder, Vice President, CWA Local 3204
Stanley Long, Vice President, CWA Local 3205
Caleb East, President, and David Pilgrem, Executive Vice President, CWA Local 3212
Billy O'Dell, President, CWA Local 3215
Jonathan Campbell, President, CWA Local 3321
Sandy Kemp, President, CWA Local 3404
Paul Pearson, President, CWA Local 3410
Pat Edgar, CWA Local 3706
Susan Williams, CWA Local 3871
Johnny McCollum and Walter Long, CWA Local 3902
Mary Layton, President, and David Betz, Treasurer, CWA Local 3905
Chris Rodgers, Vice President, CWA Local 3950
Debbie Beeler, IUE-CWA Representative
Isa Shabazz, CWA Representative
Booker Lester, Administrative Director
David LeGrande, CWA Occupational Safety and Health Director

Participant Reports/New Issues- Stanley Long, CWA Local 3205, and Steve Shaw, CWA Local 3106, raised member safety and health concerns related to the AT&T's increased emphasis upon productivity. Recent movement for increased productivity and performance/productivity measures has also increased the possibility of members experiencing work related injuries and illnesses (including those related to increased job stress). David LeGrande asked participants to provide Booker Lester and him with documentation specific to these increased requirements ( David noted similar concerns raised by District 4 OSH activists ). This information will be analyzed and suggestions developed for improved member working conditions.

Melissa Pike-Snyder, CWA Local 3204 , mentioned AT&T' s efforts to keep members who experience work-related injuries and illnesses from pursuing their cases through the workers' compensation system. David LeGrande noted all represented employers try to keep injured/ill workers from filing workers' compensation cases and classifying them as non-work related. He encouraged participants to assist affected members in filing workers' compensation claims both with the Company as well as through the state workers' compensation program. (Also, if the Company' s behavior includes discouraging workers from or intimidating workers for reporting safety and health problems, injuries, or illnesses, participants should file a Section 11c discrimination complaint with OSHA.

CWA Local 3212 Member Fatality-
David LeGrande provided an update re. the January 13, 2010 fatality of William Britt Hunt (a member of CWA Local 3212 and employee of AT&T ). His death occurred while he was winding telecommunications cable on to a cable winch. During this operation, the cable wound around his feet dragging him into the winch. Unfortunately, AT&T had assigned Britt to perform this two-person job alone.

In June, 2010, OSHA completed its fatality and workplace investigations of the AT&T West Rome Service Center , Rome , Georgia . In turn, OSHA issued citations against AT&T for several safety violations at the Service Center . The citations focused upon incorrect storage of liquid propane containers, incorrect placement and identification of fire extinguishers, and electrical hazards.

In addition, specific to the fatality of Britt Hunt , the OSHA compliance officer made the following recommendations:

• Written procedures for the operation of assigned work with RL-10 reel equipment should be established to ensure all affected technicians understand the methods to safely operate equipment (“either in one man or two men crew”) operation,
• Procedures be developed to allow technicians to take the necessary time in recovering the telecommunications cable/wire necessary to perform the job in a safe and healthful manner,
• All crews operating this equipment (i.e., the RL-10 reel) should be re-trained and re-evaluated using procedures or work rules that include all methods of cable/wire recovery.

Following the issuance of the citations and recommendations, in coordination with CWA District 3 and the Union 's Safety and Health Department, Caleb East, President, CWA Local 3212 filed a request for Party Status , ensuring CWA would be involved in all activities associated with the final resolution of this case. As expected, AT&T contested and requested OSHA vacate the citations. In a recent meeting with OSHA, AT&T, and CWA Local 3212 (Although due to lack of appropriate communication between OSHA and Local 3212 , local representatives were not able to participate in this meeting between OSHA and the Company . As an alternative the union was able to attend a brief summary meeting with OSHA . Subsequently, AT&T has abated the hazards listed in the citations and the case has been closed. CWA District 3 leaders and activists will have the task of bringing the identified OSHA recommendations to the attention of the Company ).

In memory of Britt Hunt, CWA District 3, Local 3212, and the Union 's Safety and Health Department, CWA will continue to actively seek a satisfactory resolution of the OSHA case.

CWA District 3/AT&T Joint Occupational Safety and Health Committee-
Led by the efforts of District 3 Vice President Judy Dennis and Booker Lester , AT&T has agreed to establish the negotiated joint labor-management committee. The committee will meet quarterly and have responsibility for identifying, discussing, and, where possible, resolving workplace safety and health concerns/problems. The Company and CWA District 3 will have three members ( Isa Shabazz; Billy O'Dell, CWA Local 3215; and Claude Perry, CWA Local 3902- with oversight and assistance from Booker Lester ) on the committee. Through the negotiated process, CWA committee members will work with District 3 local union OSH activists to identify and resolve issues of concern to the Union . To supplement the negotiated committee, local activists are encouraged to continue their local and state safety and health activities communicating concerns to the members of the negotiated committee.

CWA Local 4100 Member Fatality-
In April, 2010 , Kevin James (a member of CWA Local 4100, Detroit, Michigan and employee of AT&T ), was killed while performing aerial telecommunications cable repair work on a telephone pole when an overhead electrical line fell on him causing his death. Greg Wynn, President, CWA Local 4100 , has been working with other CWA Locals, CWA Staff, Michigan OSHA, and AT&T to ensure this case is handled thoroughly and properly. David LeGrande added he has been working with Greg, Byron Capper, and the Michigan OSHA compliance officer to move this process along. Upon completion of the Michigan OSHA investigation, information will be provided to all District 4 locals and CWA staff . Also, this information will be reviewed with involved AT&T management.

CWA Heat Stress Campaign-
David LeGrande reported on the status of the Union's Heat Stress Campaign . The CWA fact sheet “ Extreme Heat” and heat stress survey have been developed and distributed/posted on the Union 's Safety and Health web-page . Thus far, some 800 surveys have been completed, company heat stress policies and OSHA and NIOSH heat stress guidelines and recommendations have been collected. At present, sponsored by the Union's Telecommunications Strategic Industry Fund , the Safety and Health Department is identifying scientists to analyze collected data and write the reports specific to these findings.

National/Regional/State Regulatory/Legislative Issues-
Paul Pearson, CWA Local 3410 , discussed worker/member safety and health issues related to work in the BP oil spill-affected Gulf Region . Although no one has experienced health problems associated with the oil spill, members are very concerned about workplace and environmental exposures/contamination. CWA is working closely with AT&T to ensure members are provided safe and healthful working conditions. David LeGrande asked Paul to keep District OSH activists (as well as himself) up-to-date regarding these important issues.

CWA Local 3615 Member Fatality-
Jack Reynolds, President, CWA Local 3615, reported the death of 42-year old local union member Joe Harrell. Joe suffered a fatal heart attack while performing his service representative work. Jack Reynolds raised the possibility of a relationship between productivity pressures and related job stress with the heart attack. David LeGrande encouraged Jack to gather any information that might establish this relationship and provide it to Booker Lester and himself.

9/11 World Trade Center Legislation-
In May, 2010, H.R. 6594, the James Zadroga Medical Monitoring and Treatment Act was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee . However, the bill was not passed by the required margin of the full House of Representatives. CWA , the AFL-CIO , and other unions will re-initiate efforts to have this legislation enacted by Congress.

David LeGrande noted numerous excellent workplace and environmental safety and health activities being conducted by OSHA, NIOSH, EPA, and NIEHS.

Robert C. Byrd Miner Safety Health Act, H.R. 5663-
David LeGrande mentioned the Act is expected to receive consideration by legislators during this Congressional session. CWA, other unions, the AFL-CIO, COSH and public health organizations are working collaboratively to make this happen. As the legislation begins to receive additional Congressional attention, more information will be provided.

The legislation covers both mine and general industry safety and health issues. Specific to general industry workplaces, issues include:

• Increasing employer civil and criminal penalties for job safety and health violations,
• Requiring correction of serious workplace hazards during the period of time when employer contest/appeal is pending,
• Enhancing whistleblower protection for workers who raise job safety and health concerns and report injuries and illnesses, and
• Providing victims of workplace injuries and illnesses as well as family members the right to participate/be heard in OSHA investigations.

CWA/USW Occupational Safety and Health Training-
David LeGrande announced CWA and the USW had received a $7 million five-year grant to develop and conduct worker-centered training on hazardous substances/materials, effective workplace safety and health committees, ergonomics, as well as other topics. CWA Districts and Sectors will be involved in identifying and selecting CWA Staff and local union activists who will participate in the training efforts. Additional information will be provided in the near future.

Date of the Next CWA District 3 Occupational Safety and Health Conference Call-
The next CWA District 3 Occupational Safety and Health Conference Call is scheduled for Wednesday, November 10, 2010 from 1:00- 3:00 p.m. (EST); 12:00- 2:00 p.m. (CDT).