CWA District 2-13 OSH Conference Call Minutes

CWA District 2-13 Occupational Safety and Health Conference Call

Conducted Monday, June, 15, 2015 from 10:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m.

Participants

Bill Dulaney, President, CWA Local 2101
Glenn Smith, CWA Local 2205
Alan Johnson, CWA Local 2204
Jesse Davis, CWA Local 2222
Tony Ross, Secretary-Treasurer, CWA Local 2336
Bill Evitt, CWA Representative, and
David LeGrande, CWA Occupational Safety and Health Director

Participant Reports/New Issues-

Glenn Smith, CWA Local 2205, indicated Verizon is contracting out lead work. In response, the Local requested Virginia OSHA (VOSH) monitor the work to ensure adherence to the federal OSHA Lead Standard. In addition, the contracting out issue will need to be resolved through the collective bargaining process.

Alan Johnson, CWA Local 2204; Jesse Davis, CWA Local 2222; and David LeGrande discussed the ongoing asbestos cases involving Locals 2204 and 2222. Regarding the Local 2204 case, VOSH cited Verizon for numerous serious violations of the OSHA Asbestos Standard. As expected, Verizon has contested the citations. Several years ago, Virginia OSHA cited Verizon for similar violations of the OSHA Asbestos Standard. After the Company contested the citations, VOSH and Verizon entered into a settlement agreement, thus closing the case. Given the manner in which this case was handled, Local 2222 has filed a complaint against VOSH with federal OSHA.

CWA District 2-13/Verizon Joint Occupational Safety and and Health Committee- Bill Evitt, CWA Representative, reported the Union and company conducted a joint meeting discussing the following subjects:

• Asbestos- As above.

• Pole Climbing- Alan Johnson, CWA Local 2204, mentioned he had introduced an electric company- developed pole climbing training program for consideration. The Company indicated they would get back with CWA re. the proposal.

• First Aid Certification- Computer-based training is currently being provided to company technicians.

CWA/USW Occupational Safety and Health Training

Alan Johnson, CWA Local 2204, mentioned he is working to set the date/dates for the next training in Virginia at CWA Local 2201. As soon as this date is set he will notify David LeGrande and Bill Evitt.

David LeGrande mentioned safety and health training sessions are being conducted in all CWA districts. For example, one and two-day sessions have recently been conducted in New York State; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Minneapolis, Minnesota; San Antonio, Texas; and Springdale, Arkansas. Additional training sessions are scheduled and planned during 2015.

OSHA Section 11(c) Cases

David LeGrande initiated a discussion re. the status of OSHA Section 11(c)/grievance cases indicating 101 CWA-represented members/AT&T workers and 30 CWA locals have been resolved. All affected workers have been made whole, references to the company’s disciplinary action have been removed, and the company has eliminated its policy which indicated all worker injuries and illnesses were the fault of the employee. This policy has been changed to allow for independent no-fault investigations of worker injuries/illnesses. Where the worker is found to not be at fault, the case will be dismissed.

David thanked all local and staff involved in pursuing and settling these cases. They set an important precedent pressuring AT&T to change its discriminatory practices.

Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA)

David LeGrande led a discussion re. TPPA and its ramifications upon CWA, other unions, and allied environmental and activist organizations. After considerable discussion, participants were encouraged and agreed to continue taking action to prevent the enactment of the TPPA.

Date of the Next CWA District 2-13 Occupational Safety and Health Conference Call

The next CWA District 2-13 Occupational Safety and Health Conference Call will be held Monday, September 14, 2015 from 10:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.