CWA Safety and Health Activists Participate in Workplace Training

CWA and IUE-CWA occupational safety and health activists joined a week-long training session in Pittsburgh, organized by CWA's Occupational Safety and Health Department and the United Steelworkers' Health, Safety and Environment Department.

CWA Safety and Health Director David LeGrande said participants will work with CWA and IUE-CWA activists to conduct one and two-day training sessions with locals, districts and sectors. The program plans to reach thousands of CWA members and to provide an opportunity for more members to become local safety and health activists.

Brian Hooker of CWA Local 4034, Randy Rodriguez of CWA Local 6222 and IUE-CWA Occupational Safety and Health Coordinator Debra Fisher served as training mentors.

The "train the trainers" program covered topics including: What's Causing Workplace Injury, Illness, and Stress; Hazard Mapping; Controlling Hazards; Attitudes about Workplace Injuries, Illnesses, and Hazards; Comparing and Contrasting Management Goals and Union Goals for Health and Safety; and Strategic Planning for Improving Workplace Health and Safety.

The program was funded by a National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences 2015-2020 grant to CWA, the USW, and two new grant partners – Make the Road, New York and the National Day Labor Organizing Network.

Front row, left to right: Monica Jesmain of IUE-CWA Local 81380; Micki Siegel de Hernandez, Director-CWA District 1 Occupational Safety and Health Program; CWA Occupational Safety and Health Director David LeGrande; Susan Moss of CWA Local 3204; Nancy Lessin, USW/TMC; and James Scalise, II, CWA Local 6132. Second row, left to right-Jason Creager of CWA Local 4900; Darrin Westmore of CWA Local 9423; Charles "Bubba" Craddock of CWA Local 2222; Amanda Chapin of IUE-CWA Local 84436; Michael Tutwiler of CWA Local 3112; and Jeff Anderson of CWA Local 2004