CWA District 3 Occupational Safety and Health Conference Call

Participants-
Bill Eberhardt, President, CWA Local 3102
Saqueena Callender, CWA Local 3108
Tammy Smolinsky, CWA Local 3110
Fred Smith, CWA Local 3111
Nancy Underwood and Terry Sell, CWA Local 3122
Shane Wadley, President, CWA Local 3309
Diogenes Miller, CWA Local 3310 
Terry Buchholz, CWA Local 3315
Darrell Bartley, CWA Local 3317
Phil Coldiron, President, CWA Local 3371
Chuck Love, Vice President, CWA Local 3605
Rodney Jones, CWA Local 3903
Michelle Holyfield, Secretary, CWA Local 3905
Willie Leggett, CWA Representative
Booker Lester, Administrative Director to the Vice President
David LeGrande, CWA Occupational Safety and Health Director

Agenda-

Topics for Safety and Health Conference Calls-
David LeGrande asked participants to provide ideas re. issues of particular concern to them and their members that do not always receive attention during the quarterly conference calls. He suggested this was a subject we need to continuously assess and evaluate in order that the calls are productive and useful for OSH activists who come from a variety of bargaining units and occupations.

Participants agreed with this idea and identified issues of concern. For example, Fred Smith, CWA Local 3111, raised the topic of weight limitations and the use of ladders by telecommunications technicians. David LeGrande noted the federal OSHA standard provides a 300 pound weight limitation. Given the tool belt weighs 25 pounds, this means the technician may not exceed 275 pounds.
 
Tammy Smolinsky, CWA Local 3110, asked what if the ladder is weight-tested to allow more than 300 pounds, in this case 375 pounds? David responded the employer should allow the weight limitation to increase to 350 pounds, however if the employer refuses to allow a weight limitation above the OSHA standard of 300 pounds, CWA would need to ask OSHA for a variance interpretation. In suggesting this, he indicated Local 7200 had asked for a variance interpretation of federal OSHA regarding leg supports that could be placed on ladders to allow for increased weight limitations and was told this would be fine as long as the leg supports were installed by a licensed engineer.

David asked participants if technicians were being disciplined due to failure to comply with the present OSHA weight limitation standard. Several participants indicated their employer, AT&T, had taken such action against technicians. In response, David asked participants to forward individual cases in which AT&T had taken such action to him. In turn, he would review the cases, discuss them with Booker Lester, and draft and provide a report to Booker to send to CWA District 3 locals.

In addition, Fred Smith noted a recent accident in which an AT&T technician had fallen from a ladder and injured himself. The cause of the fall was due to ladder deterioration/a cracked ladder. As indicated by participants from other Florida locals, ladders provided by AT&T deteriorate in a short period of time due to climactic conditions/the weather. Several participants indicated technicians should inspect ladders before using them (in accordance with Company policy). If the ladder has a defect, it should not be used. In these cases, technicians should report this problem to the Company supervisor and request a replacement ladder. David asked participants to send cases in which ladder deterioration had occurred and the Company had not replaced the ladder. In turn, he would draft a report for and send it to Booker Lester for distribution to CWA District 3 locals.

The Employee Free Choice Act and Occupational Safety and Health-                                   
David LeGrande led a discussion regarding the Employee Free Choice Act and how passage of the legislation would allow unorganized workers to use their occupational safety and health rights to ensure employers are providing safe and healthful working conditions. Pointing out that unorganized workers have no input into workplace safety and health issues, the passage of the Employee Free Choice Act and the subsequent increased organizing of workers/unions would allow workers to have an opportunity to help establish workplace democracy including the negotiation of occupational safety and health committees and related activities. Participants agreed upon the importance of the Employee Free Choice Act and indicated they would work for such passage. David asked participants to provide him with any examples participants might have regarding safety and health improvements achieved through the collective bargaining process.

Occupational/Environmental Safety and Health during the Obama Administration-   
David LeGrande mentioned several examples of how the election of President Barack Obama has already made a difference in advancing the occupational/environmental safety and health agenda. Noting the promotion and support of legislation to ban the manufacture and use of asbestos and asbestos products in the U.S., he indicated the Obama Administration is in favor of re-introducing and passing legislation introduced during the last congressional session. (The Bush Administration had indicated it would veto such legislation).  

Also, the Obama Administration is supporting the efforts of labor (including CWA) and environmental organizations to have the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Act re-introduced and passed during this congressional session. This bill would provide workers and community members with important protections to ensure terrorists are not able to cause chemical releases and exposures at work locations where chemicals are manufactured and used. In addition, the legislation would require chemical manufacturers and users to provide critical workplace and community safety and health protections to workers and community members.

Another extremely important achievement is President Obama’s nomination of Congresswoman Hilda Soleis (D-CA) as Secretary of Labor. Ms. Soleis has a proven track record standing up for and supporting workers’ rights including workplace safety and health. Upon her confirmation (after the Republicans finally allow her confirmation vote to occur), we should expect to see her nominate a strong worker safety and health advocate as Assistant   Secretary of Labor-OSHA.

Regarding environmental safety and health, President Obama nominated and, subsequently, Congress confirmed Ms. Lisa Jackson as Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Ms. Jackson has a proven track record advocating and working for improved environmental safety and health standards and protections.

National/State Regulatory/Legislative Initiatives-
As reported above, during 2009 CWA leaders should anticipate a busy, but exciting, year of regulatory and legislative safety and health achievements.

Workplace Violence-
David LeGrande noted the recent negotiation of an important workplace violence agreement by CWA Local 9415 (in coordination with CWA District 9 Headquarters) with AT&T. This agreement provides for:

• The development and provision of education awareness training
• Prohibition of night work
• Provision of a second (“buddy”) technician
• No suspensions and
• Bi-monthly reviews/evaluations of the outlined process. 
                                                                                                                
David indicated he will be providing the agreement to CWA Staff with occupational safety and health responsibilities for distribution to CWA locals. Several participants said this is a major problem for many locals and welcomed the news.

2009 CWA National Occupational Safety and Health Conference-
David LeGrande indicated the 2009 safety and health conference will be conducted September 12-14, 2009 at the Holiday Inn on-the-Bay, San Diego, California. In the next few weeks, conference information will be mailed to all local presidents.

Participant Reports/New Issues-                                                                     
Issues were discussed under the heading Topics for Safety and Health Conference Calls above.

Date of the Next CWA District 3 Occupational Safety and Health Conference Call-
The next District 3 Occupational Safety and Health Conference Call will be held on Thursday, May 14, 2009 from 1- 3 p.m. (EST), 12:00- 2:00 p.m. (CST).