February 2011 District 3 OSH Conference Call

CWA District 3 Occupational Safety and Health Conference Call

Conducted Friday, February 11, 2011 from 1:00- 3:00 p.m. (EST), 12:00- 2:00 p.m. (CST)

• Participants-

Steve Shaw, CWA Local 3106
Steve Wisniewski, Executive Vice President, CWA Local 3108
Fred Smith, Vice President, CWA Local 3111
Marc Hansmann and Nancy Underwood, CWA Local 3122
Stanley Long, Vice President, CWA Local 3205
Claude Perry, CWA Local 3902
Mary Layton, President, and David Betts, Treasurer, CWA Local 3905
William Epps, CWA Local 3704
Isa Shabazz, CWA Representative
Booker Lester, Administrative Director, CWA District 3
David LeGrande, CWA Occupational Safety and Health Director

• Participant Reports/New Issues-

Steve Wisniewski, CWA Local 3108, reported cases in which AT&T has taken disciplinary action against members who have reported workplace injuries. He highlighted a recent case in which a worker reported a work-related foot injury and the Company placed him on suspension. Although the local has filed a grievance against AT&T, the Company-behavior has led members to avoid reporting occupational injuries and illnesses. Booker Lester and David LeGrande responded we cannot allow this action to happen. Booker asked Steve to keep him personally informed as to the status of this case.

• CWA District 3/AT&T Occupational Safety and Health Committee-

Isa Shabazz, CWA Representative, with input from Claude Perry, CWA Local 3902, discussed the first meeting (December 19, 2010) of the joint committee held at CWA District 3 Headquarters. Given this was the first meeting of the re-constituted committee, agenda items dealt with global issues such as the frequency of the meetings (quarterly), committee operating procedures, organizational agreements and best practices, company safety flashes, manhole/confined space work, expanded tail-gate meetings, and the method of disseminating information to CWA local unions, particularly small locals. In addition, Claude brought a specific workplace injury to the attention of the committee, i.e., the provision of adequate illumination in company parking lots (In this particular case, a technician fell while performing the assigned work and broke her nose. Had adequate illumination been provided, this accident could have been avoided. The suggested remedy is to ensure adequate illumination in all work settings).

The next meeting is scheduled for March 30, 2011. Locals are encouraged to submit agenda items to Isa.

• CWA District 3 Meeting, March, 2011

David LeGrande mentioned Steve Shaw, CWA Local 3106, the District 3 Occupational Safety and Health Trainer under the CWA/USW/Tony Mazzocchi Center (TMC) safety and health training grant will be conducting training sessions at the District 3 meeting. Steve will be accompanied by Debbie Beeler, IUE-CWA Staff Representative, and two trainers from the USW/TMC. Steve noted the training sessions will be the first to be conducted under the current grant. The primary topic will focus upon Systems of Safety- A Systems Approach to Conducting Safety and Health Activities. All conference call participants who will be attending the District 3 meeting were encouraged to participate in the training. After presenting the training to local leaders/activists, with the support of CWA District 3 Headquarters and the Union’s Occupational Safety and Health Department, Steve will be calling upon these individuals to help develop training opportunities within their locals and, possible, represented employers.

• 2010 Elections and Occupational Safety and Health-

David LeGrande discussed the active attempts by the Republican members of U.S. Congress to dismantle occupational, environmental, and consumer safety and health. These efforts have involved an onslaught upon existing and proposed regulations as well as funding of OSHA, EPA, and FDA. CWA, the AFL-CIO, a number of other unions and coalition partners (e.g., Blue/Green Alliance) will be fighting to prevent these harmful efforts from becoming effective as well as continue to emphasize the need for improved occupational, environmental, and consumer safety and health legislation and regulation.

• CWA/USW/Tony Mazzocchi Center Occupational Safety and Health Training-

David LeGrande brought participants up-to date regarding the CWA/USW training activities noting to date 12 safety and health activists from CWA districts; the IUE-CWA; and the Public, Health Care, and Education Workers Sector are involved as trainers. Funded by our grant with the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, we see this work as critical to expanding the Union’s safety and health work. The above-mentioned training sessions to be conducted by Steve Shaw, CWA Local 3106, at the District 3 meeting are supported by the grant.

• CWA Heat Stress Campaign-

David LeGrande mentioned the Union’s Heat Stress Campaign is continuing. To date, the nearly one-thousand collected CWA Heat Stress Surveys Fact Sheets are being analyzed and translated into a report. Upon completion, this report will be made available to the CWA Executive Board, Staff, and Local presidents and occupational safety and health activists for their use. Of concern, many member safety and health problems have been identified. Also, information has shown that several employers are not adhering to well established heat stress guidelines, procedures, and practices. In turn, this information will be used within collective bargaining, regulatory, and legislative activities.

• James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act-

During the 2010 lame-duck session of Congress, the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act was passed by both houses of Congress and signed by President Obama. With that in mind, CWA sends a sincere thank you to those members of the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate who supported and fought for this legislation.

The Act provides for a continuation of medical monitoring and treatment services as well as compensation for telecommunications and other employees who worked in cleanup, recovery and rehabilitation efforts at or within close proximity to the World Trade Center. CWA joined with many other labor and public health organizations in this successful multi-year effort.

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

The next CWA District 3 Occupational Safety and Health Conference Call will be held on Thursday, May 12, 2011 from 1:00- 3:00 p.m. (EST); 12:00- 2:00 p.m. (CST).