July 2013 District 4 OSH Conference Call

District 4 Occupational Safety and Health Conference Call Conducted Thursday, July 25, 2013 from 10:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m.

• Participants-

Brian Hooker, CWA Local 4034
Rick Schrader, President, CWA Local 4300
Gary Kundrat, CWA Local 4340
Mike Kudlewski, CWA Local 4603
Joe Alvarez, CWA Local 4900
Clinton Rodgers, CWA Representative and
David LeGrande, CWA Occupational Safety and Health Director

• Participant Reports/New Issues- 

Brian Hooker, CWA Local 4034, indicated one very favorable outcome of the OSHA Section 11(c) (discipline/discrimination) cases against AT&T is the company has eliminated the MSOC performance/productivity program within U-Verse in Michigan and replaced it with more worker-friendly measures. In turn, this has resulted in a significant reduction in the number of grievances filed by the local against AT&T. Also, he and other local union personnel are working to ensure all members who have been disciplined/suspended and placed on probation for presumed preventable safety violations have been made whole (e.g., lost-time wages and removal of discipline measures that might affect promotions, transfers, and future employment). The parallel use of both the contractual grievance procedure as well as the Michigan OSHA complaint process has worked extremely well. Of note, the four OSHA complaints issued by Michigan OSHA and, upon appeal, the four Administrative Law Judge decisions against AT&T/in favor of CWA, have set the tone for winning this multi-year effort within Michigan (as well as other District 4 states, and throughout the U.S.).

• CWA District 4/AT&T Occupational Safety and Health Committee-
  

Clinton, Rodgers, CWA Representative; Mike Kudlewski, CWA Local 4603; and Brian Hooker, CWA Local 4034 reported a number of important issues were raised at the recent joint occupational safety and health meeting including workplace violence and the provision of panic buttons for use by technicians, two-person assignments for confined space work, as well as concerns with safety issues related to the replacement of aerial crossbox equipment.

• CWA/USW Occupational Safety and Health Training-
  

David LeGrande (reporting for Joe Alvarez, CWA Local 4900) highlighted the CWA/USW training under the union’s grant funded by the National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences. During Fall, 2013, Joe is anticipating scheduling a training session in Michigan (location to-be-determined). Going into 2014, additional sessions will be conducted in other District 4 states.

• CWA Heat Stress Campaign-

David LeGrande reported on the continuing development of Heat Stress education and training materials and training sessions. This addition to the grant training program has been recognized by NIEHS as an official part of the CWA/USW grant training. Several participants indicated they have used the training materials in their local union as well as shared them with management representatives. Also, participants noted the training has directly resulted in represented employers providing more safe and healthful working conditions. Directly related to this topic, Brian Hooker mentioned a grievance re. vehicle idling time is currently being processed by CWA Local 4034. The outcome of this case may be significant to other cases throughout District 4 and other represented AT&T work locations.

• CWA/USW Health, Safety, and Environment Conference, September 23-27, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

David LeGrande discussed the upcoming national conference noting CWA President Larry Cohen will be addressing participants on Monday, September 23. In addition, Brian Hooker will participate on a union strategy/issues panel presenting remarks on his/the local’s successful work on OSHA Section 11(c) cases. In addition to morning plenary sessions, the conference will feature workshops on more than 40 different occupational and environmental safety and health topics. David said some 1,400 CWA and USW safety and health activists are expected to participate.

• Date of the Next CWA District 4 Occupational Safety and Health Conference Call-

The next CWA District 4 Occupational Safety and Health Conference Call will be held on Thursday, October 17, 2013 from 10:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m. (EST).