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Local Leaders Renew Commitment to CWA's Safety and Health Program
CWA local leaders recently learned that “catastrophic” rates of injury are striking union members whose work lives are tied to computers, and got tips from a rank-and-file panel on ways that the toll can be reduced.
Executive Vice President Larry Cohen, in his first leadership role at a CWA Occupational Safety and Health Conference since his election earlier this year, said he would refer the Union’s 1998 Video Display Terminal survey to a newly-created committee of the CWA Executive Board for action.
David LeGrande, who heads up the union’s OSH program, and Dr. Michael Smith, a professor in the industrial engineering department at the University of Wisconsin, worked together on the ergonomics survey that found “catastrophic numbers of respondents” are suffering from severe illnesses or disorders. (See separate story.)
Cohen, who has declared that his office will be dedicated to conducting worksite campaigns within the union, also told participants at the conference in San Francisco, Calif., that he will strive to bring about a greater, more targeted integration of OSH and other union programs such as organizing, education and legislation and politics.
Cohen pointed out, for example, that there is an OSH component in the union’s current efforts to bring union representation to some 15,000 passenger service professionals at American Airlines.
“Their health and safety concerns are very similar to ones expressed by our existing members who work as service representatives in the telecommunications industry,” Cohen said.
New Board Committee
Vice President Brooks Sunkett, who was recently named to head the CWA Executive Board committee on OSH matters, told participants that he is anxious to begin dealing with “the safety and health issues of our members.”
Sunkett, who is the vice president with responsibility for representing public and health care workers, also pledged a more activist agenda on OSH matters — particularly in the areas of ergonomics, workplace violence and compliance with current laws that fall under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Joining Sunkett on the recently appointed committee will be Vice President Larry Mancino of District 1, Vice President Vince Maisano of District 13, Telecommunications Vice President T.O. Moses, NABET-CWA Vice President John Clark and Newspaper Guild-CWA Vice President Linda Foley. Joining the committee as an ex-officio member will be LeGrande, administrative assistant to Cohen, who has staff responsibility for CWA’s OSH program.
RMI Panelists
Three CWA members — representing a varied cross section of the union — conducted a panel presentation on preventing repetitive motion injuries in a workforce that finds itself increasingly tied to video display terminals hooked up to computers.
Among some of the chief recommendations by panelists were that CWA locals press management harder for ergonomic change, especially when problems begin to emerge in the workforce; that the union increase its level of activity in helping locals identify and correct ergonomic problems that lead to repetitive motion injuries, and that CWA demand more input in future equipment selection.
“The design of equipment and worker comfort, with proper breaks and rest periods, all effect RMI outcomes,” said Mary Ann Palen, a US Airways reservations agent from San Diego, who served on the panel. Other panelists included Becky Hogue, a member of CWA Local 9410 and a directory assistance operator with Pacific Bell, and Joan Lichterman, a member of CWA Local 9119, a statewide local which represents University Professional and Technical Employees in California.
New Jersey Study
Dr. Smith, the University of Wisconsin professor, also reviewed with participants the results of a smaller study of computer usage among public workers represented by CWA in the state of New Jersey, based on findings compiled earlier this year.
In that study, Smith said, 514 CWA members employed in clerical, technical and professional occupations, reported high numbers of musculoskeletal cumulative trauma or repetitive motion health symptoms and disorders related to work at computer stations.
For example, Smith said, 66.7 percent reported experiencing neck symptoms; 56.4 percent had hand pain; 54.9 percent suffered back pain; 50 percent shoulder pain, and 23.8 percent complained of elbow pain.
Working with Smith and LeGrande on the study were Mike Lohman, a member of CWA Local 1033, Trenton, and Dr. Janet Cahill of the department of psychology at Rowan University.
Asbestos Testing
John Quinn, a lawyer with wide experience in personal liability cases, reviewed past results of widespread asbestos testing among CWA members in Texas and Alabama and said more testing is planned in Florida beginning in late January.
Quinn pointed out that past medical surveillance tests among CWA members have turned up astonishingly high rates of asbestos-related disease.
Nichols Honored
M.E. Nichols, who retired earlier this year and is now an executive vice president emeritus, was honored at the conference for his commitment to strengthening the union’s OSH program over the years. Nichols, a former president of CWA Local 6222, Houston, had overall responsibility for the program during his 18 years as a CWA EVP. He drew a standing ovation when he pointed out the importance of OSH to the members of the union. “We need to continually be alert to the health and safety needs of the members of our great union,” Nichols said.
Executive Vice President Larry Cohen, in his first leadership role at a CWA Occupational Safety and Health Conference since his election earlier this year, said he would refer the Union’s 1998 Video Display Terminal survey to a newly-created committee of the CWA Executive Board for action.
David LeGrande, who heads up the union’s OSH program, and Dr. Michael Smith, a professor in the industrial engineering department at the University of Wisconsin, worked together on the ergonomics survey that found “catastrophic numbers of respondents” are suffering from severe illnesses or disorders. (See separate story.)
Cohen, who has declared that his office will be dedicated to conducting worksite campaigns within the union, also told participants at the conference in San Francisco, Calif., that he will strive to bring about a greater, more targeted integration of OSH and other union programs such as organizing, education and legislation and politics.
Cohen pointed out, for example, that there is an OSH component in the union’s current efforts to bring union representation to some 15,000 passenger service professionals at American Airlines.
“Their health and safety concerns are very similar to ones expressed by our existing members who work as service representatives in the telecommunications industry,” Cohen said.
New Board Committee
Vice President Brooks Sunkett, who was recently named to head the CWA Executive Board committee on OSH matters, told participants that he is anxious to begin dealing with “the safety and health issues of our members.”
Sunkett, who is the vice president with responsibility for representing public and health care workers, also pledged a more activist agenda on OSH matters — particularly in the areas of ergonomics, workplace violence and compliance with current laws that fall under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Joining Sunkett on the recently appointed committee will be Vice President Larry Mancino of District 1, Vice President Vince Maisano of District 13, Telecommunications Vice President T.O. Moses, NABET-CWA Vice President John Clark and Newspaper Guild-CWA Vice President Linda Foley. Joining the committee as an ex-officio member will be LeGrande, administrative assistant to Cohen, who has staff responsibility for CWA’s OSH program.
RMI Panelists
Three CWA members — representing a varied cross section of the union — conducted a panel presentation on preventing repetitive motion injuries in a workforce that finds itself increasingly tied to video display terminals hooked up to computers.
Among some of the chief recommendations by panelists were that CWA locals press management harder for ergonomic change, especially when problems begin to emerge in the workforce; that the union increase its level of activity in helping locals identify and correct ergonomic problems that lead to repetitive motion injuries, and that CWA demand more input in future equipment selection.
“The design of equipment and worker comfort, with proper breaks and rest periods, all effect RMI outcomes,” said Mary Ann Palen, a US Airways reservations agent from San Diego, who served on the panel. Other panelists included Becky Hogue, a member of CWA Local 9410 and a directory assistance operator with Pacific Bell, and Joan Lichterman, a member of CWA Local 9119, a statewide local which represents University Professional and Technical Employees in California.
New Jersey Study
Dr. Smith, the University of Wisconsin professor, also reviewed with participants the results of a smaller study of computer usage among public workers represented by CWA in the state of New Jersey, based on findings compiled earlier this year.
In that study, Smith said, 514 CWA members employed in clerical, technical and professional occupations, reported high numbers of musculoskeletal cumulative trauma or repetitive motion health symptoms and disorders related to work at computer stations.
For example, Smith said, 66.7 percent reported experiencing neck symptoms; 56.4 percent had hand pain; 54.9 percent suffered back pain; 50 percent shoulder pain, and 23.8 percent complained of elbow pain.
Working with Smith and LeGrande on the study were Mike Lohman, a member of CWA Local 1033, Trenton, and Dr. Janet Cahill of the department of psychology at Rowan University.
Asbestos Testing
John Quinn, a lawyer with wide experience in personal liability cases, reviewed past results of widespread asbestos testing among CWA members in Texas and Alabama and said more testing is planned in Florida beginning in late January.
Quinn pointed out that past medical surveillance tests among CWA members have turned up astonishingly high rates of asbestos-related disease.
Nichols Honored
M.E. Nichols, who retired earlier this year and is now an executive vice president emeritus, was honored at the conference for his commitment to strengthening the union’s OSH program over the years. Nichols, a former president of CWA Local 6222, Houston, had overall responsibility for the program during his 18 years as a CWA EVP. He drew a standing ovation when he pointed out the importance of OSH to the members of the union. “We need to continually be alert to the health and safety needs of the members of our great union,” Nichols said.