March 2011 District 6 OSH Conference Call

CWA District 6 Occupational Safety and Health Conference Call Conducted Thursday, March 6, 2011 from 8:30- 10:30 a.m. (CST)

• Participants-

Darlene Kirchgessner, President, CWA Local 6128
Wolf McCann, Vice President, CWA Local 6132
Bill Brown, President, CWA Local 6174
Randy Rodriguez, CWA Local 6222
Jeanie Long, Treasurer, CWA Local 6316
Linda Nesler, President, CWA Local 6360
Charlie Torres, CWA Representative
David LeGrande, CWA Occupational Safety and Health Director

• First Aid and CPR Training-
  

CWA Local 2100 Occupational Safety and Health Complaint against Verizon David LeGrande reported CWA Local 2100 filed a complaint against Verizon early in 2010 for not providing instructor-led fist aid and CPR training. After concluding a comprehensive investigation, Maryland’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MOSH) found Verizon in violation of the OSHA Telecommunications Standard, 29 CFR 1910.268. Verizon contested/appealed MOSH’s citation. Subsequently, a Maryland administrative law judge ruled against MOSH/in favor of Verizon, thus vacating the citation.

• CWA/USW Occupational Safety and Health Training-

Randy Rodriguez, CWA Local 6222, mentioned he is developing, coordinating, and conducting initial OSH hazardous materials and incident investigation training sessions at CWA Local 6222 on March 26. Two four-hour training sessions involving local union stewards will be held. Randy asked participants to contact him re. additional training needs.

• 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.

Also, he mentioned the passage of the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, an important legislative victory achieved during the lame-duck session of the 2010-2011 Congress. CWA, the AFL-CIO, other unions, and public health organizations worked for the introduction and passage of this legislation for several years.

• 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 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.

• Workplace Violence-
  

David LeGrande asked if AT&T’s decision to limit the use of security personnel in company work locations is continuing. Linda Nesler, CWA Local 6360, indicated the company has decided to initiate such limitations at represented customer service work locations. All participants agreed this policy amounts to “an accident waiting to happen.”

Charlie Torres, CWA Representative, noted a workplace violence arbitration case involving CWA Local 6143 and AT&T is awaiting a decision from the arbitrator. Also, Randy Rodriguez, CWA Local 6222, said a workplace violence grievance was recently filed against AT&T. He said he would provide updated information as this case proceeds through the grievance process.

• Date of the Next CWA District 6 Occupational Safety and Health Conference Call-

The next CWA District 6 Occupational Safety and Health Conference Call will be held on Thursday, June 2, 2011 from 8:30- 10:30 a.m. (CST).