November 2010 District 9 OSH Conference Call

Conducted Monday, November 29, 2010 from 9:00- 11:00 a.m. (PST)

• Participants-

Mike Frost, Vice President, CWA Local 9000
Anthony Velez, CWA Local 9413
John McCabe, CWA Local 9416
Bob Schwager, President, CWA local 9417
Mike Bell, Executive Vice President, CWA Local 9421
Norm Klaus, CWA Local 9423
Rick Delao, President, CWA Local 9431
Sumi Barton, Executive Vice President, CWA Local 9509
Robert Harris, CWA Local 9588
David LeGrande, CWA Occupational Safety and Health Director

• Participant Reports/New Issues-

Bob Schwager, CWA Local 9417, indicated the final version of the U-Verse Field Technicians Safety Guide is completed. At present copies are being printed for distribution to the locals within the CWA California Central Valley Council. In addition, copies will be made available for all District 9 locals. Bob said he would provide a copy of the completed document for use and distribution by the Union’s Occupational Safety and Health Department. This publication highlights a number of significant and important workplace safety and health hazards encountered by U-Verse (as well as FIOS) technicians.

Mike Frost, CWA Local 9000, raised concerns regarding member exposure to radiofrequency (RF) radiation emitted by cellular telecommunications equipment/antennas asking about the appropriate procedures to identify RF exposure levels and potential exposure. Mike emphasized the placement of a large number of RF antennas within close proximity to the telecommunications company equipment places members in a position where they might experience RF exposure not only from the equipment they are servicing/working on but also antennas owned by other employers.

Referencing the CWA Occupational Safety and Health Fact Sheet “Microwave/Radiofrequency Radiation and the Workplace,” David LeGrande noted the often-complicated work setting Mike described is an everyday event for technicians performing work on RF cellular equipment/antennas. He spelled out a number of procedures to follow including:

• Requesting Verizon, the employer, conduct RF monitoring for the cellular equipment with which our members are working (Upon completion, the monitoring data must be provided to Mike/the union representative.),
• Focusing upon a Verizon work site/cell tower, request the Company follow the FCC RF regulation by requiring other employers who have co-located cellular equipment/antennas at the worksite/cell tower to conduct and provide monitoring data to the Verizon thus identifying the level of RF emissions,
• Sending this company-provided information to the Safety and Health Department for review and analysis,
• Providing copies of the CWA fact sheet on Microwave/Radiofrequency Radiation to involved technicians/members, and
• Based upon the results of the monitoring data, requesting the Company take the necessary preventive/protective action.

If Verizon takes the appropriate action, the Union should document all procedures the Company has used to control emissions/member exposure. On the other hand, if the Company refuses to take such action, the Union should discuss next steps.

Sumi Barton, CWA Local 9509, raised concerns about the employer practices which are producing an extreme amount of job stress/burnout. As examples, she noted long work hours, increased productivity demands and work performance, workers monitoring the performance of other workers (a component of behavior-based safety programs), and unsafe working conditions. Highlighting the fact that during the last month three technicians/members reported high levels of burnout threatened suicide, she emphasized this problem is becoming unbearable for the workforce and presenting the Union with a difficult set of problems.

Rick Delao, CWA Local 9431, suggested discussing this issue with Beau Gartiez, CWA Local 9511, and Robert Harris, CWA Local 9588, with the idea of developing an action agenda which includes CWA taking an aggressive stance as well as educating members to take protective steps.

• CWA District 9/AT&T Occupational Safety and Health Committee-

Rick Delao, CWA Local 9431, mentioned he will be discussing the CWA/USW occupational safety and health grant training program with Company representatives with the hopes of gaining cooperation from AT&T. Such cooperation will allow the Union to involve thousands of represented workers in the CWA/USW training. In turn, increased member knowledge should translate into increased safety and health activity within the locals and with the Company.

• 2010 Elections and Occupational Safety and Health-

David LeGrande discussed the outcome of the 2010 federal, state, and local elections as they relate to our occupational and environmental safety and health work. Although the loss of many important seats to the Republican Party will present many obstacles, we will have to continue our work using different, creative tactics. One example would be expanding coalition work with other unions and environmental organizations (e.g., Blue/Green Alliance).

In addition, David mentioned two key legislative initiatives the Union is working on during the Lame Duck Congressional session: The James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act andthe Robert C. Byrd Miner Safety and Health Act. It is hoped, the labor movement will be successful in moving the pieces of legislation through the U.S. Senate and Congress.

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

David LeGrande brought participants up-to date regarding the CWA/USW training activities. In coordination with District 9 Vice President Jim Weitkamp and CWA Representative Cherie Brokaw, Rick Delao, CWA Local 9431, Robert Harris, CWA Local 9588, and Joan Lichterman, CWA Local 9119 wereappointed to represent District 9 in reaching out to locals and represented employers to initiate training activities. David noted 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.

• CWA Heat Stress Campaign-

David LeGrande mentioned the Union’s Heat Stress Campaign is continuing. To date, thousands of the CWA Heat Stress Fact Sheets have been distributed to and down-loaded by our leaders and members. In addition, nearly one thousand heat stress surveys have been completed and returned to the Safety and Health Department. 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. At present, this data is being analyzed and translated into a written report for use by CWA leaders, staff, activists, and members. In turn, this information will be used within collective bargaining, regulatory, and legislative activities.

• CWA Member Workplace Fatalities-

David LeGrande indicated over the last several years numerous member workplace fatalities have occurred. These tragedies have been entirely preventable- the result of employer neglect to provide safe and healthful working conditions for the decedents/their employees. At present, David indicated he is analyzing collected information for the purpose of drawing common causation threads and translating this information into a report for use by CWA leaders, staff, and activists. As this report is near completion, David will share the draft for comments.

• Workplace Violence-

David LeGrande and Mike Frost, CWA Local 9000, reported on two cases of workplace violence involving two Californiamembers/telecommunications technicians. The first involved an AT&T technician/Local 9404 member. While he was performing his outside telecommunications work (during his lunch break), two thugs opened the company vehicle door, then grabbed and threw him face-down on the pavement. Then one of the thugs jumped on him pushing a gun to the back of his head. He objected to the thug’s actions causing the thug to shoot at him. Fortunately the bullets sailed by our member and the thugs ran away. The local and district have brought their concerns to the attention of AT&T and are working to negotiate protective language.

The second incident, as explained by Mike Frost, involved a Verizon customer service employee/Local 9000 member. While walking to her workplace through the nearby Verizon parking lot, her estranged husband attacked her causing significant injury. In turn, she was transported by ambulance to a nearby hospital in critical condition. At present, she is still under hospital care, but moving towards recovery. Also, CWA District 9 and CWA Local 9000 are working with Verizon to establish a foundation for the family.

• Date of the Next CWA District 9 Occupational Safety and Health Conference Call-

The next CWA District 9 Occupational Safety and Health Conference Call will be held on Monday, February 28, 2011 from 9:00- 11:00 a.m. (PST).