October 2013 District 3 OSH Conference Call

CWA District 3 Occupational Safety and Health Conference Call
Conducted Tuesday, October 3, 2013 from 1:00-3:00 p.m.

• Participants-
  Roy Ulibarri, President, CWA Local 3102
  Mike Stovall, President, CWA Local 3106
  Rick Meyer, CWA Local 3108
  Tony Selmack, Vice President, CWA Local 3111
  Dennis Kitchens, Executive Vice Preisdent, CWA Local 3120
  Bill Eberhardt, CWA Local 3176
  Stanley Long, Vice President, CWA Local 3205
  Will Newsome, Vice President, CWA Local 3212
  David Robinson, CWA Local 3218
  Ben Price, President, CWA Local 3304
  Al Guillory, President, CWA Local 3407
  Steve Edler, President, CWA Local 3410
  Dugg Harrison, President, CWA Local 3411
  Chris Myrick, President, CWA Local 3607
  John Bumgarner, President, CWA Local 3608
  Robbie Pace, CWA Local 3806
  Jeff Houston, CWA Local 3903
  Isa Shabazz, CWA Representative, and
  Booker Lester, Administrative Director, CWA District 3
  David LeGrande, CWA Occupational Safety and Health Director

• Participant Reports/New Issues-

Mike Stovall, CWA Local 3106, mentioned the location of fiber optic equipment racks within manholes presents serious potential injuries. He said this issue has been brought to management’s attention without resolution. Participants suggested he review company procedures and the OSHA Telecommunications Standard to review required clearance distances.

Robbie Pace, CWA Local 3806, and Dennis Kitchens, CWA Local 3120, reported victories in which AT&T settled member OSHA Section 11(c) discrimination cases.

Roy Ulibarri, CWA Local 3102, discussed the need for two-way communication for manhole work.

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

Isa Shabazz, CWA Representative, mentioned a number of issues which were discussed during the last meeting including:

Gaffing with green poles- Technicians are being required to climb green poles with the use of gaffs. However, since gaffs are not able to properly penetrate the pole, their use presents a serious safety issue for technicians.
Motor vehicle trailers- The hitch points on company motor vehicles allow for the possibility of roll-overs. This issue is presently being investigated.

Isa mentioned the AT&T representatives are continuing to be slow in providing the union safety flashes. He is working to have the company become more responsive.

Going forward, Isa stressed the need to negotiate more effective procedures and policies/contract language with AT&T.

• CWA/USW Occupational Safety and Health Training-

David LeGrande highlighted the CWA/USW training under the union’s grant funded by the National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences. During July and August, 2013, Billy O’Dell, CWA Local 3215 and the District 3 occupational safety and health grant trainer, co-conducted training sessions at CWA Local 3106, Orlando, Florida and CWA Local 3104, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Participants indicated the training was right on target allowing them to increase their safety and health knowledge and activity. Another training session is scheduled for November 8 at CWA Local 3802, Chatanooga, Tennessee. Moving into 2014, additional sessions will be conducted in other District 3 locations.

• 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. David noted funding for the Union’s Heat Stress Strategic Industry Fund has been extended from July, 2013 to July, 2014.

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

David LeGrande discussed the national conference noting CWA District 2-13 Vice President Ed Mooney addressed participants on Monday, September 23. As well, Brian Hooker, CWA Local 4034, participated 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 featured more than 200 workshops on some 100 different occupational and environmental safety and health topics. Of note, some 1,400 CWA and USW safety and health activists participated in the conference.

• 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 Thursday, January 9, 2014 from 1:00- 3:00 p.m. (EST).