Conducted Wednesday, December 12, 2007 from 10:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m.
Particpatnts-
- Bill Henning, Vice President, CWA Local 1180
- Eddie Luster, CWA Local 1102
- Beth Fronczak, CWA Local 1118
- Rick White, CWA Local 1701/Alliance@IBM
- Steve Barreres, NABET-CWA Local 51016
- Ray Cavallaro, IUE-CWA Local 81381
- David LeGrande, Director, CWA Occupational Safety and Health Department
Agenda-
Introductions-
Seven (7) occupational safety and health (OSH) activists participated in the conference call. Of these, six were local union OSH activists representing six local unions. In addition, David LeGrande participated.
Electrical Hazards-
David LeGrande summarized the Maryland and Indiana Settlement Agreements with Verizon. Training on electrical hazards is progressing extremely well in District 2, with the completion of coverage for technicians in Maryland and Washington, D.C. During January and February, technicians in Virginia and West Virginia will participate in the training.
The Indiana Settlement Agreement has been signed. The effective date is the day upon which the agreement was signed (on or about December 5, 2007). Verizon will have six months from this date to complete the electrical hazards training in Indiana and an additional six months throughout the other District 4 states. David LeGrande will be working directly with CWA District 4 staff and local officers and OSH activists to ensure this process is completed with maximum union participation.
Going beyond the District 2 and District 4 Settlement Agreements, David mentioned he is discussing the translation of the verbal agreement providing nationwide coverage for the electrical hazards training into a written agreement with Verizon's Corporate Safety and Health Manager. He anticipates this process should be completed later this month or early January.
National/Regional Occupational Safety and Health Issues-
David LeGrande noted the passage of the "Ban Asbestos in America Act of 2007" (introduced by Patty Murray (D-WA) in the U.S. Senate. The companion piece of legislation introduced by Betty McCollum (D-MINN) in the House of Representatives will not be passed during this session of Congress. However, these bills will be re-introduced during the 2008 Congressional session during which time CWA, other unions, and allied organizations will be advocating and working for their passage.
Rick White, CWA Local 1701/Alliance@IBM, indicated the federal appropriations bill covering the U.S. Departments of Labor and Health and Human Services was vetoed by President Bush. This legislation included provisions for funding the proposed NIOSH Cancer Study among IBM Workers formerly employed at the Company's Endicott, New York manufacturing facility. In addition, Rick summarized the successful work conducted by the Local, CWA District 1 and the Union's Occupational Safety and Health Departments to make sure funding was included in the congressional appropriations bill. In closing, he said we will continue working to ensure coverage of this most important study in future appropriations bills.
World Trade Center Safety and Health Activities-
Bill Henning, CWA Local 1180, noted coverage difficulties presented by the recent decision of the New York City Medical Examiner regarding work-relatedness of illnesses/diseases/fatalities. In his opinion, the medical examiner ruled a police officer, who recently died from a disease associated with his work at the WTC, was not entitled to workers' compensation coverage. CWA, the New York Committee for Occupational Safety and Health (NYCOSH), and other organizations are working to have this controversial decision overturned.
CWA District 1 Occupational Safety and Health Retreat-
David LeGrande mentioned Micki Siegel de Hernandez, Director of the CWA District 1 Occupational Safety and Health Department, and himself have worked to tentatively schedule the 2008 safety and health retreat from June 5-7, location to be determined. He asked participants to please mark these days on their calendars for participation. Details on the retreat program will be provided in the near future.
New York State Zero Lift Taskforce-
Since neither Micki Siegel de Hernandez nor Dana McCarthy, CWA Local 1168, were able to participate in the conference call, this topic will be covered in the next call.
New York State Workplace Violence Prevention Program-
Ray Cavallaro, CWA Local 81381, and Bill Henning, CWA Local 1180, indicated the New York State Department of Labor recently conducted hearings focused upon the implementation of the workplace violence statute. The purpose of the hearings was to allow for input from interested stakeholders, including CWA and other unions representing affected public workers, before drafting and implementing provisions of the New York State Workplace Violence Prevention Law (which became effective during the mid-part of 2007).
Two very different viewpoints were presented during the hearings- one in favor of the law by unions representing public workers and another opposing the implementation of the law by public employers (including New York City). Unfortunately, such division will make the implementation of the law more difficult. Following the hearings, the State will issue regulations specific to workplace violence.
Participant Reports/New Issues-
Bill Henning, CWA Local 1180, reported on his participation in a stakeholder session regarding the redesign of New York Workers' Compensation claim forms. He mentioned he would provide updates about this important process.
Beth Fronzcak, CWA Local 1118, noted a number of workplace violence cases involving members against members have recently occurred within represented Verizon work locations. She asked if there were any specific CWA training programs that she could use to help solve the issues and problems responsible for these incidents. David LeGrande mentioned there was not a "canned" program available to address these issues. However, he indicated raising this concern with Micki Siegel de Hernandez and getting back with Beth.
Date of the Next CWA District 1 Occupational Safety and Health Conference Call-
The next District 1 Occupational Safety and Health Conference Call is scheduled for Wednesday, March 12, 2008 from 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
