Conducted Monday, December 17, 2007 from 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Agenda
Introductions-
- Robin Young, Secretary, CWA Local 2001
- Jeannie Blare, CWA Local 2002
- Stephen Broughman, Vice President, CWA Local 2007
- Casey Greene, Treasurer, CWA Local 2011
- Mark Balsamo, Executive Vice President and Kevin Miller, Vice President,
- CWA Local 2100
- Damon Dallas, CWA Local 2101
- Gary Waters, CWA Local 2107
- Carl Brogden, CWA Local 2108
- Oliver Barner, CWA Local 2201
- Tim Boggs and Alan Johnson, Vice President, CWA Local 2204
- Mark Anthony, CWA Local 2205
- Travis Carpenter, Vice President, and Jesse Davis, CWA Local 2222
- Bob Council, President, CWA Local 2275
- John Hughes, Secretary-Treasurer, CWA Local 2300
- Bill Evitt, CWA Representative and
- David LeGrande, CWA Occupational Safety and Health Director
Nineteen occupational safety and heath activists participated in the conference call. Of these seventeen were local union activists and two were CWA Staff.
National/Regional Occupational Safety and Health Issues-
David LeGrande provided an update re. asbestos legislation that has been introduced in the U.S. Congress. The "Ban Asbestos in America Act of 2007," introduced by Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) was passed by the Senate. However, the companion legislation introduced by Congresswoman Betty McCollum (D-MN) in the House of Representatives was not. However, these bills will be reintroduced during the 2008 Congressional session.
Jesse Davis, CWA Local 2222, brought up a recent case incident in which a member employed at Verizon Global experienced MRSA (Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus). Upon reporting this case to Verizon management, the Company representative refused to have the immediate work (i.e., where the worker performs his work) as well as the bathroom sanitized. This action is in direct conflict with recommendations issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. Joined by Travis Carpenter,Vice President, CWA Local 2222, Jesse went on to mention the Local will continue pressing to ensure the member is provided the required medical treatment and Verizon ensures the workplace is free from hazards associated with MRSA.
Electrical Hazards-
Mark Balsamo and Kevin Miller, CWA Local 2100, reported Verizon has completed the electrical hazards training as required by the settlement agreement negotiated among the Maryland Department of Labor/OSHA, CWA, and Verizon. Also, upon the Company's completion and Union's review of a training component targeting electrical hazards experienced by central office and engineering technicians, this training will be provided to workers employed in these occupations.
Electrical hazards training will be conducted in Virginia and West Virginia during January and February, 2008. Upon receipt of the training schedule, this information will be provided to all affected locals.
Oliver Barner, CWA Local 2201, and Gary Waters, CWA Local 2107, joined this conversation stressing the importance of both ensuring the training is successfully completed and annual refresher training is provided (as called for in the noted settlement agreement).
Carl Brogden, CWA Local 2108, brought up the topic of rubber blankets- their provision to and use by Company technicians. At present, Verizon should be issuing rubber blankets to lineman and, upon request, to other technicians. However, the Company is not complying with this requirement. Therefore, technicians should be requesting the provision of a rubber blanket and, if the blanket is not provided, technicians should request alternative work until the Company provides the rubber blanket(s).
Mark Balsamo, CWA Local 2100, and Jesse Davis, CWA Local 2222, discussed the issue of dielectric cable indicating within Maryland the electric companies are within compliance.
Indoor Air Quality-
Robin Young, CWA Local 2001, reported the progress of an Indoor Air Quality incident at the represented AT&T customer service location in Charleston, West Virginia. After several workers experienced indoor air related health problems, the Local successfully convinced the Company to provide the appropriate medical treatment to the affected workers as well as correct the hazards (including making roof repairs and replacing wet carpets and drywall in the ceiling and walls) that caused the health problems to develop.
Participant Reports/New Issues-
John Hughes, CWA Local 2300, mentioned AT&T had recently placed a clear sealer over brick walkways. Although visually attractive, when the surface becomes wet, it becomes very slippery leading to numerous worker slips and falls. He wondered if anyone else had experienced a similar problem and if they had found any resolution.
Oliver Barner, CWA Local 2201, indicated Verizon had placed a similar substance on a brick walkway producing the same slippery surface. This problem was corrected when the Company agreed to apply an abrasive coating on top of the treated/slippery surface. Since then, there have not been any slip or fall incidents.
Tim Boggs, CWA Local 2204, mentioned the heaters provided by Verizon for use in aerial buckets are getting so hot they are melting the floor of the bucket. This issue will be passed on to Bill Evitt for discussion with the Company.
Bobby Council, CWA Local 2275, noted an incident in which members- who recently attended a Verizon "Day of Safety" meeting- were told their footwear was not in compliance with OSHA requirements. Thus the Company told these workers to report back to their work locations. Bobby noted the inconsistency in this behavior, i.e., why the footwear was okay to wear on the job, but not okay to wear to the safety meeting.
Oliver Barner, CWA Local 2201, noted the tramping rods are improperly stored/stabilized in Verizon trucks creating a potential safety and health hazard, i.e, whenever the vehicle is brought to sudden stop, i.e., the tramping rod may become a missile-like projectile. This issue should be addressed before a Verizon worker or member of the public becomes a victim. Participants encouraged this matter be addressed locally as well as within the CWA/Verizon negotiated safety and health committee.
Also, Oliver addressed two incidents in Fredericksburg, Virginia in which Verizon supervisors insisted bargaining unit members perform their work in such a manner that would have needlessly exposed them to electrical/power lines. Oliver indicated this matter was properly handled when the affected workers communicated with the local and requested alternative work until the electrical hazard(s) was/were corrected. In the near future, he will be writing a summary of these cases for inclusion in the next conference call as well as distribution to Bill Evitt and all District 2 locals.
Date of the Next District 2 Occupational Safety and Health Conference Call-
The next District 2 OSH Conference Call will be held on Monday, March 17, 2008 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
