CWA District 3 Occupational Safety and Health Conference Call

Conducted on November 14, 2007

Participants Included:

Rich Eddie, CWA Local 3105
Mike Casanova, CWA Local 3108
Clarence Stokes, CWA Local 3109
Fred Smith, CWA Local 3111
Joe Robertia, CWA Local 3112
Ralph Jordan, CWA Local 3121
Mark Handsman, Terry Sell and Nancy Underwood, CWA Local 3122
Susan Moss, CWA Local 3204
Mike Adler, CWA Local 3215
Roy Hegenbart, CWA Local 3250
Jeff Wolfe, CWA Local 3305
John Fleming, CWA Local 3315
Gary Coleman, CWA Local 3317
John O'Brien, CWA Local 3402
Walt Bagot, CWA Local 3403
Sandy Kemp, CWA local 3404
Bobby Beller and Judy Bruno, CWA Local 3406
Katherine Hay, CWA Local 3407
Jerry Lewis and Paul Pearson, CWA Local 3410
Dugg Harrison, CWA Local 3411
Jami Falgout, CWA Local 3412
Bob Pitts, CWA Local 3514
Ernie Johnson, CWA Local 3519
Richard Honeycutt, CWA Local 3605
Chris Myrick, CWA Local 3607
Johnny McCullum, CWA Local 3902
Jeremy Wallace, CWA Local 3903
Mary Layton, CWA Local 3905
James Hammell, CWA Local 3911
James Henderson and Chris Rodgers, CWA Local 3950
Booker Lester, Assistant Director to the VP, CWA District 3
Mike Fahrenholt, CWA Representative, CWA District 3
Isa Shabazz, CWA Representative, CWA District 3
David LeGrande, Director, CWA Occupational Safety and Health
Charlie Barrett, CWA Representative

Agenda-

Introductions-

Thirty four CWA District 3 Safety and Health activists participated in this call along with Booker Lester, Assistant Director to the VP, CWA District 3, James Fahrenholt, CWA Representative, CWA District 3, Isa Shabazz, CWA Representative, CWA District 3, David LeGrande, Director, CWA Occupational Safety and Health and Charlie Barrett, CWA Representative.

Louisiana Joint Safety Committee Report-

Dugg Harrison, CWA Local 3411, gave the report on the statewide committee. Dugg said that AT&T asked for a statewide committee (there was already a central Louisiana committee going). New management staff came in who were willing to take a chance. Previous management in the south did very little. Dugg said that every local is involved and that the Lafayette local brought a very good video that they put together. Bobby Beller, CWA Local 3406, said they tried doing a video before but that it was shot down by management. This video works because you see techs you work with everyday. One episode was a "cirle check" with music and graphics. Charlie Barrett, CWA Staff Representative, asked that a copy of the video be sent to the CWA Safety and Health Department.

Jerry Lewis, CWA Local 3410, said that there is some disciplinary action happening. These are in the grievance system now.

Nancy Underwood, CWA Local 3122, asked if the state wide committee covers all work categories. Dugg said that it did. Gary Coleman, CWA Local 3317, said that in Kentucky the statewide committee covered all work categories. He will send in minutes. Gary also mentioned that the company sent out an email stating that they are not to order new cones. Booker Lester, Administrative Director to the VP, said that he will check into this.

Hurricane Season Update-

We had a discussion of hurricane preparedness in District 3. Nancy said that there weren't any problems in Florida as the storms weren't strong enough this year. Dugg Harrison said that shortly after Katrina the company met with the union and has met with the union since then to go over storm preparations. Ralph Jordan, CWA Local 3121, asked if this was indicative to just Dugg's area or is it overall AT&T policy. Booker said that the District can make an inquiry to AT&T as to their overall preparedness policy. Dugg said that he can get a copy of the state plan and send it to Booker.

Charlie Barrett asked about the effectiveness of the University of Alabama/Birmingham training module. Johnny McCullum, CWA Local 3902, said that it was very helpful. Dave LeGrande, Director, CWA Occupational Safety and Health, informed participants that the hurricane response training material is being dedrafted and that the CWA will print it and have it distributed.

Electrical Hazards Training/Settlement Update-

David LeGrande went over the settlement agreement in District 2 for the electrocution death of Marvin Benson, a member of CWA Local 2100 employed as a lineman by Verizon. He said that the settlement agreement is on the CWA OSH Webpage. CWA Local 2100 filed an OSHA complaint against Verizon with Maryland OSHA (MOSH). Verizon contested the MOSH citations. During this process Dave worked with CWA Local 2100 officers and District 2 staff to draft a settlement agreement which would include electrical hazards training. Steven Koslow, IUE-CWA Associate Counsel also worked on the settlement agreement. Verizon agreed to the training proposal. The company is obligated to start training by September 1, 2007 and complete the training by March 1st of 2008. Training has already begun in Maryland and DC and will soon be started in Virginia and West Virginia.

The Indiana OSHA (IOSHA) case involving the electrocution death of Brent Cheney, member of CWA Local 4773, in a Verizon Central Office (CO), is moving along. Dave said that IOSHA was not of the mind to expand the citations (they issued two serious citations). Dave discussed with the Local and District 4 the idea of expanding the Maryland agreement to Indiana and District 4. The agreement is to be signed by the end of November. The company has agreed to expand training to all of District 4. Dave said that he is optimistic about the agreement being expanded to all Verizon technicians throughout the country. Dave said that he hopes to have discussions with the new AT&T Safety & Health Director about AT&T would adopting a similar approach. Booker Lester asked for AT&T Director's name so that we can get the companies Hurricane preparedness plan. Dave said it is Claire Krizov.

Fred Smith, CWA Local 3111, asked Dave what the training program is composed of. Dave said that it covers recognition of hazards that techs face, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), proper distances from power, what to do when hazards are identified and safety steps to follow. Dave said that companies said that they are only covered under the OSHA Telecommunications Standard. The training negotiated with Verizon goes beyond the Telecommunications Standard and also covers the OSHA Electric Power Generation Standard. Fred said that "Pole Top" rescue should be covered in the training. Dave said that it is covered in Verizon's training. Nancy said that AT&T uses FVD's (Foreign Voltage Detector). Dave said that the training brochure will cover FVD's.

Isocyanate Exposure Update-

Roy Hegenbart, CWA Local 3250, said that local found that the company was using the two bag mixing method. The local went to the company about this and the company said that they were moving to a double bag process where the ingredients are mixed inside the bag. The local is working on getting a written agreement. Roy said that company representative was unavailable for last meeting. Jeff Wolfe, CWA Local 3305, asked what is wrong with using bucket. Roy said that chemicals can aggravate respiratory problems. Dave Legrande said that chemicals can cause respiratory ailments and that locals should request MSDS's on encapsulant. He said that TDI is the most hazardous isocyanate; other isocyanates not as hazardous. There is a need to do comprehensive blood testing. Roy said that company agreed to do testing. Dave asked if company agreed to pay for testing. Roy said that they haven't gotten that far. Chris Rodgers, CWA Local 3950, asked what is being done about protective equipment especially for outside construction crews. Roy said that company said that they would provide respirators (OSHA said to mix chemicals in well ventilated areas).

Jerry Lewis said that this issue came up back in June and said that Bell South (now AT&T) is using the proper ingredients (not the same as in Georgia). Dave LeGrande said that when he discussed this with 3410 they went back to look at the product. It is 3M encapsulant and does not contain the isocyanate. Roy said that AT&T would be purchasing the Bell South compounds.

District 3 Safety and Health Retreat-

We had a discussion of possible dates and locations for the 2008 District 3 Safety & Health Retreat. Possible locations with union hotels are Jacksonville, FL, Tunica, MS and New Orleans, LA. Late March or mid May look to be the best dates.

Next Conference Call-

The next conference call is scheduled for Wednesday, January 30, 2008 from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. (EDT).