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District 2 Retreat Participants |
23 Occupational safety and health activists representing ten District 2 Locals attended the retreat. All of the participants were from the telecommunications sector. Also, three Headquarters safety and health staff and Jack Dotson, CWA Representative- District 2, were in attendance.
The Local Union Issues panelists were Aleta Hoy, Local 2108, and Jesse Davis, Local 2222. Both Aleta and Jesse are the chairs of their Local Safety and Health Committee. Jesse gave the activist information on the CWA First Responder Awareness program taught jointly with The Center for Labor Education and Research, University of Alabama at Birmingham. The information focused on recognition of hazardous chemicals, health outcomes, hazardous materials regulations, and the role of first responders. It was made clear through participants' discussion that emergency response hazards exist in many CWA-represented bargaining units, including manufacturing, telecommunications, health care, and the public sector.
Aleta Hoy discussed the issues of ergonomics hazards and measures of prevention. Explaining the seriousness of repetitive motion illness, she mentioned that ergonomic hazards are encountered by members who work in both (outside and inside) craft jobs as well as those who work in call center jobs. Regardless of the work, jobs requiring significant repetitive motion result in numerous repetitive motion injuries and illnesses. This subject generated much discussion about the identification and recognition of ergonomic hazards and the prevention of repetitive motion health problems.
Also, Aleta explained the position Verizon is taking on the issue of light duty or restricted duty work in call centers. She indicated that if one member cannot talk due to a throat problem and another cannot type due to recovery from carpal tunnel syndrome, the two are crowded into one cubicle where one affected member talks to the customer and the other types information into the computer. If you are a Customer Service Professional you know this is not a solution and will not work. There has been a grievance filed on this issue.
John Hughes, Local 2300, and Jack Dotson, CWA Representative-
District 2, discussed the procedures and various activities of the CWA/Verizon Occupational Safety and Health Committee. The committee, which meets quarterly, has focused upon many issues of importance to CWA.
The importance of an active Safety and Health Committee in each local was stressed. Commitments were made to update existing committees and develop a committee were one does not exist.
Ron Gaskins, President of Local 2004, and Ann McQueary discussed in detail how to use safety and health as an organizing tool. This was not a new topic; however, it did draw lots of discussion and rekindled some passions.
Charlie Barrett, CWA Staff, covered how to use the internet as a safety and health resource. He provided a handout to all the participants which elicited several questions and answers. His presentation should result in increased use of CWA's safety and health web page.
The Retreat was a huge success: lots of information was shared and learned. Indeed, several participants indicated that they learned a lot and had fun doing it.
Keep occupational safety and health active in you Local!
