In case anyone out there in mighty Qwestland is still living in the world of make-believe as to the true intentions of our illustrious employer, get your head out of the sand and take a bite of reality. Qwest holds the welfare of you, the craft employee, in the same frame of mind as they do their highly expendable supervisory corps, especially in the arena of safety. Qwest has again revised its SLPP (Safety and Loss Prevention Plan) book including section A.02.5, which, by the way, is not included in the employees’ copies only managements’ master manual. This is the third revision in as many years and at no time was the Mutual Occupational Safety and Health Committee ever asked to review or consider any changes, especially this latest change. Basically the new verbiage states: “The following MINIMUM disciplinary guidelines will be applied by management for violations of safety policies and/or practices that meet the non-exclusive criteria as specified in Section A of this practice. 1) “First occurrence is a written warning. 2) Second occurrence within a 12 month period, a written warning of dismissal with a mandatory unpaid suspension. Third occurrence within the same 12 months period, involuntary dismissal.” Click to continue »
March, 2001
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Safety Corner March/April 2001
Friday, March 2nd, 2001GOOD AND WELFARE…
Thursday, March 1st, 2001Anniversaries: Anthony Allen, 5 years; Elaine Allison, 32; Thomas Alsup, 21; James Belcher, 31; John Best, 34; Paul Brown, 5; Brian Browne, 18; Marsha Christian, 33; Victor Cissell, 25; Judy Eagle, 25; William Elzner, 35; Johnny Farber, 32; Richard Godwin, 33; Carey Grant, 5; James Griess, 21; Richard Hazen, 21; Julie Hoff; 24; Walter Hyatt, 24; Robert Jerke, 30; Kelly Kemp, 24; Lynn Larson, 34; Steven Lee, 24; Harold Lumley, 29; Jan Meeks, 29; Walter Miller, 5; David Mills, 22; Linda Noble, 5; Mike Nord, 22; Robert Nordin, 29; Wendi Patterson, 22; Robert Pine, 22; Tanara Reynolds, 20; Donald Rich, 34; Mark Rickey, 32; Karla Rothermel, 30; Daniel Sievers, 22; Lee Smith, 33; William Spina, 5; Kenneth Stiltner, 23; Frank Swilley, 23; Phyllis Taylor, 21; Delila Tomlinson, 22; Ronald Walsh, 5; William Waters, 24; Yvonne Wiggins, 21; Jacob Williams, 10; “CW” Wood, 22. Click to continue »
CWA Annual Picnic?
Thursday, March 1st, 2001Yes, it’s, March but it is time to mark your calendar for July29th. As in the past it will be held at the Sportsman’s’ Club on Canyon Road. More in the next issue of the Communicator.
StoryTime
Thursday, March 1st, 2001The Editor of The Communicator is looking for stories, funny, sad, inspiring, to be collected over a period of time, edited, and then released in a format yet to be decided upon. So please send (or e-mail) any anecdote, story, or “I remember” pieces relating to your job to the Local’s office in care of The Editor. More at a later date. Ed.
Qwest Payroll Problems
Thursday, March 1st, 2001By Secretary-Treasurer Randy Grams
Since the beginning of the new year, we have experience several payroll problems. If we don’t hear from you, we cannot help you get them resolved. The standard answer from management, “the correction will be on the next check,” is not acceptable. Click to continue »
Investigatory Interview?
Thursday, March 1st, 2001By Randy Grams
An investigatory interview occurs when a supervisor questions an employee to obtain information, which could be used as a basis for discipline or asks an employee to defend his or her conduct.
If your supervisor asks you to attend a meeting with him, and there are people in the room you don’t recognize (ie, security), you have a right to request union representation. If an employee has a reasonable belief that discipline or other adverse consequence may result from what he says the employee has a right to request union representation. Click to continue »
Reminder for Attendance and Short Term Disability at Qwest
Thursday, March 1st, 2001by Randy Grams
Once again it is time to remind our membership of what you are to do if you are reporting out sick from work. This is intended only as a reminder of what the expectations of the company are, and our ability to represent you should you not meet the requirement involved. Click to continue »
The President’s Corner
Thursday, March 1st, 2001by Clay Bowlby
Dear Member,
In the past month I have attended two meetings in Denver, Colorado. The first was the Qwest/CWA Presidents’ meeting. Ian Ziskin, who has replaced Tom Mathews as Executive Vice President for Human Resources, was on hand to give his view on the direction the company is taking and how it will affect the occupational employees at Qwest. He reiterated that the company intends to meet its commitment to Wall Street on downsizing. This means that some 4,500 employees will be leaving the payroll. The new plan includes eliminating 1,500 contractors as part of the layoff. That’s the good news; the bad news is that they would like to expedite the downsizing. A target goal is early spring. They say this while admitting that the titles and locations are as yet to be decided upon. It seems that as usual we have the cart in front of the horse. Click to continue »