GUESS, WHAT FOLKS?
It is time to wake up and smell the roses or whatever that smell is that is emanating from the “Mile High Metropolis.”
Our benevolent employer, Qwest, has decided that “we,” their spoiled employees, are the cause of “their” mismanaged empire’s rapid slide into the proverbial toilet.
What is their solution to this inane concept? You guessed it: it is to hand out pink slips to thousands of their dedicated employees, management and craft, which will create an increase in uncovered work loads; which will naturally increase performance pressure on those of us still employed and also the go-go-go-damn-the-torpedoes-full-steam-ahead method of corporate managing will be increasingly evident.
Employee intimidation, I.E., threats to return contractors if goals are not met, more jobs will be lost if “needs of the service" are not met—forced overtime again in the guide of “needs of the service” will be use constantly.
Yet even with all of the above, why do our people continue to volunteer to assume pseudo-managerial positions to relieve Qwest from these lack of knowledgeable, available manager only to create a further lack of available technicians in the field to get the work done?
Nearer and dearer to my heart, though, is why are so many employees still satisfied to accomplish Qwest work in a manner where safety is compromised?
Your local is still defending some of your fellow employees because of alleged safety violations using the Qwest Safety Violation Disciplinary Policy.
Your Local is still defending some of your fellow employees for alleged violations involving Code of Conduct/Performance.
These are the facts: our ranks are being thinned using all means and methods available. No one is exempt or too valuable to become a statistic. Seniority, job title, supposed contacts in Qwest higher-ups are of no significance. I f you provide the means Qwest will find the way to divest itself of you , be it through the Code of Conduct, Performance standard or safety reason. So, Be Aware.
The easiest violation to prosecute is a Safety violation. One incident has can and will put an employee either on final warning, suspension or at the door at the whim of the Qwest management. There is at best a one two three you're gone procedure but let me emphasize one thing and that is it could be ONE and you’re gone with the chance of successfully reversing a safety violation disciplinary judgment being very, very remote, especially in today’s corporate agenda.
So for all of us out the in Qwestland:” 1) review the letter concerning safety that I wrote and to all individuals. 2) report to me any failures by supervision to provide safety gear , training, monthly safety meetings and to read Tacoma safety committee minutes at those meeting 3) do your job safely per Qwest, WISHA, DOT and OSHA guidelines as well as your own common sixth sense 4)follow night work safety guidelines, no exceptions.5)report any and all safety problems to me or another Union official for investigative action. 6)don’t accept budget restraint excuses for lack of safety gear of material availability safety has no budget restrainst. 7) expect and demand a safe work environment and management’s responsibility to provide it. 8) and last but definitely not least you need to be proactive and diligent safety wise at all times; you need to demand a safe work environment; you need to follow all safety rules at all times; you need to realize that you are ultimately responsible for you and your safety. Why? Because you are the one who is ultimately discharged injured or, God forbid, killed. So remember: no job is so important and no service is so urgent that we cannot take time to perform our work safely.
Dennis Garrett
Vice President
Safety Officer
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