How many distractions can occur in one six month period? Contract expiration; Contract negotiations; Contract refusal; local officer elections; District 7 Officer elections; State Political Elections; National Political Elections; Nation’s economy upheaval; day to day survival problems; and in spite of all these distractions Qwest employees are expected to ignore them and push harder.
But one thing that all employees need to remember is that even with the above issues being a fact the one something that is still a constant and is bigger than Qwest is “SAFETY IN THE WORKPLACE”. And the Safety laws that provide it. These safety laws and policies can work in two directions. Ignoring them in the name of production can cost you your job but conversely not being reinforced by the employer, i.e. equipment, training, and mandatory meetings will result in actions being leveled against Qwest for equally impacting safety violations through the grievance procedure or L&I DOSH. The State if Washington L&I is not intimidated by a Qwest lawyer.
Big brother is watching all employees but a bigger brother watches Qwest, i.e. OSHA, Washington DOSH, and your CWA local safety officers. Contractual committees such as the regional MOSHC, the various state MOSHCS, and each local’s standing city MOSHC. The Tacoma local has a very strong presence on these CWA/Qwest committees with myself a CWA regional MOSHC member, Mike Nord the state CWA co-chair of the Washington State MOSHC, and Laurie and Kevin on the city MOSCH. Our local has a strong monitoring presence on Qwest safety practices. Also almost every crew in Tacoma has safety rep member on the Tacoma MOSHC. With all of the above resources available no member of local 7804 should have to compromise their safety or health conditions in the workplace.
Missed monthly safety meetings, lack of up to date safety gear, pressure to provide customer service in spite of unsafe or unhealthy work conditions, etc, are just a few items an employee does not have to ‘just accept’. Use your local safety reps. No one can respond to your safety needs if you fail to report them.
Cutting safety corners when working may appear to be a “who will see me this once’ good idea but remember that you are they one who will suffer with either an injury, accident or potential loss of employment, not your supervisor.
Call Mike Nord, 297-8203 or Dennis Garrett, 640-1253 if a safety issue arises. Don’t simply accept it as a norm.
One motor vehicle issue from the recent rodeo; over 70 quarts of oil were added to far too many vehicles that came through the rodeo. It is the operator’s responsibility to check the fluids of their vehicle as suggested by fleet during fueling. Fleet is going to request that disciplinary measures be taken if an engine is lost due to low oil. So a word to the wise, check your oil. Remember the following:
NO JOB IS SO IMPORTANT AND NO SERVICE SO URGENT THAT WE CANNOT TAKE THE TIME TO PERFORM OUR WORK SAFELY
Dennis Garrett
Local 7804 Vice President and Safety Officer
Regional MOSHC Representative.
253 572-7804
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