Safety Corner March/April 2001

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.”

By now every employee should have been covered on the original version of this policy; it was mandatory, but this change puts the teeth into the policy. The sample of violations that can will lead to suspension or termination are in the A-02.5 section; but let me emphasize these do not represent all possible areas of enforcement.

It is mandatory that this policy be represented to all employees annually the same as asbestos, lead, first aid/blood-born pathogens, review, defensive driving review and hearing. It is up to you as an employee to DEMAND your safety right of coverage and notify me, your safety officer/ VP and CWA MOSCH regional representative, as well as one of the Tacoma committee members, of your supervisor’s failure to comply. Why? Because they too can be brought up on charges of failure to follow policy.

As your safety rep. I have very little sympathy for employees who fail to follow established safety policy and laws, and I will be the first to let the violators know this fact. Also there are some employees, (they know who they are and that I know who they are) who deserve some severe punishment before someone is killed, but it has never been CWA’s policy to bargain for or agree with termination as a solution to any problem.

CWA Dist 7 leadership has notified Dave Heller of Qwest that they do not agree with this safety policy. All members of CWA are expected to do following actions:

1. Members, local officers, safety committees should document all safety meetings, dates, time and those in attendance. This information may become critical in a grievance procedure.
2. Each member must insist on being properly trained and equipped, before undertaking a work assignment. If you have a question about training or proper equipment, contact management to arrange for training before doing the work; document request for training and or equipment.
3. Follow all safety rules as if your job and life depend upon it— they do! Understand that your immediate supervisor is required to provide training and equipment and to enforce this new policy.
4. Use the grievance procedure as appropriate, as Qwest is looking for “examples” as they prepare to defend themselves in citation review with OSHA and WISHA. To do this they must show a written enforcement of their policy. Don’t be the first.

Qwest is one of the best safety-oriented corporations in the USA, but the trend has swung from “let’s train, supply, and make field visits” to “123, you’re out of here.” CWA and yours truly has no patience with anti-safety attitudes among our members, but we do demand that Qwest management practice what they preach.

Yours in Safety,

Dennis Garrett
Vice President
Safety Officer

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