Unless Mars has been your home planet for the last few months, everyone should be fully aware of the distressing, depressing, and devastating effect upon most employees' 401ks, quality of work and for far too many their job security that the mismanagement of Qwest has created. The much touted trucks, training, and tools promise has gone the same direction as the hundreds of millions of dollars of those who showed their faith by investing in both their own and Qwest’s future by buying Qwest/Uswest stock—lots of it—in the toilet.
Of course, those who thrive in the very thin air of the Mile High City in the further rarified atmosphere of corporate skyscrapers have suffered nary the loss of a dime, but only a gentle tweak to their massive egos. But one thing that has been perfected besides the ability to mismanage has been the every expanding ability to intimidate and practice the “1984” Big Brother syndrome. We employees are being watched, itineraries are being-double checked, dispatch records perused, cell phone usage monitored and the use of the old “follow that truck” by security is ever ongoing, all in the guise of saving funds to save jobs.
Also as I have stated many times our members are jeopardizing their paychecks and employment on a daily basis due to safety violations knowingly or otherwise. So with all of these involuntary opportunities to become unemployed one would think that a wake up call would ring throughout the land; but alas alas even as most struggle along following policy, i.e., obeying rules and policies, orders, mandates, law, edicts, etc. etc., trying to keep that old stiff upper lip and hoping beyond hope that time will get better and most importantly are still thankful that even with all the ongoing trial and tribulations that most still have a job.
Some, though, seem to be determined to do just the opposite. Every time a Qwest/CWA employee voyage out of route, bunches up at the favorite watering hole or allows work or personal related feelings to effect their on the job attitudes towards their fellow workers, supervisor or the customer, that individual's days on the payroll are numbered.
The old Qwest Code of Conduct is being used extensively by management to keep all of us cattle under control. Even rarely used areas such as failure to submit properly and timely job-related paper work or meet job commitments are resulting in letters being placed in personnel files.
Most C of C items have a step by step control feature but conversely safety violations can and are being used as a third strike you’re out scenario. Even though there is supposedly a three step procedure to the safety disciplinary policy, punishment can and has been escalated depending on supervision's whim. In some cases harder punishment is warranted based on the potential of a life threatening possibility but generally the punishment handed down has the possibility of being personality biased or a numbers game.
Final letters of warning are just that: “A FINAL LETTER” and those little babies are being handed out like popcorn in Safety violations situations at any step, at the discretion of not only Department Supervision but the Wash. State safety manager.
In summation—if any out there in the every shrinking realm of Qwestland feel immune to Qwest’s security force’s ability or the Safety Violating Disciplinary Policy just continue on your present course and I will guarantee that you will probably “ride the light” into unemployment.
If on the other hand continuous, problem free employment is one’s desire that the answer is simple—Follow the Rules!
I still cannot believe that number of employee I still see no using safety vest, WAP, PPE etc. This isn't acceptable either for one’s safety and welfare but for the potential of severe discipline. Safety is Paramount. Any deviations need to be reported. NO; not just need to be— it is your obligation to be sure to report deviations or problems. Contact me on 253 640 1253: I have made myself available to you ;so call: that’s what I get the big bucks for!
No one has been fired for following safety policy, questioning a potentially unsafe or unhealthy situation, or demanding their safety rights. But you are the one who is ultimately responsible for you both safety and employment wise, which is one in the same; believe me. Remember this; it says it all: NO JOB IS SO IMPORTANT AND NO SERVICE IS SO URGENT THAT WE CANNOT TAKE TIME TO PEFORM OUR WORK SAFELY.
Dennis Garrett
Vice President
Safety Officer
Back to the Safety Archives