Can anyone answer a question for me concerning the unfathomable reason why it is so difficult for some employees to follow safety and security policies, be they OSHA, WISHA OR Qwest? Whichever of the above policies are ignored be it through ignorance or a blatant disregard is immaterial; whether the ignored policies result in a personal injury, a motor vehicle accident, property damage, harm or injury to a fellow employee or non-employee while being disastrous to those involved is still also immaterial.
What makes all of the above unfathomable is that even with safety training, safety meetings, safety committee minutes, State safety line message, and a Safety Violation Disciplinary Policy lurking in the background, far too many out there in Qwestland still have an attitude that they are indispensable and that all that counts is production accomplished in any way, shape, or form.
Management as we know occasionally winks and looks the other way but beware because when the do-do hits the fan you will officially become the sacrificial lamb on the altar of save-my -bum.
You, as a Qwest employee, need to realize that your fellow employees are being suspended and terminated due to safety violations. At the very least a warning letter is placed in the employee’s file.
So what’s a letter? Many may ask. Well, unless those who ask may have been living in the high Himalayas the last 18 months, the “So what?” letter is the first step of only three necessary to termination. But guess what? The letter can be a final notice type also because Qwest can, in all their wisdom, determine that due to any number of items in the employee’s past record that the employee qualifies for final notice.
Surprisingly, suspension need not be part of the final stop. Everyone needs to be aware of these items: first, you are not indispensable. Policy comes from on high in Qwest and in the rarified air of mile-high Denver you amount to zero, nothing, zilch, in the overall scheme of things. If you doubt it, have an accident or drop in production. Secondly, the safety violation disciplinary policy is being piggy-backed... I say again...piggy-backed on the back of the overall code of Conduct and employee production results. Why are they piggy-backing you ask? Think about it. Normal termination procedures must be accompanied by documented steps of discussion, warnings, letters in files, et cetera. The process puts the onus on management to follow defined procedures to prove that you are not a worthy employee.
Using the safety violation piggy-back in just 3 steps OR LESS, you can be dismissed. For example, they are using failure to produce to their expectation or violating absenteeism policy—just about any Code of Conduct/Qwest policy violation— to bypass the second or third step to safety violation dismissal! NOT JUST A SAFETY VIOLATION!”
Thirdly, demand safety meetings. Demand coverage on the Safety Violation Policy. Demand a union representation at any and all “palsy-walsy” meetings. Qwest is not your friend: it is a “thinning the ranks” employer!
Notify myself or another union representative if any of the above is evident, lacking, or denied
This year in Tacoma alone four fellow Unionists have been terminated. And ten have had letters of discipline or final notice placed in their file. The company is not playing games. I will close by again being repetitious. Be where you are supposed to be. Be doing what you are scheduled to be doing. Follow all safety policies be they OSHA, WISHA, or Qwest. No one is exempt or TOO valuable to ignore them.
Keep your temper and mouth under control. Don’t pull practical jokes. In today’s climate they will only result in problems. Demand safety equipment, meetings, and coverage.
Request Union representation at any and all suspicious “togetherness” meetings. Above all, remember safety and safety rules can be our greatest defense against corporate demands, but it can also be used as a method to circumvent due process to say good-by to you. So work safely and smart; the alternative could be disastrous
Dennis Garrett
Vice President
Safety Officer
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