Safety Corner September/October 2001

For those who still have no realization of who I am, let me introduce myself. The name is Dennis Garrett. I am your Local 7804 Vice-President, Safety Officer, and a Steward. I am the CWA co-chair of the Tacoma Safety Committee, a member of the Washington State Safety committee and one of the three CWA Local officers appointed to the CWA/Qwest regional safety committee known as the Mutual Occupation Safety and Health Committee (MOSHC), representing all 14 Qwest States. I have also been employed by PNB-USWest-Qwest for 34 years as a Net Tech.

Why you may ask do I pass on all of this information? I do it in hopes that when you hear or read any information that I put forth for your edification that you will, after seeing my qualifications and background, take it seriously, be it my Safety Committee minutes, daily Safety line message, through personal contact, or in the form of these articles.

Why is this of concern? It is a concern because I still see safety risks being taken, safety violations constantly happening and a rather cavalier attitude toward safety being exhibited by some techs.

Some out there in Qwestland need to wake up and smell the roses concerning their safety attitudes. The number of employees of any seniority level either being terminated, put on final notice with suspension, or being disciplined with first step letters in their files are growing unbelievably day to day. Qwest’s Code of Conduct, of which Safety Violations are part, are being lumped together in many cases to facilitate an almost instant termination to avoid the steps that should be used under normal conditions. So let a word to the wise be sufficient—get it together.

Safety items to be especially aware of:

1. UEV/CEV locations must never be entered if any, I repeat, any safety item is compromised, ie. Alarm-warning lights-blowers, etc. Any problems need to be reported to Building Maintenance and your supervisor. Do not enter without an MSA atmosphere tester and portable blower. These sites are considered utility holes with the same Qwest and Wisha entry policies.
2. x-connect boxes, RT sites, lightspans, etc, that need upgrading or pulloffs, need to be reported to myself, your supervisor or safety committee rep for review. We have a commitment from Qwest to make these areas more safe, but they need to be reported.
3. Demand of your supervisor to listen to my morning safety line, 1-206-345-7233. It should be done daily, the same as safety meeting are mandated monthly. I put a lot of relevant info on the safety line each day. If listening to the line or having safety meetings is a problem with your supervisor, contact me on 253-640-1253. It goes to my pager.
4. Read your Local 7804 mail outs and quarterly paper, demand safety meetings-training-equipment, listen to my daily safety message, stay in route, do your job safely and efficiently and the wolf will stay away from your door and you will be informed.

One last item. Code of Conduct, violence in the workplace, which makes an unsafe workplace is been used to terminate a growing number of employees. This accusation is very hard to defend due to the lack of exact detailed criteria. All it takes is an accusation, a half baked investigation by a voice on the phone and you’re toast. We as employees have definite rights and our own course of action but you as a potential target must follow and demand them:

First: Never go into any meeting with management without asking what it is for and if you are in doubt-DEMAND UNION REPRESENTATION. If it is denied say nothing and notify us ASAP. Managers represent QWEST; CWA represents you, the employee, so protect yourself and ask for Union rep. Management is under no obligation to remind you. This criteria needs to be followed especially where safety is concerned because the termination path is very short that direction.

Second: Do not Put up with management’s use of inappropriate language or their attempt to intimidate. QWEST is using the Code of Conduct violation against employees so we need to retaliate. Supervisors are not immune to Conc. policy dictates but you must keep a record and try to have a witness but in any case management must be made accountable for their actions so immediately contact Union rep for a follow up grievance. Respect is a two way street.-that is Company and CWA policy.

Contact me for safety questions and all Union reps if any contract questions arise.

Its your right.

Yours in Safety,

Dennis Garrett
Vice President
Safety Officer

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