June 5, 2013. Health & Safety training in Kent, WA. CWA locals represented: 7803 Renton, 7804 Tacoma, 7800 Seattle, Olympia 7810. 

In the midst of a difficult collective bargaining season, Health, Safety, and Environment trainings continue in CWA District 7. 

Trainers: Rodrigo Toscano (Labor Institute / TMC); Mike Nord, CWA District 7 training coordinator; Bill MaCaleer, CWA-TMC trainer. 

“Reporting a work injury or illness is a core employee right and retaliating  against a worker for reporting an injury or illness is illegal discrimination.”

OSHA March 2012 Memorandum.  

TMC trainings build on hazard control / abatement success stories. Issues affecting members are listed at the beginning of every training. Lessons learned loop back to clear and present hazards that the memberships identify. 

Safety Process Model: 

1. Identify Hazards 

2. Prioritize (through local committee and/or district leadership)

3. Control Hazard

CWA Northwestern United States members include drivers, splicers, central office technicians, customer service centers and many other duties and job descriptions.

All positions benefit from Health & Safety awareness training. Everybody shares the power of experience and knowledge during trainings. 

May 6th, 2013. Health & Safety Training for CWA 7901, Portland.

Trainers, Rodrigo Toscano (Labor Institute/United Steelworkers; Mike Nord (CWA District 7 training coordinator); Bill McAleer, CWA-TMC trainer.

Tony Mazzocchi Center (TMC) trainings emphasize real world H&S problems. CWA members/trainees are given ample opportunity to air H&S issues that are currently affecting the membership. TMC trainers loop back all curriculum lessons to the issues laid down at the beginning of each training. 

TMC-CWA District 7 trainer, Bill McAleer, emphasizing the importance of accurately lining up individual “events” of an incident (accident or near miss).

Constructing a grievance defense of members must rely on clear-headed assessments of hazards that exist in the workplace environment.

CWA 7901, Portland, after a day of Occupational Safety & Health Training.

Possible OSHA 11C3 (injury reporting suppression or intimidation) violations were reviewed by members.

April 19, 2013. CWA 2222, Annandale, VA; Rodrigo Toscano, USW / TMC; Alan Jonson, TMC CWA trainer; Don Lewis, CWA Local 2222 president. 

Stewards are asked wether they’ve ever experienced Heat Stress symptoms on the job. 

A CWA member describes his experience with Heat Stress symptoms. 

CWA Local 2222 stewards gather for a group pic after OSH training.  

April 2-3, 2012. Union Approach Training, CWA Local 6215, Dallas, TX. 

Labor College Health and Safety Education Specialist, Sharon Simon; Rodrigo Toscano, TMC, Trainer and Coordinator; Bonnie Matthias, Local 6215 Vice President; Randy Rodriguez, CWA Local 6222 Health & Safety chair. 

Union Approach + Heat Stress Training Agenda  

8:30 – 9:45        Activity 1 – Introductory Activity – Hazards on the Job (75 min.)

9:45 – 10:15      Activity 4a – Changes in the Workplace (Large Group) (30 min.)

10:15 – 10:45    Management’s Overall Plan for Work and the Workplace (30 min.)

10:45 – 11:00    Break (15 min.)

11:00 – 11:30    Impacts of Workplace Change on Members and Unions (30 min.)

11:30 – 12:30    Problems Solved and Unsolved (60 min.)

12:30 – 1:30      Lunch (60)

1:30 – 2:15        Confronting Behavior-Based Safety (45 min.)

2:15 – 3:15        Developing a Strategic Plan to Improve Workplace Health and Safety  (60 min.)

3:15 – 3:30        Break

3:30 – 4:30        Heat Stress Prevention Training

Towards the end of the day, focus groups of 5 to 8 people hone in on specific H&S issues to build campaigns around. 

Day one of Union Approach To Health & Safety Training.