E-Board Member
Grievance Update
Open: 173
Resolved This Week: 0
Resolved MTD: 7
Resolved QTD: 18
Resolved YTD: 103
Although I did not settle any of the grievances currently assigned to me this week, that certainly did not mean grievance work stopped. I was able to assist in other areas by successfully writing three additional grievances, all three of which were resolved this week.
While those settlements are not reflected in my individual grievance numbers above, they still represent positive results for our members. At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter whose grievance numbers get the credit—the goal is to work together, address our members’ issues, and get results whenever and wherever we can.
Benefits Update – Voluntary Union Benefits
I spent a significant amount of time this week helping members update their voluntary union benefits through NGP. Most members who currently have these benefits should have received a letter on Monday or Tuesday regarding their coverage and the updates that need to be completed.
If you received one of these letters, please don’t ignore it. Take a few minutes to review the information and make sure you understand what, if anything, you need to do regarding your benefits.
If you have questions, are having trouble completing the update, or simply aren’t sure what you need to do, please reach out. I will be more than happy to help walk you through the process and make sure you get pointed in the right direction.
Don’t wait until you need a benefit to find out there was something you needed to update.
Safety Corner – Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF)
Unfortunately, we are once again talking about the Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) fire-suppression system.
This week, the system was discharged in Hangar 2, creating another significant mess and once again raising concerns about employee exposure and the proper cleanup and handling of this material.
If you came into contact with the foam or believe you may have been exposed during the incident or cleanup, I strongly recommend that you at least file an injury report. Even if you are not experiencing any immediate symptoms, documenting a potential workplace exposure creates a record of the incident and your involvement should an issue arise later.
One of my biggest concerns continues to be that, to my knowledge, we still do not have a clearly communicated Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for employees regarding the cleanup and handling of these foam discharges. We have raised this issue before, and I will continue raising it until we receive clear answers regarding the proper PPE, containment, cleanup, disposal, and employee-exposure procedures.
Until we receive those answers, please protect yourself. Do not assume that because something is being cleaned up that it is automatically safe to handle. Ask questions, use the appropriate PPE, and if you believe you were exposed, document it.
Your safety and health are more important than getting a mess cleaned up quickly.
Welfare & Entertainment
We have several events coming up, so be sure to mark your calendars!
Tulsa Drillers Homestand – September 1–6
The next Tulsa Drillers homestand will be September 1st through September 6th.
Trunk or Treat – October 24th
Our Welfare & Entertainment Committee is preparing for this year’s Trunk or Treat. More information and details will be coming as we get closer to the event.
TWU Adult Party – November 21st
Mark your calendars for our TWU Adult Party at the Hard Rock on Saturday, November 21st. We are looking forward to another great evening with our members and celebrating 80 years of TWU Local 514!
Stay tuned for additional information on all of these events as the dates get closer.
At the end of the day, this Union belongs to you—the membership.
Every grievance we fight, every safety concern we raise, every benefit issue we work through, and every conversation we have with the Company is about protecting the men and women who show up every day and keep this operation moving.
We may not win every battle overnight, and sometimes getting answers takes longer than any of us would like. But that doesn’t mean we stop asking questions, stop pushing for answers, or stop standing up for what is right.
A strong Union isn’t built by one officer, one committee, or one person. It is built by members standing together, looking out for one another, and refusing to forget that an injury to one is an injury to all.
There will always be people who try to divide us, discourage us, or convince us that our voice doesn’t matter. Don’t buy into it. When we stand together, communicate with each other, and remain involved, our collective voice is much stronger than any one of us could ever be alone.
Stay informed. Stay involved. Look out for your Union Brothers and Sisters. And most importantly, never forget—the Union is only as strong as the membership standing behind it.
United we stand. Together we are TWU Local 514.
Daron
918-402-0089
DMorgan@twumail.org