Ralph Curnew - CUPW Glace Bay Co-Chair
Lew Palmer - Mgt. Sydney - Co-Chair
Robert Gamier - CUPW North Sydney
Brian Pottie - Supvr Relief
Sandy McInnis - CUPW Retail Station "A"
Paul Ashe - Supvr North Sydney
Ron Jabalee - CUPW UMO
Ken MacKillop - CUPW New Waterford Retail
Dan McCormack - CUPW Sydney
Andrew Gingell - CUPW Sydney
Dave Fillmore - Local Area manager
Cameo Visit - Janice Maclnnis - Medisys

Lew opened the meeting welcoming the new members and briefing them on the procedures for these meetings - frequency, format, agenda etc.

Dave Fillmore added that there is the pending LJOSH Training in Halifax, which may cause some alterations to our current procedures. Training dates are not fixed yet.

OLD BUSINESS:

NORTH SYDNEY:

• The issue for a step van or right hand drive vehicle or alternative solution for Mobile # 7 is still on the table with Route measurement. Some Route measurement Officers are in town this week and this issue is being assessed for near future solution.

GLACE BAY:

NO OLD BUSINESS

NEW WATERFORD:

NO OLD BUSINESS

SYDNEY:

• The issue with over-assessed Letter Carrier routes is still on the table with Route Measurement. Dave advises by upcoming march, these issues should be resolved

STATION "A":

NO OLD BUSINESS

NEW BUSINESS:

NORTH SYDNEY:

• Robert Gamier advises that some training should be given to the 3 employees who are using the new Ergo-Lift. Some users are not conforming to safe usage. Dan McCormack confirmed that is a stationary machine that does not require formal training. However, a meeting with the users will ensue to ensure users apply common sense safety. Robert Gamier indicated that he observed the forks elevated, recently, with a mono on the forks and a user standing inside the mono
• Robert Gamier asked if there was a viable way to readily determine the remaining content in a dog-spray can, because, recently an employee attempted to apply some spray and only a drizzle came out. It was generally agreed that there is no such way and that the user should make sure that the expiry date on the can had not passed and should regularly give the can a shake and trial. Also, change cans if necessary and review the directions written on the cans.
• The steel grate in the ground at the employees' entrance is clogged with leaves and water. Paul Ashe will investigate this on Oct 18 (next day).
• Robert Gamier, who is currently on the injury list, indicated that his injury came about as a result of an unsafe condition on his route that was reported to the Supervisor a year ago. Since this particular injury, the unsafe condition has been rectified by having the mailbox moved to a safer area. Robert also stated that there was a list put together, close to a year ago, about various other unsafe conditions that required attention. Robert and Paul indicated that they would, jointly, try to locate that list and address the issues.
• Robert suggested that there is a failure on the part of Management to communicate. This is why Ron Jabalee has not been to previous Health &Safety meetings. Lew Palmer made it clear that he spoke with the Management at UMO over a year ago requesting Ron's attendance at these meetings. Lew was advised that the UMO have their own Health & Safety committee and, as a result, there was no need for Ron to attend ours.
• Robert raised the issue about the "radio" ban indicating the need to be constantly informed and updated on events occurring out on the routes that could present safety issues including: moose sightings, stray/loose dogs, stand-offs, latest U.V. index, weather etc. Dave Fillmore indicated that there is no obligation to have a radio on in a Postal facility and that, because, in the past the radio being on lead to confrontational safety issues and that Labour Relations supported the ban. Lew Palmer indicated anyone can access fresh, updated and current weather forecasts by calling 902-564-7788 FREE.
  
  This is a classic paradox. The radio is banned for Health & Safety reasons and there are those who want it back on for the same reasons. Ken MacKillop expressed his view that the feuding parties should "grow up and stop acting like children". Dave Fillmore further indicated that the Corporation is bringing in Third Party personnel to exercise "Conflict Resolution" strategy some time next week to address the personality conflicts at the North Sydney facility.
  
  Dan McCormack stressed the need for this. Ken MacKillop gave a further example of conflict resolution by telling all present that as a boy, he grew up with two sisters and whenever there was childish conflict over who wanted to watch what TV program, Mother simply stepped in and nobody watched anything.

GLACE BAY:

NO NEW ISSUES

NEW WATERFORD:

• Ken MacKillop advised that they have been having problems in their parking lot with broken glass and syringes. Ken indicated he spoke with the local police and secured a promise from them to monitor the Postal parking lot and exercise more vigilance in the area

SYDNEY:

• Andrew Gingell asked for more attention by the cleaners to the dust collecting on top of the sort cases used by the Clerks. (Lew Palmer met with the Janitorial staff after this meeting who committed to a thorough cleaning tomorrow Oct 18/06)
• Andrew asked if the Supervisors are ready for the approaching winter season e.g. sufficient supplies of cleats, Customer Warnings/Advice Letters, screws and studs. By copy of these minutes, all facility Management staff are asked to follow up on this matter accordingly. Andrew restated the on-going problems with vandals knocking over mailboxes. As indicated in an earlier meeting, there was talk of a special CPC committee set up to evaluate the design of the current street furniture and re design of same that might address this vandal issue. Lew advised that this committee is indeed up and running in Ottawa but we have no update to offer at this time.
• Dan MacCormack spoke of a shortage today of C-2 and C-3 binnies. Lew indicated that he did a survey last year when this issue was raised and learned that per capita, we have more binnies here than the plant in Halifax. Two solutions were put forth
  
  (A) take those binnies that are currently being used for temporary storage and and get them back into service.
  
  (B) ensure that when each Letter Carrier is finished using one that he/she return them back to the holding area for everyone else's use rather that just shoving them off some where adjacent to their case and clogging up the aisles.
  
• It should also be noted that some are currently in use for flyers because of a current high volume.
• Andrew raised the issue about the slope and mini pot-hole state of the asphalt on the east side of the building where some Letter Carriers wheel their mail out to their vehicles and sometimes end-up with the binnie tipping over and causing their mail to dump on the pavement. Dave Fillmore, Lew Palmer and the building owner, Jim McGuire, subsequently inspected the area and did not find the area unsafe in any way. There is a slight slope away from the building to allow for proper drainage and prevent water ponding or winter ice build-up.
• The Letter Carriers, being aware of the area. must learn to slow down as many are seen racing through the area with their binnies. Perhaps some should also switch from using the shallow C-2 to the deeper C-3.

GENERAL AROUND THE TABLE COMMENTS:

Robert Garnier urged the continued attendance by all at each of these Health & Safety meetings and if unable to attend then let one of the other members know and indicate if there are any issues he/she would like raised.

Robert asked for a list of the Committee members, First-Aid trained reps and a Bulletin Board dedicated to Health & Safety for North Sydney. Lew advised there is such a Board adjacent to the TV and he will send those lists and with Paul Ashe's help, the current bulletin board can be purged of superfluous postings and rendered Health & Safety exclusive.

Ron Jabalee made it clear that at UMO no one waits for monthly meetings to address Health & Safety issues. It was unanimously agreed that everyone shares that same practice.

Dave Fillmore advised that a complete A-32 Letter Carrier case has been ordered for North Sydney RR # 11.

Janice Maclnnis, our Nurse, advised that "Cholesterol" and "Blood Pressure" clinics will soon be coming and Flu shots should be available Nov. 05/06.

Ron Jabalee indicated he would attend future Health & Safety meetings at the Sydney office if there were any issues.

SAIR REPORTS:

#53109 - Oct 2/06 -- Employee slipped on stairs while delivering mail on Mt. Florence St. landing on left elbow and injuring lower back.
CORRECTIVE ACTION - vigilance, proper footwear, slowdown.

#52402 - Sept. 7/06 -- Employee states he walked off the edge of a walkway twisting his ankle.
CORRECTIVE ACTION - watch carefully where you're going, perhaps slow down.

#51043 - Aug. 30/06 -- Employee stung by a bee. This was a random sting - not a hive being disturbed.
CORRECTIVE ACTION - unknown.

WRAP UP:

A further reference was made to the serious problem in North Sydney with Dan McCormack saying "as the Vice-President of Breton Local 117 and in the interest of Health & Safety, I'm saying that this problem in North Sydney must be resolved before something much more serious happens. The other offices are laughing at the whole thing but this is anything but a laughing matter. Many of the people over there find they can't go to their Union Executive because the Union Executive is right in the middle of the whole thing".

Robert Gamier said that the Breton Local 117 has shown a willingness to "facilitate" QUOTE "We're trying to resolve the issues. Management is trying to micromanage. Some people have to retire. Compromise is the cornerstone of solving these problems. There has been a record of compromise" UNQUOTE.

Lew thanked Robert for his efforts in getting such a good turn out for this particular meeting.

The meeting started at 1300 sharp and concluded at 1423.

Next meeting set for Tuesday Nov. 14, 2006