The problems existed for over the span of several years and continued to get worse through time. The problem that us guys on the exploited extra-board ran into was that we were trying to go through the proper channels to get problems addressed by the now known and identified,Gate Keepers. Therefore, we would get the double talk and the rhetoric etc. Meanwhile, on the weekends primarily the dock was neglected nearly 100% and we needed to start driving the lifts slower due to the black dust that would be swept up into the air. Moreover, we would be blowing black dust out of our noses, coughing it up, and seen all of our allergies get much worse to name just a few of the problems. Finally, we started to mention calling OSHA to the Gate Keepers
(Stewards & Management) and we were told that if we contacted them they would shut that place down and/or nail them with fines forcing LCP to lose many jobs and many many families would be effected by this too. Don't make waves, don't ruin it for everybody, their gonna getcha...
This held off the calls to the proper 3rd Parties only for so long, but with the other abuses being over looked and allowed our group of people came to the realization that are only defense was to stay on offense! Therefore, we contacted people within the police department on all of the events that was going on and the history with peoples names, times, and all of the other information we recorded through time that we documented. After covering those bases we moved on to contact OSHA, due to the complete neglect all over.
You can contact OSHA and have them come to the work site and perform a inspection of the place and it is completely confidential. They came to LCP and found that the dust was unacceptable and had a report of the inspection posted
(Must be under the law & left up for a period of time). The report said what they found and what needs to be done basically. Also, gave the response from Yellow's TM which was TM Ed M. and his response was that it was not their responsibility because Yellow had a "outside vendor" that was to do all of the cleaning known as
Detail. Never-the-less, OSHA came back and did some tests on the air quality and questioned random people on their concerns and got answers to their questions. As a result, they gave the company another report with some guidelines to follow and if they did not follow them they would be fined and were subject now to surprise visits in the future. In addition, the company had to have the sweeper ran like 2 times a shift and other things done daily as a course of action laid out by OSHA to LCP. Finally, the issues were now taken care of and now we were seeing action from the Gate Keepers, damage control! In closing, many people were saying things showing their approval. At the same time, the Gate keepers were fishing on who made the report and Local 771 officials was on their toes and not liking the attention to say the least....
Martin Luther King always said
"Every inaction is a direct action" The reason he said this was because when he tried for justice through the different cities and proper officials he was being told everything, but seen
NO action ever. As a result, he came up with a nonviolent, direct action, civil disobedience guideline.
It was asked for more information on the use of OSHA in another thread and this was our story I just shared. Since this time I have come to learn from others their stories of what OSHA did for them and it is nice to hear of the good that OSHA does instead of the bad all of time. Before our ordeal I looked at OSHA as a bad word, but now I see them in another light, personally. Side note, we all seen the abuse and intimation take a back seat
immediately too!
Raise your voice and lift a finger. Justice will be served...
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration - OSHA HOME PAGE
OSHA - Occupational Safety and Health Administration 
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