Local union only backed safety when it was convenient. Labor relations was fractured (albeit improving). Safety programs, initiatives, required training and fundamentals hadn't been touched in over a year. Regional and corporate safety team talk a good game in Advanced Safety Leadership courses but it isn't the reality of what really goes on under the hood.
Moral and ethical standards aren't very high in that senior level leadership - VPs, area VPs etc. expect "accountability" each and every time a line worker is injured. Essentially, get hurt, we want someone terminated. Local leadership can only fight that fight for so long. Overwhelming focus on "TWCC" KPI - time loss and comp costs. Overall frontline culture is non-existent to support such granular oversight. Regional Safety Manager was never really seen and didn't seem to want to do anything other than fly in like a seagull, crap all over the place and fly out.
Safety office was a joke. There was a 2 foot hole above the desk chair from a leak well over 4 months. Lot's of "let's fix it" only to recede to "it's not in the budget".
Local level leaders were good. They were trying to do the best with what they had.
