Building a Better Tower Climber Industry

tower climber industryIf employers, be they contractors or subcontractors, refuse to change and treat their employees like human beings, then it is up to the employees and their families to unite and fight for justice and equality in the work environment. Tower climbers cannot keep putting themselves at risk so that big mobile companies can make a profit.

Tower Climber Industry

While it is true that it is the responsibility of the tower climber to practice safety, good judgement, take every precaution and stay focused, among other things, one of the proactive steps that tower climbers can take is to exercise their rights as employees. Have you wondered why there is not a union that is organized to protect the human rights of these workers that just want to make a fair and honest living?

There needs to be a leader or a team of leaders, someone that will stand up to adversity because these are troubled times. When workers come together they will have one voice to represent all of them about these important matters: life and death.

The National Association of Tower Erectors (NATE)

This is different than The National Association of Tower Erectors (NATE). NATE is a nonprofit trade association providing a unified voice for tower erection, maintenance and service companies. As a member driven association, NATE is led by its Board of Directors. These individuals come from all types and sizes of companies located throughout the United States.

This is all well and good. In other words this is an association for the industry as a whole.

However, where is the voice for the workers, who without them, none of this would be possible? What is needed is the worker-centered, worker-action, worker-representation union. Tower climbing is one of the most dangerous professions known to man. Workers do not have to live with this legacy. Workers die in this line of work often and nearly nothing is done to protect the lives and safety of these Individuals.

Big wireless cell companies do not directly hire these workers because they know that they are a major risk. If cell phone companies hired them under contract they would be responsible for every accident and or death in the field. Instead, cell phone companies hire independent contractors and contractors hire subcontractors to employ tower climbers. This way in the event of an accident or death the big mobile phone company is protected legally and financially.

There are too many workers climbing towers and employees who are not compensated adequately when you factor in the likelihood of major injury and or even in the case of accidental death.

A well led union would be able to address matters of salary, safety, working conditions, insurance and medical benefits to name a few. All of these issues would improve the quality of life for tower climbing workers.

There needs to be a change in the way this work industry is structured, managed and overseen.

Someone must be held accountable when these tower climbers are injured and or die at the
workplace.

The good news it that things can get better. There is not an industry that does not go through these growing pains.

The only thing consistent in life is change and hopefully for this industry a change will come sooner than later.