Letter from VP Dennis Trainor on the 15th Anniversary of 9/11

September 11, 2016 marks the 15th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. On this solemn occasion we remember all those heroes who died that day and offer heartfelt condolences to their families. We also remember those who have died since 9/11 of 9/11-related illnesses caused by their exposures to the toxic dust and smoke.

Fifteen CWA brothers and sisters died as a result of the attacks, either in the collapse of the towers or on one of the flights that crashed.

CWA District 1 members, as well as members from other CWA districts, were greatly impacted by the events of 9/11. Thousands of CWA District 1 members worked in the World Trade Center and other buildings in the area and many were caught in the dust cloud as they evacuated on 9/11.

CWA members working for Verizon rushed in and got the Stock Market up and running within a few days after the disaster. Several thousand CWA members were responders and participated in the rescue and recovery efforts at Ground Zero. These members included telecommunications workers employed by Verizon, AT&T, and Lucent who repaired and rebuilt the downtown telecommunications network; traffic enforcement agents and supervisors of the NYPD; sanitation workers of the NYC Department of Sanitation; nurses from the closest hospital to the site, NYU Downtown Hospital (now NY Presbyterian); public sector workers from NJ; and members who volunteered as part of local emergency response organizations or on their own. NABET-CWA and TNG-CWA District 1 members employed by broadcasting companies such as ABC and NBC, and newspapers such as the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times, covered the events of 9/11 and its aftermath at Ground Zero.

In addition to our CWA responders, thousands of CWA District 1 members worked in the areas impacted by the collapse of the towers, including public sector workers employed by the City of New York, and private sector workers employed by Verizon, AT&T, the Wall Street Journal and other publications. These area workers returned to offices and other worksites affected by WTC contamination, some in less than one week after September 11th because of false declarations by the Federal government that it was “safe” to return.

It was not safe. Many CWA members have become ill as a result of their exposures to 9/11 toxins and several CWA members have already died of 9/11-related illnesses, including cancers. CWA has fought hard since 9/11 for funding for medical treatment and benefits to take care of the victims of 9/11. In December 2015, after a long struggle, the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Reauthorization Act ensured permanent funding for the WTC Health Program for the next 75 years. The Victim Compensation Fund was also extended, but only for five years.

CWA will continue to fight for adequate funding for this important benefit program. CWA remains committed to ensuring 9/11 responders, survivors, and their families continue to get the care they need.

Dennis Trainor
CWA District 1 Vice President

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Were you affected by 9/11? The World Trade Center Health Program and the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund (“VCF”) can help. 

If you were affected by 9/11 as part of the response and recovery efforts or if you lived or worked in the WTC vicinity and have 9/11 health concerns, you can apply to the World Trade Center Health Program and you may be eligible for VCF benefits. CWA District 1 recommends that all eligible CWA members take advantage of these important programs. 

The World Trade Center Health Program consists of WTC Clinical Centers of Excellence in the NY metropolitan area, including NYC, Long Island, and NJ. The WTC Health Program has separate programs for responders and survivors. The responder program provides free, yearly medical monitoring, and treatment if needed, for 9/11 conditions covered by the program, as well as benefits counseling. You do not have to be sick to participate in the responder program. The survivor program provides treatment and benefits counseling for survivors with 9/11-related illnesses. There is also a National Program to cover WTC-related health care throughout the country. You can learn more about the WTC Health Program at http://www.cdc.gov/wtc/index.html.

The September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (“VCF”) was created to provide financial compensation for an eligible individual (or a personal representative of a deceased individual) who suffered physical harm or was killed as a result of the terrorist-related aircraft crashes of September 11, 2001 or the rescue and recovery efforts that took place in the aftermath of those crashes. You can learn more about the VCF at www.vcf.gov.

The CWA District 1 Health and Safety office has maintained numerous documents collected from employers and members in the months after 9/11. These documents may help some members in establishing eligibility and “proof of presence” for the WTC Health Program and the VCF.

Please contact CWA District 1 Health and Safety Director, Micki Siegel de Hernández at (212) 509-6994 or msiegel@cwa-union.org for information and help.

UPCOMING EVENTS: 

Adding of Names to the Wall of Remembrance and Flag Ceremony at the Responders Remembered Park on Long Island - September 17

Each year, on the weekend after September 11, the FealGood Foundation holds an event to honor responders and other individuals who have died of 9/11-related illnesses in the past year. The names of those heroes are added to a Wall of Remembrance in the Responders Remembered Park located in Lake Ronkonkoma, Long Island.

This year’s ceremony includes the adding of the names of the following CWA members:

Gary Campbell, CWA Local 1150 (AT&T)

Robert Liggio, CWA Local 1101 (Verizon)

Gary Marsoobian, CWA Local 1105 (Verizon)

Frederick Muller, CWA Local 1101 (Verizon)

Franki Whittle and Alfred Borowski, both Verizon workers

The ceremony will be held on September 17, 2016 at 10 a.m. Location: 9/11 RR Park, Gibbs Pond Rd. & Smithtown Blvd.

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WTCHP: 15 Years Beyond 9/11

This conference will address current challenges and research directions of the World Trade Center Health Program at year 15.

Wednesday, September 14 at 8:00am to 4:00pm

Location: New York Academy of Medicine, 1216 Fifth Avenue (entrance on 103rd Street)

Learn More Here

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The Future of 9/11 Health - 15 Year Commemorative Conference 

Friday, September 9, 2016

Location: 52 Broadway, New York NY

Learn More Here