The Life Of A Tower Climber is an inside look into the industry that keeps our cell phones operational. I myself have an extensive background in tower climbing, which is the very reason I was compelled to make this documentary. Tower climbing is an obscure niche industry with a very small community of men and a few women. Every day, tower climbers are subjected to all weather conditions at any hour, year-round, across the country. Unfortunately, not a year goes by without fatalities in the field. Serious change is needed in terms of safety, pay, and overall care for the climbers. This is the cost of keeping us all connected.

Recently, many have commented that tower climbers need to unionize. I was one of the founding members of the TCU (Tower Climbers Union), which attempted to join forces with the Communication Workers of America. Our first local was chartered in Phoenix, Arizona, on the Fourth of July last year. Unfortunately, the entire union effort fell apart shortly thereafter, largely due to a lack of transparency and honesty from the CWA towards tower climbers.

Tommy Schuch

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The Climbers
Ben Vary Will Stone Brendon King Danny Davey David Declue
Justin Hayes Mariusz Duda

Outro Song By Stephen Schuch "Man Among The Crowd"

00.00 Start
00:34 Chapter 1 The story of Bobby Darren Bishop
04:38 Chapter 2 The Climbers
06:06 What is the job like
06:56 Is it dangerous
08:51 What is the training like
10:52 Traveling and being away from family
12:43 Tha Race To The Bottom contracting scheme
14:52 Radiation Exposure
16:51 Corporate Greed
17:30 How is the pay
18:07 Why do climbers die
20:02 What needs to change
21:41 Final Thoughts
24:33 Remember the climbers
26:14 Credits
27:44 end