This is John Lindner, a VzB tech speaking with VZ members in
Manhattan this morning about the campaign to form a union of
VzB techs. John was joined by 4 other VzB techs, all of whom
pledged not to cross our picket lines. Another VzB tech joined
the 1103 Informational picketing in Westchester with the same
message of solidarity.
Tim Dubnau
CWA District One
Union
members protest at Verizon's annual meeting
(IBEW-CWA
Press Release)
Communications Workers of America
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
Press Release
For immediate release: May 1, 2008
For more info contact: Rand Wilson (617) 803-0799
At the 2008 shareholder meeting Union members protest Verizon's
divisive approach to managing employees .
Lincoln,
Neb. Dozens of union members carried thousands of proxy votes
into Verizons annual shareholder meeting today with a message to
"Separate the Verizon Chair and CEO jobs" and of "No Confidence
in the Verizon Board of Directors." Prior to the meeting, union
members and community supporters leafleted shareholders and top
executives with a message of concern about the divisive
direction that CEO Ivan Seidenberg is taking the company.
Verizon's top executives have created an artificial wall
separating its wireless and large business operations from
wireline, which includes FiOS, too often resulting in
dissatisfied or confused customers. Verizon workers are
especially concerned about how management is aggressively
interfering in the freedom of workers in the Verizon Wireless
and Verizon Business segments to unite in the Communications
Workers of America and the International Brotherhood of
Electrical Workers. "Verizon management has tried to isolate us
from the company's unionized workforce to keep us from having a
voice on the job," said Dave Rogol, a technician with Verizon
Business who spoke at the meeting. "Management has made
blatantly false statements to us in their so-called union
awareness materials. All we are asking is that the company drop
the intimidation and honor a neutrality and union recognition
procedure that other Verizon employees have benefited from."
"These divisions aren't good for shareholders or customers,"
said Dave Reardon, a 34-year telephone worker and union official
at IBEW Local 2222 in Boston, who gave a lengthy overview of
employees' concerns at the meeting. "Our company's strongest
performance will come from bundling wireless with voice, data,
and video from FiOS for all customers -- large and small." Union
members also supported a shareholder proposal by the Association
of BellTel Retirees to improve corporate governance at Verizon.
"Ivan Seidenberg is now both Chairman and CEO. How can he be
his own boss?" asked Craig Fields, a Central Office tech and
member from IBEW Local 2321. "We believe that an independent
Board Chair is particularly appropriate at Verizon. For too many
years the compensation of Verizon's senior executives has been
disconnected from returns to shareholders. The chairman should
be an independent director." During the question and answer
period, Seidenberg fielded questions from many worker
shareholders. Lee Gitschier, a splice service tech from Lowell,
Massachusetts was concerned about the rising cost of health
insurance. "Once again it's a contract year, and once again
health care may prove to be one of the most contentious issues
at the bargaining table," said Gitschier. "Shifting more of the
burden from employers to workers solves nothing. It won't
contain or control costs and prices will continue to go sky
high. Couldn't we the unions and the company -- work together
for a political solution to the problem that would take health
care off the bargaining table? Will you join with us to work
with Congress and the next president for meaningful reforms so
that this won't be a divisive bargaining issue any more?" The
leaflet for shareholders and copies of statements by Rogol,
Reardon, Fields, Gitschier and representatives of the
Association of BellTel Retirees are available from Rand Wilson
at
rand@mindspring.com Photos from the event may be obtained
at: http://picasaweb.google.com/randwilson.aflcio/Verizon2008AnnualMeetingOfShareholders
Rand Wilson, Communications CoordinatorCenter for Strategic
Research, AFL-CIO Organizing Dept.c/o IBEW Local 2222, 1137
Washington Street, Dorchester, MA 02124w) (617) 929-6000, f)
(617) 929-6099, c) (617) 803-0799 rwilson@aflcio.org or
rand@mindspring.com
Send a message of solidarity and militancy: wear RED on
Thursdays!
The preliminary
tally of shareholders votes were as follows:
Election of Directors: over 90%
Proposal #3 (Stock options)
8.6 % yes
Proposal #4 (Gender)
17 % yes
Proposal #5 (Separation of Chair and CEO)
20.4 yes
Thanks to everyone at the IBEW, CWA, and AFL-CIO who helped make
this a very proud day for the labor movement at Verizon!
Rand Wilson,
Communications Coordinator
Center for Strategic Research, AFL-CIO Organizing Dept.
c/o IBEW Local 2222, 1137 Washington Street, Dorchester, MA
02124
w) (617) 929-6000, f) (617) 929-6099, c) (617) 803-0799
rwilson@aflcio.org or
rand@mindspring.com
Tape updated 04-15-2008
Thank you for calling CWA Local 1400. It is April 15, Kerri Quinlan speaking.
The Verizon to Fairpoint transition went smoothly although there are issue with the 401k going from Verizon to Fairpoint.
As soon as the issues are resolved the company
will notify all affected members.
Please fill out your proxy's and give them to your stewards by the end of the week so they can send them to the local. We need to have them to the National by the 21. If you have any questions on filling out your proxy's please calll the local at 603 436 4388.
April's membership meeting will be held April 26 from 12-2. The location will be:
The Lawrence Elks
652 Andover Street
Lawrence, MA
Rememer to wear RED on Thursdays
Membership Meeting
Ø
Get details from our Fairpoint brothers & sisters about their contract!
Ø
Getting ready for contract expiration – August 2008! Bargaining begins soon!
Ø
Talk about what goes on in your office, call center or store
Ø
Ask your elected officials questions about contract and workplace issues
Fairpoint tentative ratification ballot results April 4, 2008
Pension plan Information
Tape updated 03-31-2008
Today is Monday March 31, 2008 744am President Cheryl Ahern speaking.
NH and VT PUC followed suite w/ ME. They scolded Fairpoint but are allowing the sale to still go through despite the significant change in the bond issue. NH is the only one that acually did anything besides take them out to the woodshed. VZ in NH agreed to change the line loss agreement from if line loss exceeds 10% in the 1st and 2nd year to pay $15m both years to $15m guaranteed the 1st year no matter what and $15m the 2nd year if line loss exceeds 7 1/2%.
Tape updated 03-29-2008
Today is Saturday March 29, 2008, 3:19pm President Cheryl Ahern speaking.
The Maine PUC held an emergency hearing and deliberation yesterday on the Fairpoint Communications takeover of Verizon's land-line. The issue is that FP sold bonds to finance the deal at interest rates that were much higher than expected.
The commissioners decided that the $2.35 billion deal can still go through but the New Hampshire and Vermont regulators announced that they will hold emergency meetings Sunday to reconsider the sale.
All three states must agree to the deal for it to take effect on Monday as planned.
The SRC in Manchester NH has an opening for a 2nd level manager and Verizon is advising Fairpoint that the position should be filled by Jennifer Cieslik. Currently she holds a team leader position. Jen's past actions towards reps in the IDC center does not make her the candidate of choice for the union or its members. This manager has been unethical when dealing with members in the past and we are fearful of what she may try to do to CWA members if she is the Center Manager.
Also, she refused to come back to Manchester because she did not want to be
a Fairpoint employee. By her and other managers not being there in the time of transition, has already caused great harm to our members. Why would Fairpoint want to reward a person with a 2nd level position when she did not want to even be
a Fairpoint employee? This will deteriorate the moral of this newly formed office and overall harm our members.
Older tape updates can be viewed by clicking "The Tape" link on the left
High interest rate spurs re-evaluation of FairPoint deal
Saturday, March 29, 2008 - Bangor Daily News
AUGUSTA, Maine - The Public Utilities Commission held an emergency hearing and deliberations Friday on the FairPoint
Communications takeover of Verizon's....
