Regional Bargaining Report # 48

Thursday, October 13, 2011

CWA District 1/IBEW Local 2213 and IBEW New England Regional Committees met with the Company today to continue discussions regarding the Company’s counter proposal. After reviewing the company’s counterproposal, it became clear to your bargaining committee that the company’s commitment to the union to end the strike and to start bargaining with a commitment to work from our health plans and not theirs and to actually start bargaining our issues as well as their issues was never going to happen.

What Verizon is doing is destroying the Middle Class by moving good paying jobs with good benefits to low paying jobs with no benefits. For years, Verizon has been declaring surplus after surplus and then moving more of our work to contractors. Your Bargaining Committee told the company today that we are insulted when we propose to put back those jobs into the bargaining unit and then the Company responds by telling us that we are adding cost to this Contract. They compare our jobs to a contractor. We are insulted when they want to add over 100 million dollars to the backs of our retired members by adding premiums to their health plans. We are insulted when they want to strip away every benefit we enjoy today. This Greedy Corporation wants to destroy us and we will never allow that to happen. They want to destroy the lives of our retired members and we will never allow them to do that.

The Company walked out of bargaining today when everyone on the committee began telling them exactly what we thought of their last proposal. Everyone on your Committee spoke for every member today and told them exactly what we think of their proposal.

We also told the Company before they left today that the bargaining committee would be returning to our locals for a few days to talk to our members about this proposal. We need to begin again to mobilize our members. We will do whatever we need to do to get a fair contract.

The Occupy Wall Street group is putting the Spotlight on Corporate Greed. Americans are outraged at what Corporations are doing. The “99% group” is ready to take back our country from these Greedy Corporations. CWA and IBEW as well as all of organized labor will not allow Corporations to destroy the Middle Class. Verizon is an extremely profitable Corporation and should not be allowed to lower the standard for the Middle Class. It is time to put Verizon as the face of this Corporate Greed by making them the “Poster Child for Corporate Greed”.

We will “Occupy Wall Street” or “Occupy Any Street” to stop the Corporate Greed at Verizon.

Next Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, every CWA Local Executive Board Member in District 1 will be visiting every company garage, company building and will be in the field to talk to every CWA member to tell them exactly what this company proposal would mean to their future. Every Executive Board member will be explaining what must be done to fight this Company. We need every member to tell your Executive Board Member that you are ready to do whatever it takes to fight this Company.

On Wednesday night, we will have a town hall meeting with every CWA steward in District 1 to outline our plan to fight this company.

On Thursday, every steward at every work location will be explaining to every member how we will join forces with the “99% group” and the “Occupy Work Street Group” to fight this Company. Verizon – the Poster Child for Corporate Greed – must never be allowed to destroy our future.

On Friday, CWA and the Occupy Wall Street protestors will join forces and go on a field trip. Call your Local or ask your steward to sign up for this trip. Call a retiree and get a commitment that they will join the fight by joining the trip.

We will be returning to the bargaining table knowing that our membership is 100% in support of this committee and we will continue to fight for a fair contract.

We need every retired member to call your local

and ask how to help…

Contact your stewards to get instructions

on our next activity…

It’s time to fight back!

Remember to wear RED!!!

Now more than ever we need to mobilize!

Mobilize! Mobilize! Mobilize!

Regional Bargaining Report # 47

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

CWA District 1/IBEW Local 2213 and IBEW New England Regional Committees met with the Company yesterday and today reviewing the Company’s counter proposal. After being at the bargaining table for over 3 ½ months, the Union is still waiting for the Company to present a serious proposal. They presented the Unions with a 75 page document that still includes:

No mention of a Wage Increase

Eliminate Pensions:

Eliminate Job Security:

Eliminate Benefits:

Eliminate the current health care, prescription, dental, and vision plans and offer plans with high deductibles and premiums.

Active Employees - Annual

Premiums range from $1026 for single to $4580 family

And

Increase deductibles in network to $850 single - $ 2250 for family

Increase deductibles out of network to $1,000 for single - $3,000 for family

And

Increase Out of Pocket Maximum to $2,000 for single and $6,000 for family

And

Increase co-pays for specialist to $25

And

Require co-pays for X-Rays and labs

And

Reduce most in network coverage from 100% to 80%

Reduce most out of network coverage from 100% to 60%

Retirees - Non Medicare Eligible - Annually

Premiums Range from $1026 for single to $4480 for family

And

Increase deductibles in network to $850 single - $ 2250 for family

Increase deductibles out of network to $1,000 for single - $3,000 for family

And

Increase Out of Pocket Maximum to $2,000 for single and $6,000 for family

And

Increase co-pays for specialist to $25

And

Require co-pays for X-Rays and labs

And

Reduce most in network coverage from 100% to 80%

Reduce most out of network coverage from 100% to 60%

Retiree - Medicare Eligible Annually

Premiums range from $181 for single to $1970 for family

And

Increase deductibles in network to $850 single - $ 2250 for family

Increase deductibles out of network to $1,000 for single - $3,000 for family

And

Increase Out of Pocket Maximum to $2,000 for single and $6,000 for family

And

Increase co-pays for specialist to $25

And

Require co-pays for X-Rays and labs

And

Reduce most in network coverage from 100% to 80%

Reduce most out of network coverage from 100% to 60%

Eliminate Other Benefits

Verizon seems hell-bent on destroying the middle class jobs CWA and IBEW have fought so hard to create over the last 50 years of collective bargaining.

The battle is far from over. The Company must hear us loud and clear. We cannot allow this Company to strip our contract.

Contact your steward to get instructions

on our next activity.

It’s time to fight back!

Remember to wear RED!!!

Now more than ever we need to mobilize!

Mobilize! - Mobilize! - Mobilize!

Regional Bargaining Report # 46

Wednesday, October 12, 2011 7 AM

CWA District 1/IBEW Local 2213 and IBEW New England Regional Bargaining Committee and the Mid-Atlantic Regional Committee met last night with the Company at the Rye Town Hilton in Rye, NY.

The Company presented a comprehensive counter proposal and your committee questioned the company to try to understand the intent of their proposal. We recessed late last night and will reconvene bargaining this morning to continue questioning the company on their proposal.

We will provide additional information later today after a complete review of this proposal.

Stay Strong - Stay United

Mobilize! Mobilize! Mobilize!

Regional Bargaining Report # 45
Friday, October 7, 2011

CWA District 1/IBEW Local 2213 and IBEW New England Regional Bargaining Committee and the Mid-Atlantic Regional Committee met separately yesterday with the Company at the Rye Town Hilton in Rye, NY to hear the Company’s initial response to our counterproposal from Monday.

Although, the Company expressed some interest in our proposals which were counterproposals to their original demands, they seemed to have no interest in returning jobs to the bargaining unit which was the foundation to our proposals.

Yesterday, the Company did say that they will continue to evaluate our proposals and have a counter proposal to the Union next week.

Today, Verizon decided to put out a Company update which states they completed their initial review of our proposal and they state “In costing out the various elements of the unions' proposals, the company determined that they significantly exacerbate the problem of Wireline's high cost structure by adding more than $1 billion in annual operating costs.”

That is a fact. CWA made a counterproposal to that proposal. We are fighting for jobs and our middle class standard of living. The Company has been stripping away our work and giving more and more work to contractors. We are fighting for those jobs and the return of good jobs to our communities. We are fighting for the Middle Class. Our Fight is America's fight.

What the company did not tell you in their update is that the Company’s proposal would save the company $1.3 billion by stripping away and diminishing every benefit we have negotiated over the last 50 years.

Verizon wants to lower the bar for the American Worker. If Corporations like Verizon who are extremely profitable continue to lower the standard of living by cutting wages and benefits they will destroy the middle class. Corporate Greed must be stopped. Our members are joining the millions of Americans across this country in this fight to stop Corporate Greed. The 99% of us in this country are fighting back. CWA will do its part at the bargaining table and in the cities across this country as the “Occupy Wall Street” Movement gains strength in NY City and moves to cities across this country to fight Corporate Greed

Vice President Chris Shelton defined what we needed in bargaining in his opening statement, he said:
“Good jobs at Verizon are union jobs. We are here to negotiate a fair agreement that protects the union jobs we do now and increases the number those good union jobs so that our members will have the opportunity to grow with the company as it continues to grow.

Our unions have negotiated contracts with Verizon, Bell Atlantic and their predecessors since before any of us started working here. During the last 50 years, we worked together to solve problems, to address one another’s needs at the bargaining table, to deliver quality service to customers and build a strong company.

And we have changed together as well. Our members have never stood in the way of technological change. Our union has always advocated efforts to insure that our members worked to stay abreast of the ever changing telecommunications industry.

But in recent years, this company has turned its back on its employees. This company that we built together has taken its profits and headed off in new directions, to new products and technologies, and left behind the very workers that are responsible for its success. Since 2005 Verizon has cut 80,000 wireline jobs from its rolls through access line sales, segment spin-offs, layoffs, attrition and retirements. In the same time period, Verizon Wireless has added 23,000 jobs.

The Union gave the Company a proposal on October 3rd which gave the Company a pathway to a contract. The Company needs to return to the bargaining table and begin bargaining by concentrating on the issues that will get a contract. The company needs to take the path the union has outlined which will bring a fair contract to our members and their employees. The company needs to re-invest their profits back into the Company and their employees. This will be good for Verizon, good for the economy and good for America.

A reminder our mobilization at Verizon Wireless and Apple stores is in full swing as the IPhone 4S is being introduced. We need to keep the pressure on Verizon and to continue to get our message out. If you have not already volunteered to handbill at a store location please contact your steward and sign up. By everyone working together from the bargaining table to handbilling the store locations, we will stand strong against Verizon’s attempt to strip our contracts of provisions gained over 50 years of collective bargaining.

Get ready to join the “Occupy Wall Street” movement as we make Verizon the “Poster Child” for Corporate Greed.

Regional Bargaining Report # 44
Monday, October 3, 2011

CWA District 1/IBEW Local 2213 and IBEW New England Regional Bargaining Committee and the Mid-Atlantic Regional Committee met separately today with the Company at the Rye Town Hilton in Rye, NY.

Your Regional Committee spent the afternoon presenting a series of comprehensive proposals covering healthcare, returning jobs to the bargaining unit, benefits, absence and job security.

The Company committee had a few initial questions and is currently reviewing our proposals. We expect to meet with the Company to answer any additional questions they may have prior to receiving any counter proposals from them.

Our mobilization at Verizon Wireless and Apple stores is in full swing as the IPhone 5 debuts tomorrow. We need to keep the pressure on Verizon and to continue to get our message out. If you have not already volunteered to handbill at a store location please contact your steward and sign up. By everyone working together from the bargaining table to handbilling the store locations, we will stand strong against Verizon’s attempt to strip our contracts of provisions gained over 50 years of collective bargaining.

Stay Strong - Stay United
Mobilize! Mobilize! Mobilize!

Regional Bargaining Report # 43

Wednesday, September 14, 2011 9 PM

CWA District 1/IBEW Local 2213 and IBEW New England Regional Bargaining Committee continued to meet at the Rye Town Hilton in Rye, NY and continued to develop several comprehensive proposals. That work is expected to continue for the remainder of this week and into next week.

The Regional Committee extends its condolences to our sisters and brothers in Local 1109 on the tragic on the job accident today which claimed the life of Local 1109 Field Technician Doug LaLima. Our thoughts and prayers are with Brother LaLima’s wife and family at this difficult time.

Remember to Work Safe

Stay Strong - Stay United

Mobilize! Mobilize! Mobilize!

Regional Bargaining Report # 42

Thursday, September 8, 2011, 11 PM

CWA District 1/IBEW Local 2213 and IBEW New England Regional Bargaining Committees together with the CWA District 2-13 / IBEWMid-Atlantic Regional Bargaining Committees met with the Company today at the Rye Town Hilton in Rye, NY.  Bob Patrician and Louise Novotny from the CWA Research Department in Washington DC joined the Regional Committees at today’s meeting. The company provided additional information to the joint committees regarding their benefit proposals.   Our committee as well as our Research experts had many more questions regarding the company’s proposal today.

After the meeting with the company, the two committees met with Bob and Louise to review the data and to begin the process of developing a comprehensive proposal on benefits and another comprehensive proposal on jobs. We will be spending the next week working on these proposals. Our research department and additional consultants will work with both committees when needed to help develop these proposals.

The District 1/IBEW Regional Committee will be meeting in NY at the Rye Town Hilton and the District 2-13/IBEW Regional Committee will be meeting in Philadelphia.

We will not allow VERIZON

to destroy the Middle Class

Stay Strong - Stay United

Mobilize!  Mobilize! Mobilize!

Regional Bargaining Report # 41

Wednesday, September 7, 2011, 11 PM

CWA District 1/IBEW Local 2213 and IBEW New England Regional Bargaining Committees met with the Company today at the Rye Town Hilton in Rye ,New York. 

The CWA District 2-13 / IBEWMid-Atlantic Regional Bargaining Committees also met with the Company today at the Rye Town Hilton.

The discussions centered around the issue of jobs, with the company providing information requested by your committee. The Union will review the information provided before the next meeting relating to jobs.

A joint meeting between the two regional Committees and the Company is scheduled for tomorrow.

We will not allow VERIZON

to destroy the Middle Class

Stay Strong - Stay United

Mobilize! Mobilize! Mobilize!

Regional Bargaining Report # 40

Tuesday, September 6, 2011   10 PM

CWA District 1/IBEW Local 2213 and IBEW New England Regional Bargaining Committees met with the Company today at the Rye Town Hilton in Rye ,New York. 

The CWA District 2-13 / IBEWMid-Atlantic Regional Bargaining Committees also met with the Company today at the Rye Town Hilton.

The Company provided a portion of the information the Union had requested on contracting. The Union is awaiting additional information and is scheduled to meet again tomorrow.

We will not allow VERIZON

to destroy the Middle Class

Stay Strong - Stay United

Regional Bargaining Report # 39

Thursday, September 1, 2011, 11 PM

CWA District 1/IBEW Local 2213 and IBEW New England Regional Bargaining Committees met with the CWA District 2-13 / IBEWMid-Atlantic Regional Bargaining Committees today at the Rye Town Hilton in Rye, New York.

Both committees recognize we are fighting the same greedy corporation.  We were able to share our thoughts and concerns over common issues.  Both committees agreed this type of meeting is beneficial and committed to continuing meeting jointly over common interests throughout the bargaining process.

The New York/New England Bargaining committee continued to discuss and work on the Union’s proposals with most of the day spent working on the Union’s job proposal. We will continue to work with our committee on developing a comprehensive proposal and will not meet with the company until next week.

Your committee also spent the last two days arguing with the company about not working our members OT to address the work load. For the past few days, as Cablevision was announcing for everyone to hear that their workforce would be working 24/7 to handle the troubles caused by Hurricane Irene, the executives in Verizon were intent on denying our members OT as punishment for going on strike. Today the company opened up with over 35,000 repair troubles and it wasn’t until this afternoon that they decided to declare an emergency and allow our members to work the OT to finally address the workload.  Finally, the company decided to focus on the customer.

We will not allow VERIZON

to destroy the Middle Class

Stay Strong - Stay United

Mobilize!

Regional Bargaining Report # 38

Wednesday, August 31, 2011, 11 PM

CWA District 1/IBEW Local 2213 and IBEW New England Regional Bargaining Committees met with the Company today at the Rye Town Hilton in Rye ,New York. 

The CWA District 2-13 / IBEWMid-Atlantic Regional Bargaining Committees also met with the Company today at the Rye Town Hilton.

Both Committees were joined by District 1 Vice President Chris Shelton, District 2-13 Vice President Ed Mooney and CWA Chief of Staff Ron Collins.

Discussions today centered on the issue of jobs being returned to our bargaining units. The Unions have requested information from the Company which will be presented during meetings scheduled to take place tomorrow.

We will not allow VERIZON

to destroy the Middle Class

Stay Strong - Stay United

Regional Bargaining Report # 37

Friday, August 26, 2011

CWA District 1/IBEW Local 2213 and IBEW New England Local Committees as well as the Mid-Atlantic Joint CWA/IBEW Regional Bargaining Committees are scheduled to meet in Rye Town, New York on Wednesday, August 31^st to reconvene bargaining with Verizon.  This “reset” of the company’s bargaining position was made possible by the tremendous strike and mobilization efforts of our members up and down the East Coast.  Our members made it clear that they would not allow this Verygreedy Corporation to destroy our collective bargaining rights nor would they allow them to destroy more middle class jobs.

Now your bargaining teams will return to address your issues at the bargaining table.  While we have returned to work, this fight is far from over.  We still have members who have been disciplined for strike related activities and we will not forget them.  We must continue to keep the pressure on Verizon.  We will continue to mobilize and we will continue to leaflet in front of Verizon Wireless stores across the country until we have secured a fair contract for our members.

We will not allow VERIZON

to destroy the Middle Class

Stay Strong - Stay United

Mobilize! Mobilize! Mobilize

August 21, 2011

Brothers & Sisters,

The strike may be over (for now) however, mobilization activities will continue. Bargaining will resume next week and we need to stand united to ensure a fair and equitable contract.

The Bargaining team is extremely proud of each and every one of you and our solidarity needs to continue in the coming weeks. Because of YOU and our supporters, Verizon has finally decided to bargain fairly.

The first shift to return to work is the 12:15am tour on Tuesday, August 23. (If you were performing an SA (IHD) tour you should return for that shift.)

If you have a DU or an unusual circumstance, there is a 72 hour grace-period, which would enable you to return to work later (no later than Friday, August 26^th). Please see the ‘Return to Work Agreement’ on the Bargaining Updates page for further information.

• Wear RED on Tuesday when returning to work.
• Meet in front and WALK IN TOGETHER for the start of your tours.

WE ARE WINNING THIS FIGHT!

Go back to work and show them that YOU are the Union worker and NO ONE can do the job as YOU can!

YOU ARE THE UNION!  

In Solidarity,

CWA Local 1400

___________________________________________________________________________

Thanks to our unity and public support for bargaining rights, striking Verizon workers will return to work on Tuesday with the contract back in force and bargaining restructured.

Our public statement, to be released at 1 pm Saturday, follows and public demonstrations will cease at this time. With your support, we return to bargain the major issues we face.

International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
Communications Workers of America

CWA, IBEW Reach Agreement on Bargaining with Verizon;
Members to Return to Work Tuesday, August 23

Following is a statement by the Communications Workers of America and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers:

For release 1 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 20, 2011

Washington, D.C. – Members of CWA and IBEW at Verizon Communications will return to work on Tuesday, Aug. 23, at which time the contract will be back in force for an indefinite period.

We have reached agreement with Verizon on how bargaining will proceed and how it will be restructured. The major issues remain to be discussed, but overall, issues now are focused and narrowed.

We appreciate the unity of our members and the support of so many in the greater community. Now we will focus on bargaining fairly and moving forward.

CWA and IBEW represent 45,000 workers at Verizon covered by this contract from Virginia to New England.

Regional Bargaining Report # 36

Friday, August 19, 2011, 10 PM

CWA District 1/IBEW Local 2213 and IBEW New England Local Committees met with the company today at the Rye Town Hilton in Rye, NY. The Union continued to talk about our issues and demanded that the company respond to our demands. The Company did respond by bringing in a “Subject Matter Expert” who discussed various aspects of our proposal and indicated that the company would take another look at some portions of our proposal. It was the first sign that anyone in the company was even listing to our demands. We are scheduled to meet again with the Company’s “Subject Matter Expert” tomorrow. We also asked the company to bring in other “Subject Matter Experts” to discuss other areas of our proposals.

We reminded the company that this is the 13^th day of the strike and that our members and their employees are demanding that we continue to bargain by addressing our proposals and not just the company’s proposals to reach a fair contract. The Company must continue to bring to the table those “Subject Matter Experts” who understand the union’s proposals and are able to address them.

We will not allow VERIZON

to destroy the Middle Class

Stay Strong - Stay United

Mobilize! Mobilize! Mobilize!

Regional Bargaining Report # 35
Thursday, August 18, 2011, 9 PM

CWA District 1/IBEW Local 2213 and IBEW New England Local Committees met with the company in two separate sessions today at the Rye Town Hilton in Rye, NY. The Union compelled the company to talk about the Union’s issues. We reminded the company that this bargaining was also about our issues and what is important for our members and their families. We are scheduled to meet with the Company tomorrow morning.

As we mentioned in last night’s report for those in NY State, if you have not yet applied for unemployment insurance, please wait to apply. You can apply after the seventh week (50 Days). Those who already applied will receive a letter shortly telling you that your application has been suspended and you will have to reapply after 50 days on strike. This was confirmed by our attorney on a conference call today with the Acting Deputy Commission at the NY State Department of Labor.

We will not allow VERIZON
to destroy the Middle Class

Stay Strong - Stay United

Mobilize! Mobilize! Mobilize!

Regional Bargaining Report # 34

Wednesday, August 17, 2011, 10 PM

CWA District 1/IBEW Local 2213 and IBEW New England Regional Committees met today at the Rye Town Hilton in Rye, NY. There was no progress made today. We are scheduled to meet with the Company at 9 AM tomorrow.

Information has been sent to the Locals regarding the Robert Lilja Members Relief Fund (RLMRF). We are also working with the NY State Department of Labor on the issue of unemployment insurance in NY State. Those who applied last week have been sent a letter telling them that their application has been suspended because Verizon has said that they are not being permanently replaced and to reapply on the 50^th day of the strike. If you have not applied for unemployment insurance, please wait to apply. Those who did apply, we will have additional information for you tomorrow. We have a conference call tomorrow morning with the Acting Deputy Commissioner at the NYS Department of Labor to answer our questions and concerns and we will send out that additional information tomorrow.

We will not allow VERIZON

to destroy the Middle Class

Stay Strong - Stay United

Mobilize! Mobilize! Mobilize!

Regional Bargaining Report # 33

Tuesday, August 16, 2011, 11 PM

CWA District 1/IBEW Local 2213 and IBEW New England Regional Committees met today at the Rye Town Hilton in Rye, NY. The unions’ committees continued to review the proposals by the company and all the information we have received from the company. We are scheduled to resume talks tomorrow.

Today we filed unfair labor practice charges at the NLRB in Manhattan against Verizon for unilaterally changing the way our members got paid last Thursday.  Our members were sent to places other than their regular reporting location to pick up their paychecks.  Some members had to drive many extra miles to get their checks.  Verzion did this to harass our members on strike and to cost them money.  Verizon is also refusing to pay disability to members on sick leave when the strike began if they had not yet reached their eighth day of absence.  This too was done unilaterally for the purpose of harassing our members.  Verizon has also told the Union that they will not pay people for scheduled vacation time during the strike.  Again, they did this unilaterally for the purpose of making it difficult for striking members.

Verizon's actions violate the National Labor Relations Board in two ways.  These actions were taken without bargaining with the Union; they were also done to make things more difficult for our striking members. As such these actions are unlawful. 

We will not allow VERIZON

to destroy the Middle Class

Stay Strong - Stay United

Mobilize! Mobilize! Mobilize!

Regional Bargaining Report # 32

Monday, August 15, 2011, 11:30 PM

CWA District 1/IBEW Local 2213 and IBEW New England Regional Committees met today at the Rye Town Hilton in Rye, NY. The union committees reviewed some of the proposals by the company as well as the information we have received from the company. We are scheduled to resume talks tomorrow.

Local 1103 - Tribute to Gerry Horgan

On the 22nd anniversary of Gerry Horgan's death, Local 1103 held a tribute to Gerry at the location where Gerry was killed 22 years ago. Several hundred members attended the tribute and listened to Local 1103's Fran Groton describe the day that Gerry died. Fran did a great job reminding everyone of the facts surrounding Gerry's death so that we will never forget the sacrifice that was made by Gerry Horgan while walking the picket line during the strike of 1989. Every Local participated in a moment of silence at Noon today. CWA will never forget Gerry Horgan and his sacrifice.

Keep up the amazing work you are doing. Your efforts will make the difference in fighting back the Company’s retrogressive demands for unprecedented givebacks. The Picket lines and mobilized picketing has never been better.

We will not allow VERIZON

to destroy the Middle Class

Stay Strong - Stay United

Mobilize! Mobilize! Mobilize!

Regional Bargaining Report # 31

Sunday, August 14, 2011, 10 PM

CWA District 1/IBEW Local 2213 and IBEW New England Regional Committees met with the Company today at the Rye Town Hilton in Rye, NY.  The Union had more questions for the company regarding some of their proposal that were discussed yesterday. The company asked for a recess to research these questions so that they could answer our questions and concerns.  We are scheduled to resume talks tomorrow morning.

Moment of Silence – Tomorrow at Noon

Tomorrow is the 22nd anniversary of Gerry Horgan's death. Local 1103 is having a wreath laying ceremony which they do each year at the location where Gerry was run down. We would like a moment of silence at Noon tomorrow at every Picket Location. Every Local should remind their members of the Day that Gerry died while picketing during the “Strike of 1989” and honor his death with a moment of silence. CWA will never forget Gerry Horgan and his sacrifice.

(READ GERRY'S STORY...CLICK HERE)

Keep up the amazing work you are doing. Your efforts will make the difference in fighting back the Company’s retrogressive demands for unprecedented givebacks. The Picket lines and mobilized picketing has never been better.

We will not allow VERIZON

to destroy the Middle Class

Stay Strong - Stay United

Mobilize! Mobilize! Mobilize!

Regional Bargaining Report # 30

Saturday, August 13, 2011, 11:15 PM

CWA District 1/IBEW Local 2213 and IBEW New England Regional Committees met with the Company today at the Rye Town Hilton in Rye, NY.  Proposals were discussed and when talks recessed for the night the Company was still reviewing your Union’s latest counter proposal. The Unions and the Company are scheduled to resume discussions at 10 AM Sunday morning.

Our picket lines remain strong with members, their families and community supporters being vocal against the attack on our wages, benefits and standard of living. Keep up the amazing work you are doing. Your efforts will make the difference in fighting back the Company’s retrogressive demands for unprecedented givebacks.

We will not allow VERIZON

to destroy the Middle Class

Stay Strong - Stay United

Mobilize! Mobilize! Mobilize!

Regional Bargaining Report # 29
Friday, August 12, 2011 Midnight

CWA District 1/IBEW Local 2213 and IBEW New England Regional Committees met with the Company today at the Rye Town Hilton in Rye, NY. Your union committee met for several hours and after lengthy discussions with the Company there was some slight movement at the table. The Union presented a detailed proposal covering several issues and is waiting the Company’s response.

There was a vigil held at Chairman Ivan Seidenberg’s home tonight. Approximately, 3,100 members and their families attended. We’ve brought our fight to Ivan’s neighbors and tonight they heard us loud and clear.

CWA also announced a March from Washington DC and Boston, Massachusetts to New York City. Details will be announced in the next day or so.

We need to keep up the fight in every way possible. Share the facts of our struggle with family and friends wherever and whenever you can. More and more unions, elected officials and community organizations are joining our fight against Verizon to save the Middle Class. We will not allow Verizon to destroy our union, our standard of living or the middle class.

It’s time to fight back!

We will not allow VERIZON
to destroy the Middle Class!

Stay Strong - Stay United!

Regional Bargaining Report # 28

Thursday, August 11, 2011   Midnight

CWA District 1/IBEW Local 2213 and IBEW New England Regional Committees met with the Company today at the Rye Town Hilton in Rye, NY.  We first met with the union committee to finalize our counter proposal. AT 1 PM, the union and the company met and the union presented several counter proposals to the company. The Union tried to make proposals that would jump start these negotiations and help to generate momentum. We recessed and waited until late this evening when the company responded to our proposals.

The news is not good. We were in a “time will tell” mode yesterday to see if the company was serious about negotiating a fair contract. Tonight, we got the answer to our question: “Will the company finally come to the table and begin bargaining with a commitment to negotiate a fair contract ”  The answer is NO. There is no commitment from the company to try and bargain with your unions. This company only wants major concessions from your Unions. We will not allow them to destroy your “Middle Class” status. We will not allow this company to strip away the benefits that we have gained over 50 years.

Your Unions helped this company when they were NY Telephone and New England Telephone to merge and become NYNEX. This Union helped this company when they were NYNEX and Bell Atlantic to merge to become Verizon. They needed the help of your Unions to help convince the politicians that these mergers would be good for the public. We helped this company become this powerful corporation. We watched as NNYEX and Verizon poured money from the landline side into the Wireless side to build their Wireless Network.

This is one Company - VERIZON - an extremely profitable company.

We will not allow this company to now try and destroy us and that is what they are trying to do at the bargaining table. They are trying to take away our collective bargaining rights.

The only company proposal that they have agreed to withdraw from the table is wages that are linked to your appraisals. I must remind everyone that the company has no proposals on the table to give you any wages at all. Every company proposal is to give something back to the company. In order to keep some of our benefits we have to give away one of the benefits we have today.

The company still has all of their retrogressive demands back on the table.

We must step up our fight. We told the company tonight that our members are prepared to fight to hell freezes over to secure a fair contract and your bargaining team is prepared to bargain for as long as it takes to secure a fair contract. We will take this fight to the public and we will raise the stakes. We will make this the battleground fight for the Middle class. Verizon will be the target for every union member and every middle class family. We will not allow this very profitable company to destroy the Middle Class.  

Our members, their friends, their neighbors and their relatives are all joining this fight against Verizon to save the Middle Class. More and more Unions are joining our fight to help us fight this greedy Corporation. Union members as well as non- union members are joining this fight.

Verizon you will hear us!!

It’s time to fight back! 

We will not allow VERIZON

to destroy the Middle Class!

Stay Strong - Stay United

Mobilize! Mobilize! Mobilize!

Regional Bargaining Report # 27

Wednesday, August 10, 2011, 11:45 PM

CWA District 1/IBEW Local 2213 and IBEW New England Regional Committees reconvened today to resume talks with the entire committee meeting with the company at the Rye Town Hilton in Rye, NY.  The last few days were spent in discussions at high levels of the Union and the Company.  The decision to bring back the committees was made because we received a commitment from the Company that they will get serious. The Regional Committees received a new proposal from Verizon that contained almost all of their retrogressive demands from the first proposal. The only item removed was the proposal that attached wage increases to job performance.

The Regional Committees are reviewing the latest proposal and they will be putting together counter proposals to see if the company is serious about their commitment to bargain.

We will not allow VERIZON to destroy the Middle Class

It’s time to fight back!

And we are ready!

Stay Strong - Stay United

Mobilize! Mobilize! Mobilize!

Regional Bargaining Report # 26

Tuesday, August 9, 2011  10:15 PM

 After two days of discussions at high levels of the Union and the Company, the Regional Bargaining Committee will go back to the bargaining table tomorrow at the Rye Town Hilton in Rye, NY.

 The decision to bring back the committee was made because we received a commitment from the Company that they will get serious. Time will tell if they are telling the truth.

Please keep up the strong mobilization. It is your efforts and dedication that has gotten us this far. The picket lines at Wireless stores and at company and customer locations have been amazing. As your bargaining committee heads back to the table we need to keep the pressure on in every way possible.

Stay Strong - Stay United

Spread the Word

We are fighting for the Middle class!

Mobilize! Mobilize! Mobilize!

Regional Bargaining Report # 25

Tuesday, August 9, 2011  1 AM

District 1 Vice President Chris Shelton and Assistant to the Vice President Dennis Trainor as well as District 2-13 Vice President Ed Mooney and Assistant to the Vice President Gail Evans along with Myles Calvey, Business Manager, IBEW Local 2222/ Chair T-6 Council and Bill Huber, President/Business Manager IBEW Local 827 met with the Company today at the Rye Town Hilton in Rye New York. We spent the entire day discussing all the issues that are on the New York/New England table and the Mid Atlantic table. The Union is trying to limit the issues at both of these tables by convincing the company to withdraw many of their retrogressive demands. We recessed at 11:30 PM and we are scheduled to reconvene in the morning.

Picket Lines are strong at every location from New England to Virginia. Unions are contacting us from all over the country who are offering to help us in our fight against Verizon. Working Men and Women, union and non-union realize this is a fight to save the Middle class.

Stay Strong-Stay United

Spread the Word

We are fighting for the Middle class!!

It's Midnight and we are going on strike

 The current round of negotiations with Verizon has been unprecedented, both in terms of the scope of Verizon’s attacks on the middle-class jobs of our members, and in terms of the company’s absolute refusal to engage in serious collective bargaining towards a new contract.

There has been absolutely no movement by the company at the table since talks began on June 22nd. Over 100 concessionary company proposals remain on the table. We have never seen anything like this in 50 years of bargaining with Verizon and its corporate predecessors.

As a result, CWA and IBEW have decided to take the unprecedented step of striking to force management to stop its Wisconsin-style tactics, and to start bargaining in good faith.

45,000 CWA and IBEW members walked off the job at midnight to demand that a company which made $19.5 billion and paid its top executives $258million over the last four years start bargaining in good faith and stop its attack on middle class jobs.

If and when the company agrees to bargain, then we will return to work and bargain until a fair agreement is reached.

Regional Bargaining Report # 23

Saturday, August 6, 2011  10:30 PM

CWA District 1/IBEW Local 2213 and IBEW New England Local Committees met with the company this morning at the Rye Town Hilton in Rye, NY. With only 1-1/2 hours left before contract expiration, we are still waiting for the company to get back to us. Obviously, they do not hear us.

At Midnight tonight – they will hear us Loud and Strong

Verizon seems hell-bent on destroying the middle class jobs CWA and IBEW have fought so hard to create over the last 50 years of collective bargaining.

We will not let that happen

It is time that Verizon invests in America and brings Good Jobs back into the bargaining unit.  Corporations like Verizon should not be destroying middle class jobs. They should be helping to rebuild the American economy and sharing their success with the workforce that made that possible.

We will not allow VERIZON to destroy the Middle Class

At MIDNIGHT it is time to fight back!

 Midnight - they will know we are fighting for the Middle class

Mobilize! Mobilize! Mobilize!

Regional Bargaining Report # 22

Saturday, August 6, 2011  6 PM

CWA District 1/IBEW Local 2213 and IBEW New England Local Committees met with the company this morning at the Rye Town Hilton in Rye, NY. With just 6 hours left before contract expiration, the company has yet to withdraw any of their retrogressive proposals. The company informed us this morning that they have another health care proposal to bring to the table. We are still waiting to meet to see this proposal.

With time running out the Company needs to withdraw these retrogressive demands. Obviously, the company has not heard us and at midnight they will hear how loud and clear we are – We want a contract!

Verizon seems hell-bent on destroying the middle class jobs CWA and IBEW have fought so hard to create over the last 50 years of collective bargaining.

It is time that Verizon invests in America and brings Good Jobs back into the bargaining unit.  Corporations like Verizon should not be destroying middle class jobs. They should be helping to rebuild the American economy and sharing their success with the workforce that made that possible.

We will not allow VERIZON to destroy the Middle Class

It’s time to fight back!

And we are ready…

BE READY AT MIDNIGHT! 

Mobilize! Mobilize! Mobilize! 

We will update you before Midnight

Mass Rally

Saturday, July 30^th

Over 15,000 CWA and IBEW members converged on Verizon's New York City headquarters on Saturday, July 30^th, one week before expiration.

CWA PHOTO GALLERY:

Verizon bargaining began Wednesday, June 22 and the company is on the attack.

 That's the bad news.

 Here's the good news: Districts 1, 2, and 13 and IBEW stand united and ready to fight for the good union jobs and middle class standard of living we've earned.

 Join the mobilization!

 Watch the video and share it with your co-workers:

Regional Bargaining Report # 21

Friday, August 5, 2011

CWA District 1/IBEW Local 2213 and IBEW New England Local Committees met with the company today at the Rye Town Hilton in Rye, NY. With just 1 day before contract expiration, the company has yet to withdraw any of their retrogressive proposals and actually added proposals from the local tables to the Regional table tonight. Further discussions are scheduled with the Regional Committee tomorrow morning.

The Company needs to get serious and remove these retrogressive demands immediately tomorrow morning and begin bargaining with your Union. Call your managers during the day and let them know you want the Company to come to the table and withdraw their retrogressive demands immediately.

Verizon seems hell-bent on destroying the middle class jobs CWA and IBEW have fought so hard to create over the last 50 years of collective bargaining.

It is time that Verizon invests in America and brings Good Jobs back into the bargaining unit.  Corporations like Verizon should not be destroying middle class jobs. They should be helping to rebuild the American economy and sharing their success with the workforce that made that possible.  

It’s time to fight back!

Turn up the Heat in your Work place!

Now more than ever we need to mobilize!

Mobilize! Mobilize! Mobilize!

Regional Bargaining Report # 20

Thursday, August 4, 2011

CWA District 1/IBEW Local 2213 and IBEW New England Regional Committees met with the company today at the Rye Town Hilton in Rye, NY. With just 2 days before contract expiration, the company has yet to withdraw any of their retrogressive proposals. The discussions today centered on health care with the company supplying some of the information the union has requested. Further discussions are scheduled for tomorrow morning.

The Company needs to get serious and begin bargaining with your Union. We need every member to tell their manager that Verizon needs to bargain with their Union now.

Verizon seems hell-bent on destroying the middle class jobs CWA and IBEW have fought so hard to create over the last 50 years of collective bargaining.

It is time that Verizon invests in America and brings Good Jobs back into the bargaining unit.  Corporations like Verizon should not be destroying middle class jobs. They should be helping to rebuild the American economy and sharing their success with the workforce that made that possible.  

It’s time to fight back!

Turn up the Heat in your Work place!

Now more than ever we need to mobilize!

Regional Bargaining Report # 19

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

CWA District 1/IBEW Local 2213 and IBEW New England Regional Committees met today at the Rye Town Hilton in Rye, NY. With just 3 days before contract expiration, your bargaining committee spent the day reviewing data received from the company and also evaluating our proposals. We have rejected all but one of the Company’s proposals and we told them yesterday that they need to address our issues. We are still waiting for the Company to respond to our proposals.

 The Company needs to get serious and begin bargaining with your Union. The clock is ticking and time is running out.

 Verizon seems hell-bent on destroying the middle class jobs CWA and IBEW have fought so hard to create over the last 50 years of collective bargaining.

 It is time that Verizon invests in America and brings Good Jobs back into the bargaining unit.  Corporations like Verizon should not be destroying middle class jobs. They should be helping to rebuild the American economy and sharing their success with the workforce that made that possible. 

It’s time to fight back!

Turn up the Heat in your Work place!

 Now more than ever we need to mobilize!

 Mobilize! Mobilize! Mobilize!

Regional Bargaining Report # 18

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

CWA District 1/IBEW Local 2213 and IBEW New England Regional Committees met with the Company today at the Rye Town Hilton in Rye, NY. With just 4 days before contract expiration, your bargaining committee is still waiting for Verizon to get serious at the bargaining table. The Company spends more time sending messages to our members giving them “bargaining facts” than they spend at the table. The Company's “ bargaining facts” e-mailed today to our members stated that key issues are being explored at the bargaining table, yet the issues listed were only briefly mentioned at a June meeting and never raised again. Your bargaining committee needs you to let your managers know that you are demanding that the Company come to the table and bargain with your Union. The Company was not ready to meet until 5:30 p.m. today.  They need to get serious. The clock is ticking and time is running out.

Verizon seems hell-bent on destroying the middle class jobs CWA and IBEW have fought so hard to create over the last 50 years of collective bargaining.

It is time that Verizon invests in America and brings Good Jobs back into the bargaining unit.  Corporations like Verizon should not be destroying middle class jobs. They should be helping to rebuild the American economy and sharing their success with the workforce that made that possible.

It’s time to fight back!

Now more than ever we need to mobilize!

Mobilize! Mobilize! Mobilize!

Regional Bargaining Report # 17

Monday, August 1, 2011

CWA District 1/IBEW Local 2213 and IBEW New England Regional Committees met with the Company today at the Rye Town Hilton in Rye, NY. With just 5 days before contract expiration, Verizon has yet to get serious at the bargaining table. While the message from Saturday’s rally, where more than 20,000 CWA/IBEW members, retirees and their families stood together to let Verizon know their demands are totally unacceptable, was carried by the media…Verizon still doesn’t get it.

Today, to once again let Verizon know what our position is, your regional bargaining committee rejected virtually all of the Company’s bargaining proposals.

Verizon seems hell-bent on destroying the middle class jobs CWA and IBEW have fought so hard to create over the last 50 years of collective bargaining.

It is time that Verizon invests in America and brings Good Jobs back into the bargaining unit.  Corporations like Verizon should not be destroying middle class jobs. They should be helping to rebuild the American economy and sharing their success with the workforce that made that possible.

It’s time to fight back!

Now more than ever we need to mobilize!

Mobilize! Mobilize! Mobilize!

Regional Bargaining Report # 16
Thursday, July 28, 2011


CWA District 1/IBEW Local 2213 and IBEW New England Regional Committees met with the Company today at the Rye Town Hilton in Rye, NY. The Union received answers to their questions on one of the company’s proposals. Unfortunately, the charts and presentations that they brought to the table to answer those questions were incorrect and the company needed to recess in order to correct those charts. The Union had received this proposal one month ago and had asked many questions to better understand the proposal. One month later, they returned with incorrect information. The company has told the Union that they will have this information tomorrow. The Union has to wonder when the company will begin to negotiate. Marc Reed, Executive Vice President in Verizon wrote to our members on Tuesday and he stated, “We are committed to productive discussions with union leaders regarding these issues.” Someone needs to tell Marc Reed that they have not engaged in any productive discussions and there are only 9 days left to the expiration of our contract. When do they plan to begin to have these productive discussions?

The members in District 1 overwhelming voted to authorize the Executive Board of CWA to call a strike if a fair contract cannot be reached.

Every member should tell their managers to stop sending them part of “What You Should Know” – How about telling us that Ivan Seidenberg makes $55,000 a day, that’s 1 day; that their top five executives were paid $258 million in compensation over the last 4 years; that Verizon made $19 Billion (that is with a “B”) in Profit over the last 4 years. Tell your managers that with facts like this, Verizon should not be trying to:

Eliminate Compensation:
• Wages - both annual and progression increases will be tied to your yearly evaluation. If you receive a “Does Not Meet Position Requirements” you will not receive an increase.
• Eliminate Night and Saturday Differential
• Eliminate Sunday premium pay
• Eliminate Double Time for hours worked past 49 in a week
• Eliminate all Overtime Caps
• Eliminate city allowances
• Create new job titles for the consumer and business call centers that would work on a commission based wage schedule

Eliminate Pensions:
• Eliminate pension accruals. For anyone currently on the payroll your pension will be frozen as of December 31, 2011 and after that, there will be no more pension plan
• Eliminate the Pension Cash-Out option
• Modify the 401(k) Plan and the CPS
• Eliminate the Sickness Death Benefit

Eliminate Benefits:
• Eliminate the current health care, prescription, dental, and vision plans and offer plans with high deductibles and contributions
• Eliminate accident disability benefits
• Cut in half the sickness disability benefits
• Reduce sick time pay to 5 days per year for those members with 20 or more years, 4 days for those with 15 - 20 years, 3 days for those with 7- 15 years, 2 days for those with 2 – 7 years and 0 days for those with less than 2 years
• Reduce Paid Holidays to seven

Eliminate Job Security:
• Eliminate the Job Security Provisions for all employees
• Eliminate the Movement of Work Protection
• Eliminate the 35 mile transfer provision
• Eliminate provisions in Force Adjustment Plan
• Eliminate New Contracting Initiatives agreement – which would allow them to increase the level of contracting

Eliminate Other Benefits:
• Eliminate the Next Step Program
• Eliminate the half day on Christmas Eve
• Reduce the notice to the Union on Major technological changes from 6 months to 30 days
• Eliminate the Dependent Care Reimbursement Fund

Verizon seems hell-bent on destroying the middle class jobs CWA and IBEW have fought so hard to create over the last 50 years of collective bargaining.


Thousands of CWA and IBEW members and retirees will be at this Saturday’s Rally at 11AM at Verizon headquarters at 140 West Street in New York City to tell Verizon that it is time to invest in America and to bring Good Jobs back into the bargaining unit. Corporations like Verizon should not be destroying middle class jobs. They should be helping to rebuild the American economy and sharing their success with the workforce that made that possible.

If you haven’t already made your arrangements to be at the Rally contact your Steward or Local to sign up. Every member should be at this rally, every member should bring their families, neighbors and friends.

It’s time to fight back!

Remember to wear RED!!!

Hear the song that will be played LIVE at the rally on Saturday:

Written by CWA Local 6222 member Ray Rodrigues & Riley Walace

Music by Riley Wallace, Special

“Get Ready to Strike”
http://files.cwa-union.org/national/att/song.mp3

Everyone will sing the chorus at the Rally!

Please try to learn the lyrics:

“Get ready to strike

Get ready to walk the line

Protect my healthcare, don’t lower my wages

Realize, Recognize, Mobilize, Stay Alive!

Get ready to strike

Get ready to walk the line

Protect my healthcare, don’t lower my wages

Realize, Recognize, Mobilize, Stay Alive!”

Now more than ever we need to mobilize!

Mobilize! Mobilize! Mobilize!

Regional Bargaining Report # 15
Wednesday, July 27, 2011

CWA District 1/IBEW Local 2213 and IBEW New England Regional Teams met with the Company today at the Rye Town Hilton in Rye, NY. The Union presented additional proposals to the Company. The Company asked questions about the Union’s initial set of proposals but made no movement on addressing any of the Union’s concerns. Verizon has not shown that they are serious about reaching an agreement with the Union or about having serious discussions around the issues to get to an agreement.

The members in District 1 and IBEW Local 2213 overwhelming voted to authorize a strike.

It is time for every member to tell their managers to go to the bargaining table and begin negotiating with your Union.

Thousands of CWA and IBEW members and retirees will be at this Saturday’s Rally at 11AM at Verizon headquarters at 140 West Street in New York City to tell Verizon that it is time to invest in America and to bring Good Jobs back into the bargaining unit. If you haven’t already made your arrangements to be at the Rally contact your Steward or Local to sign up. Remember to wear RED!!!

Now more than ever we need to mobilize!

Mobilize! Mobilize! Mobilize!

Regional Bargaining Report # 14

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

CWA District 1/IBEW Local 2213 and IBEW New England Regional Teams met with the Company today at the Rye Town Hilton in Rye, NY. Discussions centered on Absence.  It was apparent to your bargaining Committee that Verizon did not come to the table to have a serious discussion.  Management was strongly reminded that the contract expires in a little more than a week and that the time for them to get serious is NOW!!!

All employees in the East were greeted by Marc Reed’s letter this morning.  After reading it one could easily come away with the mistaken belief that Verizon is financially struggling.  That couldn’t be farther from the truth!  While Mr. Reed is correct that Verizon has invested more than $20 billion on FiOS since 2008, he fails to mention that it was our members work that provided the profits used to enter into Wireless and FiOS and it is our members who, everyday, deliver the quality service their customers demand.  We will continue to remind Management of these facts when discussions resume tomorrow. 

Thousands of CWA and IBEW members and retirees will be at this Saturday’s Rally at 11AM at Verizon headquarters at 140 West Street in New York City.  If you haven’t already made your arrangements contact your Steward or Local to sign up.

Remember to wear RED!!!

And don’t forget, tomorrow, Wednesday, July 27^th, CWA will host a virtual union hall meeting on Verizon East Bargaining and Mobilization. You will hear from Districts Vice President Chris Shelton and Ed Mooney, IBEW Local 827 President Bill Huber, and IBEW T-6 Chairperson Myles Calvey on what is happening at the table and how we are fighting back.

RSVP to join tomorrow’s call at 7PM EDT!

Urge your co-workers do so, too!

You can sign up for the call now by going to:  

http://www.cwaaction.org or text VZCALL to 69866.

We want to make sure that everyone is on this call.

Now more than ever we need to mobilize!

Mobilize! Mobilize! Mobilize!

Regional Bargaining Report # 13

Monday, July 25, 2011

CWA District 1/IBEW Local 2213 Regional and Local Bargaining Teams met with the Company today at the Rye Town Hilton in Rye, NY.  The Regional Committee presented their Health Care proposal, together with a detailed plan to rein in the spiraling cost of benefits, while at the same time, improving the quality of care received.  Discussions are scheduled to resume tomorrow morning.

Mobilization plans continue throughout the Locals with a focus on this Saturdays Rally at 140 West Street in New York City.

On Wednesday, July 27^th, CWA will host a virtual union hall meeting on Verizon East Bargaining and Mobilization. You will hear from District Vice Presidents Chris Shelton and Ed Mooney, IBEW Local 827 President Bill Huber , and IBEW T-6 Chairperson Myles Calvey on what is happening at the table and how we are fighting back.

Please RSVP to join the call on Wednesday at 7PM EDT

You can sign up for the call now by going to:   http://www.cwaaction.org   or text VZCALL to 69866.

If you have already signed up, please forward this message to your co-workers. We want to make sure that everyone is on this call.

Every member and retiree should be making plans to attend the July 30th rally at Verizon headquarters in New York City. The rally will begin at 11 a.m. at 140 West St.

Thousands of CWA and IBEW members are coming from across the footprint, some of them riding buses all night to be there. We need every member and retiree to make that same commitment to fight against Verizon's greed and for a fair contract that protects our jobs and standard of living. 

Contact your steward or local now for transportation. Bring your family members and other supporters. And, of course, wear red!

Now more than ever we need to mobilize!

Mobilize! Mobilize! Mobilize!

LOCAL Bargaining Report

Monday, July 25, 2011

Local Bargaining continued through midnight Saturday night. We anticipated what was coming: Verizon stated they had “No Interest” in all but two (2) of the Union’s proposals to improve working conditions. We rejected all of their retrogressive and insulting proposals (7).

Saturday night, we were horrified – with less than six (6) hours to go before Local Bargaining officially ended – they proposed to modify the internal transfer procedure that currently protects our Springfield, MA office.

To say we are disappointed that Verizon had no interest in improving conditions within our centers would be an understatement. Clearly they do not value the work you do every day and do not recognize that as the ‘front-line’ we are the MOST important part of this Company.

Regional Table conversations continued today in NY. Don is representing CWA New England and will be reporting back any updates. We will keep you informed.

We need everyone to fully support our Regional Bargaining team as they continue to fight back concessions!

** We understand there are some members that believe that this contract expiration is like any other bargaining session… PLEASE understand that there are members of the Bargaining teams that have been bargaining contracts for over 30 years and they have never seen such an assault on our Contracts! This is SERIOUS!

If you have not planned for a strike do what you can NOW to prepare.

We have (2) weeks left until our contract expires!

We expect a HUGE turnout in New York for the Rally July 30^th.

If you have not reserved your seat on the bus yet, please do it now!

Call the Local Union office at (603) 436-4388.

The bus schedule is on the website!

Don Trementozzi, President, CWA Local 1400

Keri Evinson, Executive Vice President, CWA Local 1400

Karen Cusson, Recording Secretary, CWA Local 1400

Theresa Dobson, District 2 Vice President, CWA Local 1400

Paul Bouchard, CWA National Staff Representative

LOCAL Bargaining Report

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Your Local Bargaining Team met with Verizon again today. The Company had no counter proposals for us and also had no interest in (2) of the Unions proposals.

Adding insult to injury, the Company notified us today that they are forcing (6) VCCD Reps to take CSSC calls beginning August 1^st. Don demanded from Labor Relations which contract article gave them the right to do this - and the only article that they could quote was “Management Rights.” We gave them examples of several articles that they were violating. We demanded expedited arbitration, to which they refused.

Negotiations will resume tomorrow.

We need EVERYONE to fight back!

STAND UNITED! YOU ARE THE UNION!

Your Local Bargaining Team on 7/21/11:

Don Trementozzi, President, CWA Local 1400

Keri Evinson, Executive Vice President, CWA Local 1400

Karen Cusson, Recording Secretary, CWA Local 1400

Theresa Dobson, District 2 Vice President, CWA Local 1400

Paul Bouchard, CWA National Staff Representative

Regional Bargaining Report # 10

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

CWA District 1, IBEW Local 2213 and IBEW New England Local and Regional Bargaining Committees resumed negotiations with Verizon at the Rye Town Hilton in Rye, NY today. The Unions received some answers to questions raised at previous sessions but are awaiting additional responses. The Company has not yet responded to any of the Unions bargaining proposals. Local Bargaining tables continued to meet throughout the day and into this evening. Discussions at all tables will resume tomorrow.

Plans continue for the July 30, 2011 rally at Verizon Headquarters at 140 West St in NY City. The Rally will begin at 11 AM. Members and retirees will join together to fight Verizon’s attack on our wages, benefits and working conditions. Every member from every Local should bring their families with them to help send our message to Verizon. We heard from some of our Locals in California that will be sending members to this rally.

Call your Steward - Call your Local

Make arrangements now - Be on the Bus

(Locations/Details Coming Soon!)

Let’s Rock NY City Again in 2011

Now more than ever we need to mobilize!

Mobilize! Mobilize! Mobilize!

LOCAL Bargaining Report

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Your Local Bargaining team met with Verizon again today and passed more proposals to the Company. Verizon, once again, had nothing for us.

We proposed:

The Company should have counter proposals for us tomorrow. But, we also expected them tonight, yesterday, last session… We will keep you informed!

Word we are hearing from the other Local tables is that if we ever receive anything from the Company, we won’t be happy with it.

WEAR RED TOMORROW – IT’S THURSDAY!

STAND UNITED! YOU ARE THE UNION!

Your Local Bargaining Team on 7/20/11:

Don Trementozzi, President, CWA Local 1400

Keri Evinson, Executive Vice President, CWA Local 1400

Karen Cusson, Recording Secretary, CWA Local 1400

Theresa Dobson, District 2 Vice President, CWA Local 1400

Paul Bouchard, CWA National Staff Representative

Regional Bargaining Report # 9

Tuesday July 19, 2011

CWA District 1, IBEW Local 2213 and IBEW New England Local and Regional Bargaining Committees resumed negotiations with Verizon at the Rye Town Hilton in Rye, NY today. The committees presented additional union proposals. The committees also pressed the company for answers on questions from previous session. The company will be providing some of those answers tomorrow. The Company has not responded to any of our proposals at the Regional table. Discussions will resume tomorrow.

Locals should continue conducting their strike votes and preparing for the July 30, 2011 rally at Verizon Headquarters at 140 West St in NY City. The Rally will begin at 11 AM. Members from all areas of the Verizon footprint will be joining us in the fight to protect our wages, benefits and working conditions. Every member from every Local should be at this Rally to send a message to Verizon.

Call your Steward - Call your Local

Make arrangements now - Be on the Bus

Let’s Rock NY City Again in 2011

Now more than ever we need to mobilize!

Mobilize! Mobilize! Mobilize!

Regional Bargaining Report # 8

Monday July 18, 2011

After meeting with Verizon locals from around the country to gather support for our fight against corporate greed, your CWA District 1, IBEW Local 2213 and IBEW New England Local and Regional Bargaining Committees resumed negotiations with Verizon at the Ryetown Hilton in Rye, NY today. Your union teams presented proposals covering numerous issues ranging from work rules to benefits and compensation. Discussions will resume tomorrow.

Locals should continue conducting their strike votes and preparing for the July 30, 2011 rally at Verizon Headquarters at 140 West St in NY City.  Members from all areas of the Verizon footprint will be joining us in the fight to protect our wages, benefits and working conditions. Every member from every Local should be at this Rally to send a message to Verizon.

Call your Steward - Call your Local

Make arrangements now - Be on the Bus

Let’s Rock NY City Again in 2011

Now more than ever we need to mobilize!

Mobilize! Mobilize! Mobilize!

LOCAL Bargaining Report

Monday, July 18, 2011

The 1400 Local table met today 07/18/11. Verizon had nothing for us today.

NONE of the information we have requested…
NO counter-proposals…
NO new proposals…

Clearly, they must have been too busy to consider our members, their employees or bargaining for the past two weeks.

We passed over proposals #11-15:
No discipline for observations
Flex time
Vacation buyback
Increase in special city allowance
Enhancements to arbitration awards

The Local table will be meeting through Saturday and the Company doesn't seem to be interested in anything that does not remove protections or benefits that have been fought for over decades.

It is obvious we are just numbers to them. This Company gives nothing out of the kindness of their hearts. We are now seeing that they no longer have any heart at all.

Your Local Bargaining Team on 7/18/11:

Don Trementozzi, President, CWA Local 1400

Keri Evinson, Executive Vice President, CWA Local 1400

Karen Cusson, Recording Secretary, CWA Local 1400

Sarah Rotcavich, District 1 Vice President, CWA Local 1400

Paul Bouchard, CWA National Staff Representative

Regional Bargaining Report # 7

Friday July 1, 2011

CWA District 1 / IBEW Local 2213 Regional and Local Bargaining Teams as well as the IBEW New England Committees met with the Company today at the Rye Town Hilton in Rye, NY. The Regional Committee continued discussion on health care and we are still waiting for information and data that we have requested from the Company.

Reminder to save Saturday July 30, 2011

for the Rally in New York City

We need to continue to stand strong and get our message out that we are more committed than we’ve ever been to fight to protect our wages, benefits and working conditions.

_{Now more than ever we need to mobilize!} 

Mobilize! Mobilize! Mobilize!

Regional Bargaining Report #6

Thursday  June 30, 2011

CWA District 1 / IBEW Local 2213 Regional and Local Bargaining Teams as well as the IBEW New England Committees met with the Company today at the Rye Town Hilton in Rye, NY to continue discussions on health care. The Regional Committee has requested additional data and information from the Company and is scheduled to resume negotiations at 9 AM tomorrow.

Preparations are being made for strike votes to be held in all locals. Plans are also being made for a Rally at Verizon Headquarters in New York City at 140 West Street on July 30, 2011. We will supply more details next week but it is time to set aside this date and make plans to attend this Rally. Members from all three Districts from New England to Virginia as well as IBEW members from NY, NE, NJ and Pennsylvania will be attending.

We need to continue to stand strong and get our message out that we are more committed than  we’ve ever been to fight to protect our wages, benefits and working conditions.

_{Now more than ever we need to mobilize!}

LOCAL Bargaining Report

Thursday June 30, 2011

The Local Bargaining team met today, 6/30/11 and Verizon had no proposals to present to us. We continued to present proposals that preserve your work rules and enhance your benefits. Those proposals included:

We will continue to present your issues and strive for better working conditions as the work environment grows more hostile and inhumane.

This contract will be the fight of a lifetime. Verizon is coming after our core benefits, our core work rules and we must stand together to stop them!

If a Manager has ever told you “You should be grateful to have this job” - You should be grateful. However, don't be grateful to Verizon but to the Union that has bargained for and fought for your benefits and contract.

Ask not what your Union can do for you, but ask what YOU can do for your Union - to help us all keep what we have fought for and won year after year!

2011 looks like it could be the next 1989, but it’s not just about healthcare...You ARE the Union and they are looking to break us.

STAND UNITED! STAND TOGETHER! WE ARE THE UNION!

Your Local Bargaining Team on 6/30/11:

Don Trementozzi, President, CWA Local 1400

Keri Evinson, Executive Vice President, CWA Local 1400

Karen Cusson, Recording Secretary, CWA Local 1400

Michael O’Day, District 6 Vice President, CWA Local 1400

Christine Parker, District 4 Vice President, CWA Local 1400

Paul Bouchard, CWA National Staff Representative

Thursday, June 30, 2011

Taunton, MA - CWA 1400 Members:

Regional Bargaining Report #5

Wednesday June 29, 2011

CWA District 1 / IBEW Local 2213 Regional and Local Bargaining Teams as well as the IBEW New England Committees met with the Company today at the Rye Town Hilton in Rye, NY. CWA Districts 2, & 13 and the IBEW Locals 827 and 1944 Regional Bargaining Teams met with the Company today In Philadelphia. Your Union Bargaining teams collectively have decades of bargaining experience. In all of our experience we have never seen such an aggressive agenda as the package of proposals the Company brought to the table today. Verizon has made it clear they want to take away almost every protection we have as Union workers.

Verizon wants to:

Wages:

Pensions:

Benefits:

Job Security:

Other:

This is not a Company facing a financial crisis. They are extremely profitable. This is not a Company coming to its union employees seeking ways to work together to face the challenges of the future.

Their proposals seek to destroy our future.

We need to send a very clear message that this is not acceptable, that we will not be passive as they seek to gut our contract.

Districts 1, 2, and 13 as well as the IBEW in New York, New England,

New Jersey and Pennsylvania stand unified and ready to fight.

We stand unified and ready to fight for your Wages, Benefits, and Working Conditions.

We stand unified and ready to fight for the middle class standard of living that you have earned and rightfully deserve to keep.

Now more than ever we need to mobilize!

Mobilize! Mobilize! Mobilize!

LOCAL Bargaining Report

Wednesday June 29, 2011

The Local Bargaining team met today, 6/29/11 and passed proposals that would benefit both the employee and the company towards their goals of flexibility. We proposed to allow EWD in 15 minute increments and to eliminate the 2 full day requirements. We proposed all (5) days to be paid and to increase the daily allotments. This would enhance productivity, per the company’s force load requirements. The Company took this under advisement.

We also proposed modifying our existing observation agreement to clearly define language that had been misinterpreted by the company.

Both proposals clearly benefit both parties.

Verizon proposed to gut the contract of the entire observation agreement and to remove ALL scheduled closed time. With a straight face, the company explained that this would “alleviate stress” by allowing them to reduce overtime - which they proposed yesterday to eliminate ALL restrictions on!

Verizon’s position is that Local & Regional bargaining will revolve around their 2 goals of flexibility and cost savings. We are quickly seeing flexibility involves gutting the contract, which leads to their cost savings by making working conditions so horrible you will quit.

Our position is that we made this network and we're not going anywhere!

WEAR RED TOMORROW!

SHOW WE ARE UNITED!

MAKE SURE YOU HAVE SPOKEN TO YOUR MOBILIZERS REGARDING ACTIVITIES!

Your Local Bargaining Team on 6/29/11:

Don Trementozzi, President, CWA Local 1400

Keri Evinson, Executive Vice President, CWA Local 1400

Karen Cusson, Recording Secretary, CWA Local 1400

Michael O’Day, District 6 Vice President, CWA Local 1400

Gregg Irving, District 3 Vice President, CWA Local 1400

Paul Bouchard, CWA National Staff Representative

Regional Bargaining Report #4

Tuesday June 28, 2011

CWA District 1 / IBEW Local 2213 Regional and Local Bargaining Teams as well as the IBEW New England Committees met with the Company today. At the Regional table we discussed the benefit proposal which was passed last week. Some of the retrogressive proposals are:

Now more than ever we need to mobilize

Mobilize! Mobilize! Mobilize!

Local Bargaining Reports:

Local bargaining continued today, 6/28/2011 and the mood went from somber to insulting.

Labor relations proposed changing the differential payment from 7pm to 9pm, that makes your differential payment that we earn go from 10% to 0%. They also proposed that differentials will be reduced to 9pm to 6am from 10% to 5%, cutting your hard earned differential in HALF! That's a $122 cut in pay!!!

They do not place any value on the time that would normally be spent with your family...they are saying they need the flexibility to manage a 24x7 workforce even though they need fewer than 6 people right now to manage a night tour.

The Company also proposed to eliminate the premium payment for working OT on a holiday. They want to be able to force you to work OT on a holiday and pay just time and a half.

To make matters worse, they propose to remove ALL limitations on forced overtime...(they can force more than 10-12 hours of OT per week) and eliminate double time after 9 hours of OT.

You should work harder longer and have no other life beside the hell that they create in the centers!

Can their proposals be any more insulting, degrading and greedy???

Their reasoning couldn't be any more illogical which makes it seem like it is a cold calculated attack on all of us!

Keep up your mobilization activities and let them know that you are worth more than this!!

We are United!

Your Local Bargaining Team on 6/28/11:

Don Trementozzi, President, CWA Local 1400

Keri Evinson, Executive Vice President, CWA Local 1400

Karen Cusson, Recording Secretary, CWA Local 1400

Michael O’Day, District 6 Vice President, CWA Local 1400

Gregg Irving, District 3 Vice President, CWA Local 1400

Paul Bouchard, CWA National Staff Representative

The Local Bargaining table met again today, 06/27/11. Verizon was not prepared to respond to any of our proposals and had no questions regarding them.

We did ask additional questions on the proposal they had presented to us, eliminating the "weekly, monthly or quarterly" language from the SA article. They were not prepared to answer all of our questions and have committed to getting us answers and examples of why they would need a specific person in a SA role for over 3 months.

• Verizon is telling us that they need ‘more flexibility’ in their work rules...When was the last time a manager was flexible with YOUR work rules?
• They are telling us that they need to ‘save money’...When was the last time you got a 1.7 billion dollar tax refund?
• They are telling us they need ‘increased productivity’...We think that being pinged after 3 seconds of work time is already sweatshop productivity!!

We need you to mobilize!!

LET THEM HEAR YOU NOW!!!!!!!

Your Local Bargaining Team on 6/27/11:

Don Trementozzi, President, CWA Local 1400

Keri Evinson, Executive Vice President, CWA Local 1400

Karen Cusson, Recording Secretary, CWA Local 1400

Michael O’Day, District 6 Vice President, CWA Local 1400

Paul Bouchard, CWA National Staff Representative

The Local Bargaining team met with Verizon on Thursday and Friday this week. We passed proposals on additional relief periods and enhancements to the grievance process. The Company has taken these back for review.

On Thursday, we received the Company's only proposal so far. They proposed to change the rotation time-frame for the SA position. Essentially, the language they passed indicates that the Company would like to be able to keep the SA's (that THEY choose) for as long as they would like. We presume this would lead to the elimination of a rotation at all. We are reviewing their proposed language and we are contemplating a counter-offer.

The "uncomfortable changes" Verizon mentioned in their opening statement are clear by seeing their first proposals at the Regional and Local Bargaining tables. They seem to be interested in only getting concessions from the Union and eliminating work rules that would help them run the centers like the non-union sweatshops they send our calls to throughout the world.

Local Bargaining is to resume on Monday, June 27th. Updates will follow!

STAND UNITED!

UNITED WE STAND - DIVIDED WE BEG

Your Local Bargaining Team on 6/23 & 6/24:

Don Trementozzi, President, CWA Local 1400

Keri Evinson, Executive Vice President, CWA Local 1400

Karen Cusson, Recording Secretary, CWA Local 1400

Sumner Delaney, Treasurer, CWA Local 1400

Michael O’Day, District 6 Vice President, CWA Local 1400

Paul Bouchard, CWA National Staff Representative

Regional Bargaining Report #3

Friday June 24, 2011

CWA District 1 / IBEW Local 2213 Regional and Local Bargaining Teams as well as the IBEW New England Committees met with the Company today. At the Regional table the Company gave us a proposal on Health Benefits. Verizon management had made it clear in their opening remarks on Wednesday that their goal in this round of bargaining was to erode our standard of living and the many hard fought for gains we have made through our more than sixty years of contract negotiations.

The Company proposed today to replace the MEP HCPPO and the HCN plan with two inferior plans and to vastly increase deductibles, out of pocket maximums and to add employee contributions. This proposal would also add considerable cost to retirees by implementing this plan. Retirees would begin paying annual contributions as well as paying more for their benefits with higher deductibles and higher out of pocket maximums.

The committee spent the day discussing these new plans with the company and will evaluate the plans over the weekend. The Company seems intent on making the plans so expensive that no one will be able to afford to use them.

We have told the company that we are prepared to work with them to help them cut cost with the Health Benefits but we are not prepared to shift the cost of those benefits to our members. We fought too hard for these plans, these benefits and our members and their employees deserve the best health care coverage from a company that is extremely profitable.

We have recessed for the weekend and will reconvene with the Regional Bargaining Committee on Tuesday. Most of the Local committees will be reconvening on Monday.

Mobilize! - Mobilize! - Mobilize!

Rye, NY CWA Rally 6/23/11

Regional Bargaining Report #2

Thursday June 23, 2011

Regional and Local Bargaining Teams met with the Company today. At the Regional table the Company gave a presentation about health care which lasted all day.

We have analyzed the Company's lengthy opening statement from yesterday's meeting which basically followed the theme of your wages are too high, your health benefits cost too much, you use your health benefits too frequently, you are out sick too much and your work rules are too costly.

If you read the Union's opening statement you can see that we took the high road and offered to help the Company solve problems as long as the member's livelihoods were not harmed.

Well it appears that Verizon believes that you are their enemy instead of the dedicated hard working work force that we know you are. This company is trying to take back everything that we have fought for and worked for over half a century.

We are not ready to go backwards; we are not ready to give up our standard of living. We all must stand together and if it's a fight they want it's a fight they'll get.

The Union will be asking you to mobilize, to take action. We need every member involved. This fight cannot be left to someone else. Every member must participate.

Keep checking this website for further updates and instructions.

Regional Bargaining Report #1

Wednesday June 22, 2011

CWA Districts 1, 2, and 13 as well as IBEW New York (NY), New England (NE) and New Jersey (NJ) opened negotiations with Verizon today. CWA District 1 and IBEW NY and NE are negotiating for new contracts at the Rye Town Hilton in Westchester County. CWA Districts 2, 13 as well as IBEW NJ are negotiating for new contracts in Philadelphia.

Chris Shelton, Vice President District 1 gave an opening statement to the Company at the regional Bargaining table in NY. Chris closed his statement by stating, “We need to be able to grow with Verizon. The Company cannot keep claiming surplus after surplus while hiring more contractors every day. It is not fair to your employees to tell them there are too many of them but yet you need contractors to do their work. It is not even good business to do this. We know that Verizon has an ideology of union avoidance and that shrinking the Union workforce is a priority. When ideology flies in the face of good business sense sooner or later the business and the stockholders suffer.

Our members are not only loyal to the Union they are loyal to Verizon as well. They want to see Verizon succeed, they work hard every day and have for the last half century to see Verizon and its predecessors succeed. However, Verizon's success should not be, cannot be, at their expense.

So we come here today to negotiate a contract that is fair to the Company, one that protects good Union jobs and that gives our membership the opportunity to grow along with the Company (See above statement).

The Regional Bargaining Committee also discussed logistics and a tentative schedule. Bargaining has adjourned for the day and is scheduled to resume tomorrow Thursday, June 23rd and it is expected that the Company will provide a benefit presentation to the Union. All Local Bargaining will also begin tomorrow.

There will be a rally at the Rye Town Hilton tomorrow at 5:30 PM.

Verizon Bargaining

Opening Statement Vice President, CWA District One

June 22, 2011

The Unions are here today to start the process of negotiating a new Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Our Unions have negotiated contracts with Verizon, Bell Atlantic and their predecessors since before any of us started working here. During the last 50 years, we worked together to solve problems, to address one another's needs at the bargaining table, to deliver quality service to customers and build a strong company.

And we have changed together as well. Our members have never stood in the way of technological change. Our union has always advocated efforts to insure that our members worked to stay abreast of the ever changing telecommunications industry.

Verizon CEO Ivan Seidenberg should know better than almost anyone that it was our members who did the work to make the profits which gave this Company the ability to grow and to expand into the businesses that it now includes. I say this because Ivan has the unique perspective for a CEO that he started out as one of us.

But in recent years, this company has turned its back on its employees. This company that we built together has taken its profits and headed off in new directions, to new products and technologies, and left behind the very workers that are responsible for its success.

Since 2005 Verizon has cut 80,000 wireline jobs from its rolls through access line sales, segment spin-offs, layoffs, attrition and retirements. In the same time period, Verizon Wireless has added 23,000 jobs.

Prior to the merger of Bell Atlantic and GTE in 2000, CWA and the IBEW represented 69% of Bell Atlantic employees. After the merger, 53% of the new Verizon Company was union-represented employees. Now we have dropped to only 35%.

We know that the industry is changing in a fundamental way and that the consumer side of the wireline business is in decline. While wireless subscribers continue to grow in number.

But we also know, in spite of what we hear from Mr. Seidenberg and the commercials for Verizon Wireless, that wireless service is not limitless. And without a quality wired network, there can be no reliable wireless phone service, no wireless data network, and no limitless world of communications.

We need to be able to grow with Verizon. The Company cannot keep claiming surplus after surplus while hiring more contractors every day. It is not fair to your employees to tell them there are too many of them but yet you need contractors to do their work. It is not even good business to do this. We know that Verizon has an ideology of union avoidance and that shrinking the Union workforce is a priority. When ideology flies in the face of good business sense sooner or later the business and the stockholders suffer.

Our members are not only loyal to the Union they are loyal to Verizon as well. They want to see Verizon succeed, they work hard every day and have for the last half century to see Verizon and its predecessors succeed. However, Verizon's success should not be, cannot be, at their expense.

So we come here today to negotiate a contract that is fair to the Company, one that protects good Union jobs and that gives our membership the opportunity to grow along with the Company. Both the Company and the Union have an opportunity here to change the dynamic. An adversarial stance serves neither the members of our Union or Verizon and its shareholders. We must come to an agreement that is fair to both sides.

June 22, 2011

Andover, MA CSSC:

June 16, 2011

Providence, RI - Verizon Workers Rally For Good Jobs!

June 16, 2011

Verizon, Andover CSSC - Michelle Bunning, Tracey Clocher

CWA 1400 Members showing their Union Pride!

June 2, 2011

Taunton, MA CSSC CWA Members STAND UP together at 3pm to show UNITY!!

May 5, 2011