CWA Local 1400

Today is Tues July 22

CWA/IBEW Bargaining Update for Tuesday, July 22, 2008

The bargaining Committees met in sub-committee today and continued to focus on jobs. As the Unions continued to stress the importance of this issue, specific discussions concerning TRG COEI work took place with Operating management joining the Company’s bargaining team to address the Union’s questions and concerns. Further sub-committee meetings are scheduled for tomorrow.

As we get closer to the expiration of the contract Locals will be scheduling Picket assignments. Keep in touch with your Local Mobilization coordinators for information on all mobilization activities. Attendance numbers for this Saturday’s rally in New York City continue to grow. CWA President Larry Cohen and the Vice Presidents from Districts 2 and 13 will be joining District 1, Vice President Chris Shelton at the rally. If you have not already signed up, please see your Local mobilization coordinator to do so.

Nothing is stronger than the power unity

Today is Mon, July 21, 2008 Pres Cheryl Ahern speaking.

CWA/IBEW Bargaining Update for Monday, July 21, 2008

CWA, IBEW 2213 and IBEW New England resumed bargaining with Verizon today in Rye, New York. The two sides continued their discussions concerning jobs of the future and current work from Fridays session.. The Unions stressed the importance of this matter being addressed properly in order to reach an overall agreement. The Company has not yet responded on this matter.

The CWA Vice Presidents, Chris Shelton, District 1, Ron Collins, District 2 and Ed Mooney, District 13 along with IBEW officials, Myles Calvey (New England) and John Miller (New Jersey) are meeting in Washington D.C. with high level Verizon management to insure that progress is being made at the Regional tables.

CWA reported today that more than 91% of its Verizon members voted to authorize a strike in balloting conducted over the last week among over 50,000 Verizon members in the Northeast.

Mobilization activities continue across Districts One, Two and Thirteen as final preparations are being made for the rally planned for New York City this Saturday, July 26th. Check with your Local Union for details and staging areas for this important activity.

CWA bus will be meeting at Dascombe road Saturday morning for rally 140 West Rd NYC seats are still available pls contact the local to sign up.
Strike assignments should b completed in all locs any Questions Please contact the local.
United we stand divided we fall.

Today is Thurs, july 17,2008 President Cheryl Ahern speaking

Bargaining Update for Wednesday, July 16, 2008

The CWA/IBEW 2213 and IBEW New England bargaining committees resumed bargaining in Rye, New York with Verizon. Medical Benefits, Prescription Drugs and Jobs were the issues discussed today. The Company had many questions on the Unions proposal on Medical and Prescriptions and told us that they were planning a counter to our proposal. The Union stressed that our top priority is our current work as well as jobs of the future and the session ended with the company looking to continue the discussions on jobs at tomorrow sessions.

The results of the strike authorization vote will be announced once all Locals have conducted their vote. The CWA Secretary Treasurers office is conducting online Member Relief and Defense Fund training for all Locals. All Locals should check the dates of this training and make sure that they participate. Plans are being finalized for a multi CWA District and Union rally on Saturday, July 26th in New York City. Contract your Local for details.
CWA/IBEW Bargaining Update for Thursday, July 17, 2008

Bargaining continued in Rye, New York between CWA/IBEW 2213, IBEW New England and Verizon. The morning session included a discussion on current work and jobs. The Union’s questioned the Company representatives on work specific to the TRG unit and requested additional information. During the afternoon and evening session the Company presented a counter proposal on Medical Benefits. Bargaining has recessed until Friday morning when the issue of future and current jobs will be addressed.

Mobilization activities continue across District One, Two and Thirteen. Plans are being finalized for the New York City rally on July 26th. Check with your Local Union for details on this important activity. The result of the strike authorization vote will be announced later this week.

Bargaining Update for Tuesday, July 15, 2008 The CWA/IBEW 2213 and IBEW New England bargaining committees spend the morning preparing a counter proposal on Medical and Prescription Drug Benefits. In the afternoon the Union presented their proposal to the Company. Negotiations were recessed for the day. It is expected the Company will respond when bargaining resumes tomorrow morning. The results of the strike authorization vote will be announced later this week. The CWA Secretary Treasurers office is conducting online Member Relief and Defense Fund training for all Locals. All Locals should check the dates of this training and make sure that they participate. Notification has gone out to TP + Acting managers to step down effective Monday. We had an incident in SRC were management was asking to be trained so those TP'd stepped down immediately. I want to thank the SRC TP'd for their unselfish act of solidarity. There is strength in numbers .

Today is Monday July 14^th 2008 10:55pm, President Cheryl Ahern speaking. With less than three weeks left until contract expiration, the bargaining team still has a lot of work ahead of us. Talks continue with Verizon. Thursday the CWA regional bargaining committee and IBEW 2213 met with the company to discuss mediation proposals. On Friday the sub committees met, and met with the company. Today’s discussion focused on more questions relating to mediation. The regional bargaining team for CWA, IBEW 2213 and IBEW NE will meet tomorrow with the company. We have a rally planned for July 26^th in NY. The bus will meet at 6:00am and travel to 140 West St. corporate headquarters. The rally will be from 1:00pm-3:00pm. This rally was originally planned for July 19^th. It has been confirmed and changed to July 26th. Joe Cody has been working very hard to get the word out there. Please sign up. To sign up see Joe Cody, Darlene Stone, your local Mobilizers or call the local office. We also have a rally planned for Boston MA at 185 Franklin St for July 31^st.

Today is Wed July 9, 2008 11:25pm

CWA Bargaining Update for Wednesday, July 9, 2008

Negotiations resumed between CWA/IBEW 2213 Regional Bargaining Committees in Rye, New York. Today¢s discussion focused on the health care and prescription drug proposals. Yesterday, the bargaining committee met with the Local Presidents and discussed issues relating to the loss of jobs. The Local President provided the bargaining committee with details of the increasing volume of our work being contracted or performed by managers. The bargaining committee also discussed with the Local presidents the importance of defining the jobs of the future.

The full committee will be meeting with the Company tomorrow morning to discuss the issues of jobs, today¢s jobs as well as the jobs of the future. The parties have agreed to meet in sub committees during the afternoon. Sub committees have been established to address our demands on arbitration and FIOS work.

Strike votes are now underway in every Local. The results will be announced next week.
cwa local 1400 is complete, the total is 523 Yes & 30 No.

Today is Mon 7/7/08 11pm Pres Cheryl Ahern speaking.
I am pleased 2 report the
results from the strike vote administered last Thursday. thus far CWA 1400 has an overwhelming majority in favor
502 Yes & 30 No
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We are awaiting results from Bos ucc
Ty to all those who voted to have a say in the outcome of their future for jobs with better wages and benefits for all.
CWA/IBEW Bargaining Update for Wednesday, July 2, 2008

The CWA/IBEW 2213 and the IBEW New England negotiating committees met with the Company in Rye, New York. Discussions centered on the health care and prescription drug proposals. The Committees worked on these issues separately.
CWA Bargaining Update for Monday, July 7, 2008

Negotiations resumed between CWA/IBEW 2213 Regional Bargaining Committees in Rye, New York. Today’s discussion focused on the Company’s proposal on the arbitration and mediation process.

Tomorrow the Bargaining Committee has scheduled a meeting with the CWA Local Presidents. The purpose of this meeting is to update the Presidents on the current state of negotiations as well as have them provide valuable input on the issues of Jobs, the jobs we do today, the jobs of the future and contracting of work.

Hi everybody,

Another Thursday. More and more red every week. CWA & IBEW working together. Took advantage of today to get the EFCA petitions and health care cards signed. Taunton union members are on board. They are getting involved. I have a very good feeling about the members in this office. I'm happy to be a part of it.

Joe Cody

Dear Member,

As the Democratic primary winds to a close, we thought it would be a good time to start looking at John McCain’s record as it stacks up against our key issues:

Collective bargaining and the Employee Free Choice Act
Health care reform that reduces employers’ demands for concessions
Retirement security that protects our pensions
Fair trade

I'm interested in hearing what CWA members think about John McCain. What are the most common things you hear about John McCain from your co-workers and friends? Please send in your comments:

http://www.cwavotes.org/feedback

We’ve asked our folks to look into the McCain record, and I’ve been disappointed that this patriot has consistently voted against our key issues.

On collective bargaining, John McCain voted for a National Right-to-Work for Less law that would attempt to eliminate unions altogether. He voted against the Employee Free Choice Act and has said unions have "serious excesses."

On health care, John McCain wants to tax union members $3,000 for our negotiated benefits. He may say he supports tax cuts, but we’re paying more for our health care because of them – and there is no relief in sight at the bargaining table.

On retirement security, John McCain voted to privatize Social Security and trust Wall Street with our retirement. He voted to raise the age of eligibility for Medicare from 65 to 67. He voted against pension protections and against allowing the government to negotiate for lower prescription drugs for Medicare.

And on fair trade, McCain says he supports free trade and most favored nation status to China. That has resulted in nearly 2 million lost jobs – mostly from manufacturing. He opposes tougher sanctions and inspections to keep us safe from toxic toys and food made in China. And he supports Bush’s economic policies that have us borrowing billions from China.

John McCain may appear to be a good guy, but his voting record is out of touch with working Americans.

Let me know what you think and what you’ve been hearing about John McCain:

http://www.cwavotes.org/feedback

This is a big year for us. We’re bargaining for 55,000 workers at Verizon and 20,000 workers at Qwest, along with the hundreds of other contracts across the country.

Our ability to bargain good contracts is influenced by the political climate and growth in the union movement. That’s why we’ll be spending the upcoming weeks and months talking about John McCain, and providing new opportunities for members like you to get involved and help in the elections this fall.

In Unity,

Jeff Rechenbach
Executive Vice President

http://www.unionvoice.org

Members can call telephone # 800-995-8772 to see what tests they have passed or failed.

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

(IBEW-CWA Press Release)

Communications Workers of America
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers

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

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