One-Half Day With Pay

District One received notification from the Company advising that the 1/2 day for Christmas will be offered on December 23, 2010 for employees who are working that day. As has been the case in the past, needs of the business with determine how many employees in each department will be permitted to use the 1/2 day on the 23rd. If an employee is not permitted to take their 1/2 day then, they will have the opportunity to take another 1/2 off. It is the intention that all employees will receive their 1/2 day as quickly as possible, but at least by the end of January. 

Letter from Labor Relations below:

Verizon has made the decision this year to allow associates time off with pay on Thursday, December 23, 2010 subject to local business needs, force, service conditions and superseding collective bargaining agreements. This time off applys only to those associates who are at work on December 23, 2010 except as provided in local collective bargaining agreements.

Associates should check with their supervisor regarding work schedules to meet customer and business needs and the ability to take time off. This is similar to past associate treatment during holidays, but as you are aware is by specific authorization each year.

Thursday, December 30, 2010 will be a normal work day.

Tape Update!

Saturday, December 18, 2010

Executive Vice President Angel Feliciano Speaking;

“Ballots for the By-Laws Referendum are in the mail.

Any Member who has not received his or her ballot by December 21st should call the Election Committee at the Local and request a duplicate ballot”.

Trumka: Tax Deal First of Many Battles for Workers

Congress passed an $858 billion  tax deal last night that extends vital assistance in emergency unemployment benefits (UI) for more than a year for the 1.4 million-plus long-term job seekers. But this deal comes at a terrible price because it rewards obstructionists with huge tax breaks for the nation’s richest and  throws away precious resources we could use to revive our economy, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka said.  Read the full story

To Our Fellow Members

On December 14, 2010, ballots for the CWA Local 1101 By-Laws proposal were mailed to your homes. Every member in Local 1101 will be voting on this By-Law proposal. The Executive Board of Local 1101 recommends you vote YES to All the By-Law proposals.

This election is being conducted by the American Arbitration Association to ensure accuracy of the vote and the privacy of every member.

Every member who votes will receive a CWA Local 1101 shirt in appreciation of your union activism. The list of voters will be supplied by the American Arbitration Association after the results of the election are certified.

The entire membership needs to vote. The proposed by-law changes will structure the local to handle the needs of our diverse membership for the decade ahead. These long-overdue proposals will eliminate unnecessary positions on the executive board and add necessary representation at AT&T Mobility, Education and Health Care. These changes would put the local on a sound financial path and they do so without increasing our dues structure. 

The overwhelming majority of the Executive Board believes;

Fair and equal representation with a strong and financially secure local requires you to vote yes on all of the by-laws proposals.

YOUR VOTE IS YOUR VOICE – MAKE IT COUNT!

The Need For Our By-Laws Change

“Every Member Counts in Local 1101″

The House Must Hold:

Support the Caucus Position to Renogotiate on Bush Tax Cuts for the Rich

We’ve Been Cutting Taxes on the Rich for Decades:

91% – Top Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate Under Pres. Eisenhower

72% – Top Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate Under Pres. Nixon

69% – Top Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate Under Pres. Reagan

35% – Current Top Marginal Federal Income Tax Rate

The Result: A New Gilded Age with Record Levels of Inequality

 23.9% – Share of National Income Going to the Top 1% in 1928

 8.9% – Share of National Income Going to the Top 1% in 1976

 23.5% – Share of National Income Going to the Top 1% in 2007

 35% – Share of State Income Going to Top 1% in New York State in 2007

 44% – Share of City Income to Top 1% in New York City in 2007

Trickle Down Tax Cuts for the Rich Don’t Create Jobs:

According to the Economic Policy Institute, one dollar in tax cuts for the wealthy leads to 32 cents of economic activity.  The same dollar spent on public services produces an average of $1.75 in economic activity.  That’s because rich people save nearly 70% of their tax cuts; teachers and construction workers and others who get jobs from public services spend every dollar, creating still more jobs.  If trickle down tax cut economic policies worked, we’d have full employment right now.

We Need Good Jobs, Not $113 Billion in Tax Cuts for the Rich:

When the Estate Tax expired in 2009, it affected only the richest ¼ of 1% of estates, those worth $3.5 million or more.  The Obama-Republican deal will reduce that to covering just .14 of 1%, or $5 million estates.  It amounts to $23 billion in lost revenue over the estate tax scheduled in 2011.  The Bush-era income tax cuts for the 2 – 3% of Americans making over $250,000 cost approximately $33.5 billion per year.  The two year total of these 2 major tax cuts is $110 billion.  If Congress re-directed the $67 billion in income tax cuts for the wealthy into public investment instead, it would create 493,000 jobs over two years, according to the Economic Policy Institute. 

Do Not Embrace Failed Bush-era Policies:

The Bush Administration’s trickle down policies destroyed jobs and the economy.  Returning to such policies is a fundamental economic mistake.  It is also obscene: under the tax deal, those in the top 1% will enjoy an average yearly tax cut of $76,949, while the average American will receive $1,521.  CWA District 1 urges you to support the House Caucus’ position to renegotiate the tax deal.

Call Your Representative at 202-224-3121 (it’s the switchboard, so ask for your representative’s office) Tell your Rep. to Stand Strong and Fight for a Tax Package that Benefits Working People, Not Just the Super-Rich

Republicans Block Debate on Health Care Bill for Ground Zero Worker

District One VP Chris Shelton and a Verizon technician who worked at Ground Zero.

Months ago, the House of Representatives voted to cover medical treatment and monitoring for workers exposed to toxins at Ground Zero, where workers, including hundreds of CWAers, were on the job following the 9-11 terrorist attacks.

And 57 Senators voted to move the bill forward for a full debate in the Senate. But that majority vote wasn’t enough, because 41 Senate Republicans refused to allow the bill to go forward and killed progress on the health monitoring and coverage for 9-11 responders and workers.

The Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, named for a New York City police officer who died of cancer believed to be linked to his exposure at Ground Zero, needed 60 votes to pass under the current and increasingly out-of-whack Senate rules. Republicans were able to block the measure by refusing to allow any debate.

CWA has been a big part of the fight to monitor the health of Ground Zero workers and gain state and federal laws to support their medical care.

Why We Need to Reform the Senate Rules

All 42 Senate Republicans have signed a letter this week to Majority Leader Harry Reid, announcing that they will continue to delay and filibuster every piece of Senate legislative business until….they get their way on tax cuts and the federal budget.

The Obama administration and Democratic leaders support tax cuts for 98 percent of American families – those making less than $250,000 a year. But Republicans especially want a big tax cut for the wealthiest 2 percent of Americans that will add $700 billion to the budget. The Republican Senators also have specific demands on the appropriations bills that fund government operations; they’re basically saying “our way or the highway.”

Just more of the same tactics that Senate Republicans have pursued throughout the 111th Congress, making debate and discussion impossible on issues important to working and middle class families. That’s why Employee Free Choice, a bill to end the tax break for companies that offshore jobs, Paycheck Fairness and other important bills went nowhere.

This strategy of “obstruct, then delay, then obstruct again” is all too obvious.

That’s why CWA and a broad coalition of organizations are pressing for crucial reform to these rules when Senators are sworn in for the 112th Congress. Specific principles call for an end to destructive secret holds, a reasonable opportunity for all Senators to express their views and a timely “yes or no” vote on every nomination and measure.

Read more at www.fixthesenatenow.org.

“Your Vote is Your Voice, Every Member Counts in Local 1101”

By Jim Trainor, Secretary

The proposed by-law changes are now entering the final stage, which is a vote by the entire membership. After months of meetings, discussions, proposals and debates the Executive Board proposals are being presented to the membership. The proposed bylaw changes will be mailed by the American Arbitration Association. Every member in CWA, Local 1101 should receive a ballot and every member should vote.

The Executive Board has been conducting meetings throughout the local to discuss and explain the current by-laws proposal. Many of the members at our meetings were unaware of the facts behind some of these changes and members are not aware of our diverse membership and how these changes would impact representation. We have received a positive response throughout the local. More meetings are scheduled and we look forward to our membership involvement.

On Tuesday, November 23rd, there was a general membership meeting held at the Fashion Institute of Technology in Manhattan. The purpose of the meeting was to explain the current by-laws proposals. Since we have not had a by-laws change since 1984, the Local felt it was prudent to hire an arbitrator to serve as a Parliamentarian. Arthur Riegel, a highly respected and experience arbitrator, was recommended by the National union to serve as our parliamentarian. Arthur’s opening statement assured the membership that his role as a Parliamentarian was to assist in conducting the meeting and to interpret any motions which may be presented at the meeting.

The Executive Board’s decision to have the proposed by-law changes conducted by a referendum was sustained after repeated attempts by some members to conduct the election at the general membership meeting. The Executive Board took a strong stand against all attempts to deny every member the right to vote. These by-law proposals are too important a decision to be left to a minority of the membership.

Nine of thirteen members of the Executive Board supported your right to vote on this current by-laws proposal.  The following Executive Board members voted for your right to a referendum of the current by-laws proposal.

Joe Connolly – President                                          Angel Feliciano – Exec. Vice President

Terry Daly – Treasurer                                            Jim Trainor – Secretary

Joe Manley – Vice President                                     Martin Shannon – Business Agent

Thomas McGill – Business Agent                               Bob Pyzeski _ Business Agent

Tony Fiumano – Business Agent

The following Executive Board members voted against your right to a referendum of the current by-laws proposal.

Joe McAleer – Vice President                                    Al Luzzi – Vice President

Pat LaScala – Business Agent                                    Pat Gibbons – Business Agent

The entire membership needs to vote. The proposed by-law changes will structure the local to handle the needs of our diverse membership for the decade ahead. These long-overdue proposals will eliminate unnecessary positions on the executive board and add necessary representation at AT&T Mobility, Education and Health Care. These changes would put the local on a sound financial path and they do so without increasing our dues structure. 

The overwhelming majority of the Executive Board believes;

 Fair and equal representation with a strong and financially secure local requires you to vote yes on all of the by-laws proposals.

YOUR VOTE IS YOUR VOICE – MAKE IT COUNT!

The Need For Our By-Laws Change

Update Your Home Address 
If you didn’t receive a notice for the Membership Meeting in the mail please update your home address. Fax the completed form to the Local.  fax: 212-633-8337

The Need For Our By-Laws Change

By Jim Trainor, Secretary

Our Local is going through a transition which began some years ago. Recently over six hundred members of Verizon took retirement incentives. This most recent loss in membership resulted in the necessity to look at our Local financial structure. Our Local has gone through significant changes in the past and with the support of the membership and the leadership of our Local Executive Board we have emerged stronger.

The current proposed By-Laws reflect the needs of our diversified membership and the desire of the Executive Board to be responsive to those needs.  The purpose of these proposals is to address our declining membership in Verizon and to look at how our Local is structured. It is important for the entire membership to understand the facts and the history of our Local. Changing the By-Laws is significant and important to every member. The Executive Board believes if you understand our history and our reason for this change we will earn your support.

The last time the By-Laws were changed was in 1985. At this time the Local represented 12,000 members in the telephone industry.  ATTIS and NYNEX were the two major corporations we represented and it appeared both were positioned for growth.

The Local began organizing workers in dozens of telecommunications companies. We were also looking for organizing opportunities outside of our traditional base. The task of organizing workers is a difficult, time consuming process and a costly endeavor.  Over the next two decades Local 1101 would be involved in many organizing drives.  Thanks to the many members who participated, the support of the Executive Board and the membership we were successful in many of them.

Since 1986 Local 1101 has been honored at the CWA National Convention 10 times for their organizing achievements. Local 1101 stands with only a handful of locals around the country to achieve the award this many times. The following is a list of some of our accomplishments.

  • In 1986, five hundred Adjunct Faculty at Long Island University voted to affiliate with Local 1101 and became the first Higher Education Faculty of a Private University to join CWA.
  • In 1989 the members of NYNEX Mobil voted to join Local 1101. Now Verizon Wireless, they remain the only unionized workforce at Verizon Wireless.
  • In 1990 Sprint workers in Clinton, NJ voted to affiliate with Local 1101.
  • Beginning in 1993 and concluding in 1996 over 600 Heath Care Workers at Arms Acres and Conifer Park overwhelmingly voted to join Local 1101. They remain the only Wall to Wall unionized behavioral health facility in CWA.
  • In 2001 an organizing campaign began at Cingular Wireless. What started as small unit of retail employees scattered over the New York Metro Market in over a dozen stores would evolve into the longest organizing campaign for Local 1101. This campaign would last over five years and culminated in 2008 when the final unit of technicians would vote to join local 1101. Cingular would eventually buy and become ATT Wireless; in the end Local 1101 would successfully organize over 1,800 new members.

For the last ten years we have fought Verizon at every step for our fair share of jobs. In 2000 with our campaign for “Neutrality” at Verizon Wireless and again in 2008 with our campaign to “Tear Down the Wall” at Verizon Business. While the union persevered in both campaigns, Verizon has successfully shunted our ability to grow the union. This battle continues and we must prepare to fight again in 2011. FIOS is a growing and profitable business and all of this work needs to be performed by our members.

Reviewing our past and looking into the future it is necessary to understand our need to change the By Laws. They were written to represent members in the telephone industry. As you can see, we now represent diversified industries.

Currently there are 13 members of the Executive Board. The structure of the Executive Board was created to reflect our membership base in the telephone industry. As we organized additional units we assigned these units to be represented by current Executive Board members based on geography and equalizing the overall membership representation.  We assigned various members the role of coordinators in these units. They were responsible for day to day operations, grievance handling and representation responsibilities.  We believe this current structure has adequately represented all our members in every unit within the Local. However, it is no longer financially feasible. We no longer have the finances to maintain our current structure.

With this knowledge, the Local mandated a By-Laws Committee be formed in May, 2010. Financial problems were addressed. Recommendations were made to sustain the Local for the future. There are many housekeeping changes, which will be explained with your voting instructions. The important changes to the structure of the Executive Board deserve a complete understanding of all the facts.

Generally, changes in By-Laws occur when a union attempts to increase their rates of dues. No dues increase has been proposed. The following By-Law changes will insure for the foreseeable future a financial secure Local. 

  • Eliminate the title and position of Executive Vice President. The committee feels those duties can be effectively performed by the President and remaining three Vice Presidents.
  • Secretary and the Treasurer jobs would be combined into one title and function of Secretary/Treasurer. These functions are highly automated and can be effectively combined at this time.
  • The Business Agent for Central Division would be eliminated. This Division was created after divestiture to serve the needs of our concentrated membership in Manhattan’s telephone industry.  The membership in this Division has decreased and can be absorbed by the other Divisions.
  • Create two new Divisions, one for ATT Wireless and Avaya and another Division for Arms Acres, Conifer Park and Long Island University. These new divisions follow our traditional structure and our principle belief that the membership deserves to have representation from their peers.

These proposed By-Laws, if approved by the membership, would improve the structure and function of our Executive Board and increase our representation of all of our members. The By-Laws Committee feels the changes are a necessary step in the transition of our diversified Local.

These are important changes for you and your union. We urge everyone to vote to approve the proposed By-Law change. Many local unions have had to change to survive. Local 1101 is your union; every member deserves to have their voice heard and their vote counted.  Local 1101 now represent technicians, case managers, nurses, customer care professionals, professors and retail sales consultants. Each group has been represented and represented well for many years. The time has come for us to make room at the table for them. In another era we could afford to add a chair and put another leaf in the table. Unfortunately today our resources do not allow for additional chairs but they do demand we give up a seat.

We urge you to vote for the proposed By-Law Amendments. If you have any questions do not hesitate to call your union. You can also send us an email at: SEND US MAIL