Monthly Archives: October 2011

March Against Verizon Corporate Greed

Posted on by

Click on the photo to view the photo gallery.

Friday October 21, 2011 
140 West St. @ 4:00 PM
March @ 5:15 PM

Nobody knows more about fighting corporate greed than 45,000 CWA and IBEW members at Verizon & Verizon Wireless. 

A company that made $22.5 billion in profits and paid its top five executives $258 million in the past four years wants to slash our benefits, force us to pay thousands of dollars more for health care, reduce our sick time, and eliminate our job security. 

Verizon is the poster child for corporate greed. 

In the last month, the Occupy Wall Street movement has focused international attention on corporate greed, demanding that the American economy start to work for the 99% again, not just make the top 1% even richer. Occupy Wall Street supports our struggle—they have joined our info picket lines and leafleted at VZ Wireless stores. They are heeding our call not to upgrade to Apple’s iPhone4S on Verizon’s network until Verizon and Verizon Wireless stop trying to downgrade our jobs. 

On Friday Oct. 21 we join forces at 4 p.m. in front of 140 West Street to informational picket. At 5:15 p.m. we MARCH from 140 West Street past Zuccotti Park on Broadway and rally near a VZ Wireless store. 

It is time to stand up to Corporate Greed!

Regional Bargaining Report # 48 – Thursday, October 13, 2011

Posted on by

CWA Members at Apple store.

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 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!

1101 President Howard Banker

Posted on by

It is with our deepest sympathy that we announce the death of former Local 1101 President, Howard Banker. Howard Banker was President of CWA Local 1101 from 1967 to 1970.

Funeral arrangements are Saturday night, Sunday and Sunday night at McNulty Funeral Home 3006 Middletown Road, Bronx, NY 10461. The funeral will be Monday morning from Our Lady of the Assumption Church on Roberts Ave. in the Bronx.

Regional Bargaining Report # 47 – Wed., October 12, 2011

Posted on by

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 pension accruals. For all current employees, your pension would be frozen as of December 31, 2011 and no new employee would receive a pension.
  • Eliminate the Pension Cash-Out option.
  • Modify the 401(k) Plan and reduce the Corporate Profit Sharing (CPS).
  • Eliminate Sickness Death Benefits

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 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

  • Eliminate accident disability benefits.
  • Reduce Sick Time.
  • Eliminate All Short Notice EWD’s.
  • Eliminate the next Step Program

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!

CWA Releases Report On Avianca Airlines As Debate On Columbian Trade deal Heats Up

Posted on by

Case Study Finds Labor Action Plan ineffective, worker abuse continues

Washington, DC — The Communications Workers of America today released “As Goes Avianca: How One Company Represents the Problems and Challenges of the Colombia Free Trade Agreement & the Action Plan on Labor Rights.” The case study outlines the challenges that go unaddressed by the proposed agreement’s Labor Action Plan by looking at the actions of the Colombian-based airline as they relate to it. Continue reading →

Regional Bargaining Report # 46

Posted on by

Oct 11, 2011

The Regional Committees from both the north and south tables met separately with the company late today. The company presented the committees with comprehensive counter proposals. Both committees have recessed for the day and will reconvene tomorrow to continue their review of the company’s proposals and develop our response. We will provide the details on the company’s proposal and our response in a later bargaining report.

Verizon Tape

Posted on by

October 11, 9:20 PM
Transcript: Executive VP Angel Feliciano

The Company has presented a new comprehensive proposal and has gone over part of it. We will resume tomorrow morning and go over the whole proposal. We will respond once we have evaluated the entire package.

Regional Bargaining Report # 45 – Friday, Oct. 7, 2011

Posted on by

Occupy Wall Street demonstration, 10-5-2011.

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.

  Stay Strong – Stay United

Mobilize! Mobilize! Mobilize!

Decrying Greed, CWA Joins ‘Occupy Wall Street’ Demonstrations

Posted on by

CWA: Movement’s Peaceful Protests ‘An appropriate Expression Of Anger’

Fighting for economic justice and good jobs to rebuild America’s middle class, CWA members and thousands of other union members joined Occupy Wall Street demonstrators for a march in New York’s financial district on Wednesday. CWA also participated in San Francisco and other cities as similar rallies and protests spread nationwide.

Local 1101 at the Occupy Wall Street Demonstration 10-5-2011. Click on the photo to view the photo gallery.

The New York City crowd swelled to an estimated 20,000 demonstrators Wednesday. “Being able to be here and walk in protest with my union is amazing,” said Local 1180 member Marissa Colon-Margolies. “My dad, who believed in the American dream, got laid off four years ago. He was an engineer and designed some of the first computers and now he can’t get a job. The Wall Street people and politicians are demonizing union workers for having too much. It’s what everyone should have.”

CWA members marched in Occupy Wall Street demonstrations this week in New York City and San Francisco. Protesters have also joined with CWA to leaflet at Verizon and Verizon Wireless stores and buildings.

The CWA Executive Board endorsed the Occupy Wall Street movement this week, saying it is “an appropriate expression of anger for all Americans, but especially for those who have been left behind by Wall Street. We support the activists’ non-violent efforts to seek a more equitable and democratic society based on citizenship, not corporate greed.”

Toward that end, Occupy Wall Street demonstrators have shown their support for Verizon and Verizon Wireless workers by joining CWA to leaflet at VZW stores and for rallies and marches outside Verizon buildings.

The OWS activities have brought together people of all ages with diverse opinions but shared general goals. As described by the AFL-CIO, working Americans are calling for:

  • Wall Street and corporate America to invest in America: big corporations should invest some of the $2 trillion in cash they have on hand, and use it to create good jobs. Banks should be making credit more accessible to small businesses, instead of parking almost $1 trillion at the Federal Reserve. 
  • An end to foreclosures by rewriting loans to stop the downward spiral of the housing market and inject more than $70 billion into the U.S. economy. 
  • A tiny tax on financial transactions to raise hundreds of billions in revenue that could fund education and create jobs rebuilding our country. Such a tax also would discourage speculation and encourage long-term investment. 

As the protests continue and grow, the AFL-CIO said unions nationwide “will open our union halls and community centers as well as our arms and our hearts to those with the courage to stand up and demand a better America.”

Story from CWA News

Verizon Tape

Posted on by

Oct. 6, 2011
Transcript: Executive VP Angel Feliciano

As a result of an error by the National Union’s Membership System, we have contacted the National Union and the Department of Labor and informed them that we are delaying our officer elections for two weeks to allow our AT&T members to participate in the election.

Bargaining continues with the company answering questions about our
counter-proposals. With the Company still seeking major concessions, your
Bargaining Team is more unified and determined than ever.

VERIZON, CAN YOU HEAR US NOW?