Monthly Archives: January 2012

CWA Bargaining Update for Friday, January 27, 2012

Posted on by

From CWA1022

Bargaining continued this week in Rye, NY. In our meetings, the company rejected the Union’s proposals on the Advisory Committee on Healthcare, Healthcare Benefit Coordinators, Pensions, Corporate Profit Sharing and Meal Allowances. The company offered counter-proposals on the Advisory Committee on Healthcare and one part of our proposal on pensions.

We also met and discussed the company Call Sharing proposal. The company provided data and answers to some of the questions we asked last week. Some of the answers created more questions and requests for information. Our discussions on call sharing will continue as the company responds with further data. The talks have recessed for the week and will reconvene on February 6th.

As we continue to fight back against the concessions the company is pushing at the bargaining table, we know it will take the commitment of every member and retiree to send a clear message to management this is a fight we intend to win.

Stay engaged. Stay focused on what is going on during this round of bargaining. The company is attacking our middle class standard of living.

We will send more updates as they become available.

Mobilize! – Mobilize! – Mobilize!

It’s YOUR Contract!

Members Be Aware

Posted on by

Webmaster:

I know you are very busy. I like your site and I find it very informative on a daily basis. As a retiree I try to keep up with the current fight with Verizon. This has to be the most important contract in my 44 years of work.

In that time I have spent with my union brothers and sisters about a year and a half on strike to get the benefits that we have. Some of our members do not realize that benefits end or are reduced when members retire. Verizon is now reducing the one year insurance 10% between the ages of 66 to 70 years old, members end up with 50%.

The active members will all be retirees at some point. I hope Washington D.C. will step in and protect labor and the hard working middle class. The people vote not the greedy corporations…

I hope our members are ready to make the sacrifices that may be needed to win a fair contract. Seven months in 1971 got us an agency shop and great contracts and four months in 1989 kept our medical benefits.

I hope we can kick their corporate butt across the nation.

Thanks for giving us a web site, take care.

2011 Verizon Contract Proposals for Retirees
From: cwalocal1103rmc.org

The Company has proposed to terminate the major health benefit plans that CWA has negotiated over decades.

The company is demanding premium contributions for both the medical plan and the dental plan.

The company wants to impose premiums for retirees. For pre-Medicare retirees, a single retiree could pay somewhere between $290 and $1,320 depending on they plan they choose. A pre-Medicare retiree with a family could pay between $1,280 and $3,710 depending on the plan they choose.

Medicare retirees could pay between $145 and $960 a year depending on the plan they enroll in if they are single, and between $640 and $2,155 a year depending on the plan they choose.

Premiums for the dental plan would be up to $185 per year for a single employee and up to $435 per year for a family, depending on the plan they choose.

Retirees would also have to pay for dental coverage, the same rates as active employees.

The most drastic changes are proposed in the medical plan. The company proposed to eliminate the PPOs and network plans that have been in place for decades and replace them with high deductible health plans.

Before the plan would begin to pay any benefits, a single employee would have to pay $1,000 and a family would have to pay $3,000.

In other words, the company is proposing to shift thousands of dollars in health costs to retirees, without offering any improvements in health care quality or any support for retirees to navigate the health care system. They are saying “You’re On Your Own” to retirees and their families who need quality, affordable health care.

New York 99%ers Call Out Verizon As A Corporate “Tax Dodger”

Posted on by

West Street Rally January 26, 2012. Photo courtesy of Ed Rosado

By Anthony S Jennings

Verizon Communications has been identified as one of the country’s worst tax dodger, earning more than $32 billion in the U.S. alone between 2008 and 2010 – all while paying an effective income tax rate of zero.

Community members and allies rallied with District 1 at Verizon corporate headquarters yesterday to demand the giant corporation pay it’s fair share.

Union workers throughout the New York metro area gathered at Barclay and West Streets in Manhattan to highlight the abuses of corporate tax dodgers and their practice of aggressively lobbying for tax laws structured to benefit giant corporations and the wealthiest 1%.

Today’s action, part of a series of events called “Occupy the Boardroom,” was aimed at corporate tax dodgers, reminding them that it’s the 99% that ends up paying for corporate free-riding.

Corporate Tax Dodgers Protested across the Country, read more about it at SEIU.

Cablevision Workers Triumph, Brooklyn Technicians Vote To Unionize

Posted on by

Rally to support Cablevision Workers January 16, 2012. Click on the photo to view the gallery.

January 26, 2012

Today, 282 Brooklyn Cablevision technicians and dispatchers in Brooklyn voted to join the Communications Workers of America (CWA), Local 1109 in a union election administered by National Labor Relations Board, overcoming a vigorous anti-union campaign led by Cablevision. They are the first Cablevision workers to join a union. Cable TV is an overwhelmingly non-union industry while the traditional telecommunications industry remains highly unionized.

“I’ve waited 13 years for this,” said Cablevision technician Clarence Adams. “United, as members of Communications Workers of America, we now have the power to negotiate a fair contract that will give us the dignity and respect on the job we deserve.”

Cablevision workers are currently subject to arbitrary discipline and favoritism by managers, their health care coverage is inadequate, their workload is unreasonable and they have insufficient 401(k) retirement plans.  Cablevision workers also make at least one-third less than Verizon workers, who are represented by CWA.

“This is about my son, his future, and the future of the Cablevision 99%,” said Cablevision technician Marlon Gayle.  “We can now negotiate with management for a safer work environment, better healthcare, a more secure retirement and a salary that will allow us to support our families.”

Cablevision leads the Cable TV industry in “average monthly revenue per subscriber of $153.97.”  And outgoing COO Tom Rutledge made $28 million in 2010, about twice the combined pay of the 282 technicians in Brooklyn.  Rutledge’s $28 million is over 600 times the average technician’s pay.  Despite $361 million in profits, Cablevision paid no federal income taxes in 2010.

As soon as Cablevision’s management learned of the organizing drive, they began a campaign of harassment and intimidation, including forcing workers to attend high-pressure, anti-union “captive audience” meetings, and pressuring workers to oppose the union in one-on-one meetings with managers.

“Over the past few months these courageous workers withstood a blistering assault on their right to form a union, said Chris Shelton, CWA District One Vice President.  “Cablevision truly took the low road by pressuring workers with endless amounts misinformation, but these workers – backed by countless community leaders and elected officials – stood strong.  Now we will bargain collectively for a contract that gives the Cablevision 99% equity and dignity on the job.”

The vote could signal a shift in the telecommunications industry. Only two to four percent of eligible cable TV workers are members of a union, compared to 90% in the traditional telecommunications industry.  Despite the recent news coverage on the increasing skill levels required of cable workers, their wages lag far behind those of traditional telecom workers.

“Cablevision’s owners – the Dolans – have successfully negotiated contracts with unions at Radio City Music Hall and Madison Square Garden,” said Local 1109 Executive Vice President Chris Calabrese.   “We look forward to negotiating with them a fair contract for Cablevision workers.”

For more information visit the cablevision 99%.org

Who Really Pays For The Wireless Infrastructure

Posted on by

By Louis Marinaccio

Years ago, in the days of Ma Bell and her Baby Bells, when ‘the telephone company’ was a monopoly, the baby bells would have to go before the state PSC when they wanted a rate increase. They would have to justify their need for an increase. I remember this would infuriate the public and consumer watch groups. They contended that a lot of New York Telephone’s expenses were charges by AT&T, and ultimately it was really one company. New York Telephone was a subsidiary of AT&T after all.

This got me to thinking. We all know that 95% of the wireless network is built and maintained by telecom (wire line); imagine the size of that network. Their must be millions of trunks that make up Verizon’s wireless network that are owned by Verizon. What if telecom, theoretically, could charge wireless for these trunks, the same way Verizon charges AT&T, or Sprint, or T-Mobile, or whomever?

After all, in the unlikely event that Verizon would spin off the land lines to their own company, all of the massive wireless infrastructure, all of those trunks, all the fiber, all the muxes inside and out, would go with it.

This from an article from 247wallst.com, commenting on the Goldman Sachs report about a Verizon Vodafone merger.  Shame on Them… Proposing A VZ & Vodafone Merger

And then there’s this tidbit from Verizon’s third-quarter Form 10-Q:

Net cash provided by operating activities during the nine months ended September 30, 2011 decreased by $3.6 billion compared to the similar period in 2010 primarily due to inventory purchases for wireless devices and higher pension plan contributions.

I bet that a lot more of the 3.6 billion was for wireless devices than the authors of this article might imagine. It seems that telecom is bearing the brunt of the expenses to build the wireless network, and wireless is reaping all the benefits. If indeed this is how they do the accounting, then it serves them well. It makes the bottom line of wireless look better, and it comes in handy when justifying concessions by the unions.

The article in 247wallst.com is really worth reading.

Verizon’s Tax-Dodging and Union-Busting

Posted on by

From 2008 – 2010, Verizon paid no federal income taxes.  Anyone that paid even a penny in federal income taxes paid more than Verizon did from 2008 – 2010. On Thursday, January 26th, join picketing and protests throughout the country.  
Watch the video and sign the petition to get ready:

CWA is working in coalition with OccupyTheBoardroom to highlight Verizon’s tax-dodging and  union-busting. OccupyTheBoardroom directs the general public to put pressure on greedy corporate big-wigs.

Bargaining Status: We Must Mobilize

CWA Local Executive Board Members are visiting work locations to tell every member what Verizon’s proposals at the bargaining table mean to their future. Executive Board members are explaining what needs to be done to fight this company. The Union is asking every member to give four hours a week to the mobilization against Verizon’s proposals. It’s time to mobilize to make Verizon agree to a fair and just contract. Read the latest bargaining reports here:

District 1: http://district1.cwa-union.org/bargaining/company/c/verizon
District 2-13: http://district2-13.cwa-union.org/bargaining/company/c/verizon

Want details about Verizon’s Tax-Dodging and Union-Busting?Download this flyer for distribution at Verizon work locations here:
http://files.cwa-union.org/national/verizon/VZ-VeryGreedy-Equation-Flier-2012-01.pdf

Cablevision Workers: Stand and Be Counted!

Posted on by

This Thursday 285 Brooklyn-based Cablevision workers will vote in a election for union representation.

These workers have withstood a blistering assault on their right to form a union. Instead of coming to the table and discussing the merits of union representation in the open, Cablevision management is truly taking the low road, by pressuring workers with misinformation in endless “captive audience meetings.”

Despite this enormous pressure from the management 1%, the 99% are standing strong.

Cablevision workers have the right to decide for themselves whether a union is the best way to bring about a safer work environment, better healthcare, a more secure retirement and salaries that allow them to support their families.

Click here to stand up for the Cablevision 99%. Tell Cablevision management it is morally wrong to force workers to run a gauntlet of intimidation and misinformation simply because they seek to exercise their democratic right to have a voice at work, and to achieve a measure of equity and dignity on the job.

Next Union Hall Call January 25, 2012

Posted on by

Next Union Hall Call update:  Verizon bargaining and the important work CWA activists are doing all across the country.

Click here to sign up now to join the call on Wednesday, January 25 at 7:30 PM EST

During 2012 we will build on the energy and excitement of 2011 as we gain momentum and strengthen our movement. Together we will stand united against the billionaires, corporate executives, and right-wing politicians who continue to attack our rights.

Make sure you are part of it by joining our call next week.

http://www.cwa-union.org/cwacall

Comcast, Verizon Wireless Start Co-Marketing Run

Posted on by

This Thursday 285 Brooklyn-based Cablevision workers will vote in a election for union representation.

Comcast and Verizon Wireless this week will launch a marketing program in Seattle, Washington and Portland Oregon promoting their respective services to the other’s customers, ahead of regulatory approval of the deal.

Under the trial promotions, customers who sign up for a two year contract with Verizon Wireless and Comcast services will be eligible to receive a prepaid Visa card of $100 – $300, depending on which Comcast bundle is selected and the length on contract. The prepaid card is intended to go towards the purchase of a smartphone or tablet. The marketing approach comes after landmark deals announced last month under which Comcast is proposing to sell Advanced Wireless Services spectrum to Verizon Wireless for #2.3 Billion.

Time Warner Cable, Cox Communications and Bright House Networks also entered deals to sell AWS licenses to the carrier. Under their co-marketing deal, Comcast will promote Verizon Wireless Services through its call centers and the carrier will pitch the MCO’s Xfinity triple play in its retail stores. Comcast and Verizon Wireless expect the marketing program to roll out to other markets this year and into 2013.

It is interesting to note that the Portland market is one of the first, considering Verizon sold their wireline assets to Frontier in that market. Makes you wonder if Frontier ever envisioned Verizon partnering with Frontiers main competition for a bundle wireline-wireless offering? Especially this quickly.

Frontier recently partnered with AT&T for wireless resale. Frontier and Fair Point, the other carriers who recently purchased Verizon wireline assets, may be in for an interesting battle over those former Verizon customers.

Have Your Heard CWA Local 2222