Monthly Archives: April 2012

Campout For Union Apprenticeships

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By Linda Schmidt 

For almost a week, hundreds of people have been camping out in Queens for the chance to get a job.

The campers are outside the training offices of Ironworkers Local 46 in the Woodside section. They started lining up earlier this week to apply for just 50 apprenticeships.

The line stretches down the block and wraps all the way around the office building.   Most of the men and women have been here since Tuesday wrapped in blankets and sleeping in tents all for a shot at getting a job.

Vanglahn, along with about 500 other people, has been sleeping on the sidewalk looking to apply for the union’s 50 apprentice positions. He’s been out of work for about eight months.

Read the full story.

Reposting from CBS News:  “Apprentices – like those at Boston’s Sheet Metal Workers Union Local Seventeen training center – spend 200 hours in the classroom and 1,800 hours per year working for local companies. It takes five years. They get annual pay raises and the union pays for the training, so it doesn’t cost them a penny.”

Read full story

NYS Attorney General Seeks Data On Verizon Workforce Reductions

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The NYS Attorney General just intervened in the PSC’s Verizon Service Quality proceeding. The AG has just recommended actions to the PSC including ending Verizon workforce reductions. The Attorney General’s intervention at the PSC confirms CWA’s position that Verizon has been reducing its workforce at the detriment of its customers and our jobs.   Here’s a representative quote from the beginning of the report: “Rather than meet its obligations to provide wireline telephone customers with minimally adequate telephone service, Verizon is continuing to drastically reduce its workforce with the result that the company cannot meet its customers repair needs in a timely manner.”

The filing and the AG’s second information request to Verizon can be found on the PSC website . 

The Attorney General’s filing enormously amplifies CWA arguments on service quality, confirming that workforce reductions and capital dis-investment are destroying customer service quality and hurting our jobs. Clearly this can be seen in Verizon’s outrageous demands in contract negotiations.   

In bargaining Verizon continues to demand huge givebacks while making astronomical profits with little regulation. This is second big victory for customers and the fight for a fair contract.  Recently Governor Cuomo was convinced into removing his Permanent De-Regulation of VoIP from his state budget.

NY Seeks Action Over Verizon Service

Verizon Hit With Serious Accusation Over ‘Poor’ Landline Service

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Reports of poor landline repair service are piling up in the state of New York, and the attorney general there wants Verizon to provide some answers. Calling it a “shortchanging” of customers, New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said the nation’s largest carrier is spending too much time focusing on the exploding wireless market and leaving landline customers behind, according to a report by the Associated Press.

Schneiderman made the comments to the state’s Public Service Commission. He says more and more landline customers are seeing service outages of more than 24 hours; New York’s top cop went as far to say that Verizon is now providing “poor” service to more than nine in 10 (92 percent) of its customers.

The complaints aren’t new to Verizon, which was hit with a $400,000 fine in March based on similar concerns. The carrier was accused of appearing to intentionally reduce its repair workforce last summer, something Verizon denied.

“The goals of Verizon and the attorney general are the same — to provide the best, most reliable telecommunications services for New Yorkers,” a Verizon spokesman told the AP. The company plans to comment on the attorney general’s complaints after reviewing his filing.

Likely to be included in those comments are the $1.5 billion Verizon invested in infrastructure, repaid and maintenance of landline service last year, about five times that spent on wireless, the report said. Verizon has maintained that 2011 was a tough year when you consider it dealt with a union strike and serious damage from a hurricane and a tropical storm, all around the same time.

Attention Surplus Field Technicians – Last Day To Appy For Special Postings

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****FLASH****

April 18, 2012

The vacancies for Field Technician are Article 8 Special Postings open for bidding from 4/18/12 through 4/24/12. These Field Technician openings are NOT Specific Posted Vacancies (SPVs). Only Field Technicians and TTA-Field Technicians located in Article 8 Units Nassau County, Suffolk County, Westchester County, Rockland County, and Poughkeepsie may apply for these positions.

PROCESS

  • Posted for 5 Business Days (4/18/12 – 4/24/12 5:00 p.m.)
  • Field Technician Special Postings are postings in accordance with CWA Plant CBA Article 8, not SPVs.
  • The Field Technician positions will be filled by the senior qualified volunteers from the Field Technician or TTA-FT job titles in the above-mentioned Article 8 Units.
  •  Time in Title is not required to apply.
  • New Time in Title will not be required in the new location.
  • NO REFUSAL/NO RETREAT rules apply to these special postings.
  • If you apply for a Special Posting and do not withdraw prior to 5:00 p.m. April 24, 2012 you may not refuse.

For the list of Job Postings click here.

Verizon Reports Double-Digit Earnings Growth and Increased Operating Cash Flow in First-Quarter 2012

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Verizon Wireless Increases Service Revenues by 7.7 Percent, Expands Margins; Demand Remains Strong for FiOS and Strategic Services

Consolidated

  • 59 cents in diluted earnings per share (EPS), compared with 51 cents per share in 1Q 2011 – a 15.7 percent increase.
  • $6.0 billion in cash flow from operating activities, up $922 million compared with 1Q 2011.
  • 4.6 percent year-over-year quarterly revenue growth.

Wireless

  • 7.7 percent year-over-year increase in service revenues in 1Q 2012; 8.9 percent year-over-year increase in retail service revenues; highest growth rate in three years; data revenues up 21.1 percent; 28.6 percent operating income margin and 46.3 percent Segment EBITDA margin on service revenues (non-GAAP).
  • 734,000 retail net customer additions, excluding acquisitions and adjustments, includes 501,000 retail postpaid net customer additions; continued low retail postpaid churn of 0.96 percent.
  • 93.0 million total retail customers; 88.0 million total retail postpaid customers.

Wireline

  • 193,000 FiOS Internet and 180,000 FiOS Video net additions, with increased sales penetration for both products; net increase of 104,000 broadband connections from 4Q 2011; FiOS Internet customers now total more than 5 million.
  • 8.1 percent year-over-year increase in consumer ARPU; 63 percent of consumer revenues generated by FiOS.
  • 11.6 percent increase in strategic services revenues, representing 51 percent of global enterprise revenues.

NEW YORK – Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ) today reported double-digit percentage growth in year-over-year quarterly earnings results and increased cash flow in first-quarter 2012.  Verizon Wireless posted another quarter of profitable revenue growth, while Verizon’s Wireline segment posted another quarter of customer and revenue gains for FiOS fiber-optic services, and increased sales of strategic business services.

Verizon reported 59 cents in EPS in first-quarter 2012, an increase of 15.7 percent compared with first-quarter 2011 earnings of 51 cents per share.  There were no adjustments in either period.

‘On Track to Continue to Deliver Strong Results’

“Verizon delivered double-digit earnings growth and strong cash flow this quarter,” said Lowell McAdam, Verizon chairman and CEO.  “We built momentum coming out of 2011, and our results show that we continue to execute in the key growth areas of our business.  Verizon Wireless produced both great growth and great margins, and we produced another strong quarter of FiOS growth.  We are confident we will improve Wireline margins for the full year.  Our repositioning of Verizon Enterprise Solutions has better aligned our strengths in high-growth markets, and we expect our enterprise business to contribute even more to overall Wireline revenue growth and profitability over time.”

He added: “We remain confident in our ability to take advantage of the growth opportunities we see, and we are focused on driving operating efficiencies.  We are on track with our plans and expect to continue to deliver strong results.”

Strong Cash Flows, Increased Capital Efficiency

In first-quarter 2012, Verizon’s total operating revenues were $28.2 billion on a consolidated basis, an increase of 4.6 percent compared with first-quarter 2011.

Consolidated operating income was $5.2 billion in first-quarter 2012, compared with $4.5 billion in first-quarter 2011.  Consolidated EBITDA (non-GAAP, earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) totaled $9.2 billion in first-quarter 2012, compared with $8.5 billion in first-quarter 2011.

Cash flow from operating activities totaled $6.0 billion in first-quarter 2012, an increase of $922 million compared with first-quarter 2011.  Capital expenditures totaled $3.6 billion in first-quarter 2012, a decrease of $798 million compared with first-quarter 2011, as Verizon improved its capital-to-revenue efficiency.  Free cash flow (non-GAAP, cash flow from operations less capex) was $2.4 billion in first-quarter 2012, compared with $672 million in first-quarter 2011.  Verizon expects increasing free cash flow levels through 2012.

Verizon Wireless Delivers Strong Financial, Operational Results

In first-quarter 2012, Verizon Wireless delivered strong growth in revenues and retail customers; increased retail postpaid ARPU (average monthly service revenue per user) and smartphone penetration; and delivered a strong EBITDA margin.

Wireless Financial Highlights

  • Service revenues in the quarter totaled $15.4 billion, up 7.7 percent year over year.  Retail service revenues grew 8.9 percent year over year, to $14.9 billion, an increase of 110 basis points over fourth-quarter 2011 and the highest growth rate in three years.
  • Data revenues were $6.6 billion, up $1.1 billion – or 21.1 percent – year over year, and represent 42.9 percent of all service revenues.  Total revenues were $18.3 billion, up 8.2 percent year over year.
  • Retail postpaid ARPU grew 3.6 percent over first-quarter 2011, to $55.43.  Retail postpaid data ARPU increased to $23.80, up 16.0 percent year over year.  Retail service ARPU grew 3.4 percent, to $53.66.
  • Wireless operating income margin was 28.6 percent.  Segment EBITDA margin on service revenues (non-GAAP) was 46.3 percent.

Wireless Operational Highlights

  • Verizon Wireless added 734,000 retail net customers in the first quarter, including 501,000 retail postpaid net customers.  These additions exclude acquisitions and adjustments.
  • At the end of the first quarter, the company had 93.0 million retail customers, a 5.2 percent increase year over year, including 88.0 million retail postpaid customers.
  • At the end of the first quarter, nearly 47 percent of Verizon Wireless’ retail postpaid customer phone base were smartphones, up from 43.5 percent at the end of fourth-quarter 2011.
  • Retail postpaid churn was 0.96 percent, an improvement of 5 basis points year over year. Total retail churn was 1.24 percent, an improvement of 9 basis points year over year.
  • Verizon Wireless continued to roll out its 4G LTE mobile broadband network, the largest such network in the U.S.  As of today, Verizon Wireless 4G LTE service is available to more than 200 million people in 230 markets across the U.S. – more than two-thirds of the population.
  • Verizon Wireless introduced five new 4G LTE devices in the first quarter 2012:  the Droid 4 and Droid Razr Maxx by Motorola, the Spectrum and Lucid by LG, and the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7.  In addition, the Apple iPad with Wi-Fi + 4G became available from Verizon Wireless in mid-March.

FiOS Continues to Add Customers, Increase Sales Penetration

In first-quarter 2012 in the Wireline segment, continued strong demand for FiOS services led to revenue growth generated by U.S. consumer wireline customers and continued gains in FiOS sales penetration.  Globally, continued strong sales of strategic services helped mitigate lower revenues resulting from Verizon’s targeted efforts to eliminate products that do not meet the company’s profitability requirements, and continued secular pressures in wholesale.

Wireline Financial Highlights

  • First-quarter 2012 operating revenues were $9.9 billion, a decline of 2.0 percent compared with first-quarter 2011.  Wireline operating income margin was 1.6 percent, compared with 2.8 percent in first-quarter 2011, and Segment EBITDA margin (non-GAAP) was 22.6 percent, compared with 23.6 percent in first-quarter 2011.
  • Consumer revenues grew 1.7 percent compared with first-quarter 2011.  Consumer ARPU for wireline services was $97.88 in first-quarter 2012, up 8.1 percent compared with first-quarter 2011.  ARPU for FiOS customers continued to total more than $148 in first-quarter 2012.  FiOS services to consumer retail customers represented 63 percent of consumer wireline revenues in first-quarter 2012.
  • Global enterprise revenues totaled $3.9 billion in the quarter, up 0.9 percent compared with first-quarter 2011.  Sales of strategic services – including Terremark cloud services, security and IT solutions, and strategic networking – increased 11.6 percent compared with first-quarter 2011 and represented 51 percent of global enterprise revenues in first-quarter 2012.

Wireline Operational Highlights

  • Verizon added 193,000 net new FiOS Internet connections and 180,000 net new FiOS Video connections in first-quarter 2012.  Verizon had a total of 5.0 million FiOS Internet and 4.4 million FiOS Video connections at the end of the quarter.
  • FiOS penetration (subscribers as a percentage of potential subscribers) continued to increase.  FiOS Internet penetration was 36.4 percent at the end of first-quarter 2012, compared with 33.1 percent at the end of first-quarter 2011.  In the same periods, FiOS Video penetration was 32.3 percent, compared with 29.1 percent.
  • Broadband connections totaled 8.8 million at the end of first-quarter 2012, a 3.3 percent year-over-year increase.  The net increase of 104,000 broadband connections from fourth-quarter 2011 was the highest quarterly net-add total since second-quarter 2009.
  • Verizon continued to expand its next-generation 100 gigabit-per-second network, enabling several more network routes in the U.S. and two additional routes in Europe.
  • The company also took advantage of the fully activated Europe India Gateway submarine cable system. The 15,000 kilometer high-bandwidth optical system, with a design capacity of 3.84 terabits per second, provides much needed diversity for future Internet, e-commerce, data, video and voice services from the United Kingdom to India.

Strategic Agreements Unveiled for Global Sales

Verizon Enterprise Solutions, a sales and marketing organization that harnesses all of Verizon’s cloud, mobility and technology solutions for business and government customers globally, unveiled strategic agreements in first-quarter 2012 to develop offerings in mobile health, electronic health records management and secure e-prescribing.

The organization also announced a digital-signage solution for retail customers, powered by Verizon’s 4G LTE network and infrastructure; unveiled new telematics solutions for the automotive and transportation industries; and rolled out a cross-platform open video communications capability.

VZ Regional Bargaining # 55

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Wednesday, April 18, 2012

CWA District 1/IBEW Local 2213 and IBEW New England Regional Committees returned to the bargaining table on Monday April 16, 2012 at the Rye Town Hilton in Rye, NY. All of the retrogressive demands that the Company had proposed in August still remain on their agenda.

Wages -.the Company has offered 0% wages for each year. You read that right- the company has no money on the table for wage increases for their employees. The company did make a proposal that would give 0% increase for 2012, 1% for 2013, and 1% for 2014 but that was pulled off the table on March 31st because the Union did not accept their package which contained retrogressive demands which included:

Health Care Cuts – The Company is not only trying to implement premiums to our plans but they are trying to destroy the health plans that we now have as a benefit. They want to raise deductibles, increase co-insurance, increase out of pocket expenses and add premiums. If a family of four (4) had some doctor bills ($1,000), hospital bills, surgery, anesthesia and in-hospital physician’s bills – $10,000 and also had one emergency room visit ($750), they could have bills that would add up to $11,750.

Under our present plan, there is $0 premium, there would be $0 deductible because we have 100% coverage and the out of pocket expense would not kick in because we would not have reached the limit. Under our present plan that family of four (4) would pay a co-pay of $15 for the 5 regular doctor visits and for the 5 preventive care visits there would be no charge. There would be a $15 co-pay for the emergency room visit. The total for the year would be $90.

That same family of four in one of the plans the company proposed would pay an annual premium of $1630 in the last year of the contract. They would spend the same for the doctor’s visits ($75) but the emergency room visit would now cost a $200 co-pay. Of the $10,000 in hospital bills, one member of your family had $6,000 in bills and another member had $4,000, each member would pay $750 as a deductible. This would leave a balance of $5250 for one member and $3,250 for the other member. There would be a 15% cost for co-insurance on each balance which would be ($5250 X 15% = $787.50) and ($3250 X 15%= $487.50). Your total co-insurance is $1275.

You add your premium ($1630), your co-pays ($275), deductible ($1500) co-insurance ($1275), emergency room visit ($200), doctor visits ($75) and your total medical expense for the year is $4995.

This fight is more than just paying a premium.

As you can see by the example, your premium would be $1630 but your actual medical cost would be $4995 compared to what you pay now which would be $90

The Company wants to eliminate the EPO plan where 6,000 of our members are enrolled, forcing them into other plans. Most of our members went into the EPO plan when the company eliminated the most popular HMOs. Now that the EPO is the most popular HMO type plan, they want to eliminate it, forcing our members into other plans that are not as popular for their areas.

The Company wants you to pay more. They want you to feel it in your wallet. They want you to think twice about visiting the doctor or seeking medical attention.

The Company’s goal is to destroy Middle Class jobs and they are starting with their own employees

The most recent offer also included:

Eliminate Pensions:
•Cut pension accruals in half. For anyone currently on the payroll your pension will be capped at 30 years. Beginning October 1, 2012, your pension plan will only accrue at 50 %.
•Eliminate the Pension Lump Sum option.
•Modify the 401(k) Plan and the CPS.
•Eliminate the Sickness Death Benefit.

ABSENCE – The Company only wants to give 5 day’s paid per year and still discipline members who use those 5 days.

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

CALL SHARING – Verizon still demands their call sharing proposal but have not entertained any of the security provisions from the Union nor have they given us any additional jobs.

Eliminate the Next Step Program

So, we did not accept that proposal and the company withdrew their wage proposal. As we have said before, we are in the fight of our lives with Verizon. The Chairman and CEO, Lowell McAdam tripled his compensation from 7.2 million to 23.1 million annually yet he does not want to give his employees a raise. This is a slap in the face to every member. We need to send a clear message that we are determined if there is no place in this business for us, then we will make certain there will be no business without us either.

Verizon’s CEO Lowell McAdam 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.

Verizon’s Annual Shareholders Meeting is Thursday May 3, 2012 at 10:30 AM at the Von Braun Center, 700 Monroe Street, Huntsville, Alabama. We are still collecting your proxies. We are asking all of our members to vote your proxy, sign and date your card and return it to your Local. The Shareholder’s Meeting is a Thursday and there will be a “sea of red” CWA and IBEW members who are also shareholders who will deliver these proxies and a message to that meeting.

It is more important than ever that our members continue to mobilize and that EVERY member commit to spending at least 4 hours per week participating in mobilization activities.

If you have not gotten involved, it is time to look at how much you can lose. It is time to call your Local or talk to your steward and find out what you can do to help

IT IS TIME TO GET ANGRY

IT IS TIME TO GET INVOLVED

IT’S TIME TO FIGHT BACK

Now more than ever we need to mobilize!

Mobilize! – Mobilize! – Mobilize!

Upcoming Dependent Verification

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Verizon Benefits
Verizon has partnered with Hewitt to conduct a dependent verification process to ensure that only eligible dependents are provided with Verizon group health plan coverage.  If you have dependents enrolled in Verizon’s group health plans, you need to verify the eligibility of each of your enrolled dependents including your legal spouse/domestic partner and children (biological, adopted, stepchild, domestic partner child and legal guardian child). 

Please be assured that the information you provide will only be used for the purposes of this verification process and that Aon Hewitt adheres to a Security and Privacy Policy that protects all individually identifiable information.  In addition, none of your individual documentation will be provided to Verizon.  

In the next few days, you will receive a Dependent Verification package at your home.  The package includes information about the process and details the steps you need to take to verify your dependents’ eligibility.  Please be sure to black out all social security numbers and financial information in the verification documents you submit.  If you do not receive your package in the next week, please visit www.verizon.com/benefits and click “Action Needed.” You may also use this website to learn more about the process, view documents required based on dependent type, see copies of communications sent to your home, upload your documentation, and read some frequently asked questions.

All documentation to substantiate your dependents’ eligibility must be received by June 15, 2012.  You will be notified by mail if your dependents were or were not successfully verified.  If a dependent’s eligibility is not verified, he or she will no longer receive coverage under your Verizon health plans as of August 1, 2012.
 There are three ways you may submit documentation:

  • Online upload: Go to www.verizon.com/benefits – Under “Action Needed” select the “Submit Documentation” link, then select “Document Submission”
     
  • Secure Fax:  Use Fax/Mail Cover sheet: 1-877-894-6056
     
  • Mail:  Dependent Verification Center, PO Box 1468, Lincolnshire, IL 60069-1468

We understand this dependent verification process requires both time and effort on your part and we appreciate your assistance.  If you have any questions, please call 1-877-489-2367 and say “Dependent Verification.”  Representatives are available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

CWA Bargaining Update – April 12

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1105 Tape
CWA Bargaining Update
Thursday April 12, 2012
A message from Keith Edwards….

Bargaining will resume on Monday after 2 weeks due to no rooms being available at the hotel.

I want to go back to the table with more support than ever this time.

Verizon is out to break this Union. Destroy their employee’s lives and take away ALL the benefits you currently have.

All of the retrogressive demands they had in August still remain on their agenda.

MEDICAL- THEY ARE STILL DEMANDING A PREMIUM PAYMENT OF ABOUT $94.00 A WEEK FOR FAMILY COVERAGE, RAISING DEDUCTABLES TO $2,000.00 PER PERSON AND INCREASING OUT OF POCKET EXPENSE FROM $700.00 to 6,000.00 ( YES six thousands dollars)!

The response by this GREEDY CORPORATION is that

“WE WANT THE EMPLOYEES TO FEEL THE PAIN WHEN THEY GO TO THE DOCTOR”’

PENSIONS-
Their most recent offer was to freeze all pensions at 30years.
Any member with less than 30 years would get only 50% of the pension value for the difference and then be frozen. BUY OUT OF YOUR PENSION WOULD BE TERMINATED.

ABSENCE -Verizon only wants to give 5 days paid per year and still discipline members who use those 5 days.

ELIMINATE EVERYONE’S JOB SECURITY.

ELIMINATE THE NEXT STEP PROGRAM.

They still want the ability to TRANSFER MEMBERS UP TO 85 MILES RATHER THAN the 35 MILES that currently exists.

CALL SHARING – Verizon still demands their call sharing proposal but have not entertained any of the security provisions from the Union nor have they given us any additional jobs.

ELIMINATION OF THE BIG CITY ALLOWANCE.

I could go on and on but I think you get the message. This MAGGOT Corporation wants to destroy your way of life. If you are going to allow this to happen than continue to do what you are doing-NOTHING!

If WE are going to FIGHT this Corporation ALL MEMBERS NEED TO GET OFF THEIR ASSES AND GIVE US 4 HOURS A WEEK AT LEAST TO DO WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE!!!!

Also, sign up for the Spring Training, this is not just CWA; it is a combination of Religious, Labor, Community activists that are having the same problem with corporations as well as Government attacks on workers.

We need to do what ever it takes to stop the attack on us and all American middle class workers.

Finally, all members will be receiving a Verizon 2012 Dependent Verification request. This material is TIME SENSITIVE and if ignored your dependents coverage will be terminated.

Please take the time to read all the material supplied and follow the instructions to verify dependents. EVERYONE MUST verify their dependents. Once you complete the process, make sure you receive a confirmation notice. If you run into problems please contact the local.

Please keep in touch with this site or the tape on 718 904-1105 And Remember In Unity There is Strength!!!!!

Bargaining Report # 54 – Sunday, April 1, 2012

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CWA District 1/IBEW Local 2213 and IBEW New England Regional Committees have been meeting at the RyeTown Hilton in Rye, NY for the last ten months.

These committees continued to meet with the Company each day in an attempt to move closer to a fair contract settlement for both the company and our members.

Verizon continues to push its agenda of demanding givebacks from our members in almost every area of our contracts. It has demanded significant changes to economic issues including healthcare and pensions which would result in cost shifting thousands of dollars a year to every active member. Verizon also demands that our retirees contribute the same for their healthcare coverage. Verizon has stuck with their agenda of gutting our collective bargaining agreements. Verizon shows no interest in any of the Union’s proposals and shows no concern for our issues. Verizon’s goal is to strip you of your benefits, your job security, your pension, your work rules and much more.

We cannot stress enough this fight will not be won at the bargaining table alone. Only through members standing up and demonstrating they will do whatever it takes, will we see this Company move away from their most egregious retrogressive demands. Following last week’s mobilization and rally activities we have seen a demonstration of how our members’ activity in the workplace has an effect at the bargaining table. At the end of this week, Verizon passed an amended proposal on pensions to the Union. We will evaluate fully the company’s latest proposals before we respond.

We are in the fight of our lives with Verizon. It is obvious from the Company’s demands that Verizon has a plan for the business that does not include us. After months of hearing the Company tell us how the business is in trouble and how we need to accept the concessions it demands in order to survive, we recently learn that the Chairman and CEO, Lowell McAdam tripled his compensation from 7.2 million to 23.1 million annually. This is a slap in the face to every member. We need to send the clear message that we are determined if there is no place in this business for us, then we will make certain there will be no business without us either.

Bargaining will recess for the next two weeks due to the rooms used for bargaining at the hotel are not available because of the Passover/Easter holiday. The Union bargaining committee will use this time to fully examine the latest proposals placed on the table by Verizon and formulate our response.

Verizon’s CEO Lowell McAdam 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.

Verizon’s Annual Shareholders Meeting is Thursday May 3, 2012 at 10:30 AM at the Von Braun Center, 700 Monroe Street, Huntsville, Alabama. Your admission ticket and proxy card was recently mailed to all our members who are shareholders. We are asking all of our members to vote your proxy, sign and date your card and return it to your Local. The Shareholder’s Meeting is a Thursday and there will be a “sea of red” CWA and IBEW members who are also shareholders who will deliver these proxies and our message to that meeting.

It is more important than ever that our members continue to mobilize and that EVERY member commit to spending 4 hours per week participating in mobilization activities.

Call your Local or talk to your steward and find out what you can do to help

IT’S TIME TO FIGHT BACK

Now more than ever we need to mobilize!

Mobilize! – Mobilize! – Mobilize!

Serious Consumer Data Risks Highlighted in CWA Report

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April 2, 2012

Citing a growing number of security questions surrounding overseas call centers, the Communications Workers of America (CWA) today released an updated version of a  sobering December 2011 report detailing the linkage between the off-shoring of call center jobs and a range of serious negative effects on U.S. consumers and job seekers, including placing consumers’ personal information at risk.

Several major investigations have unearthed fraudulent and criminal activity emanating from overseas call centers- Including stories in the Sunday Times and Australian TV Newsmagazine Today Tonight.  Despite serious security concerns, Wells Fargo and T-Mobile have announced that they will close numerous U.S. call centers and instead expand their commitments to call centers in India and the Philippines.

As security concerns rise, so does the momentum behind the bi-partisan “US Call Center Worker and Consumer Protection Act”. Representative Tim Bishop (NY-1) today announced that the number of co-sponsors has risen to over 100 . The recent reports of data breaches and security lapses at overseas call centers underscore the importance of the bi-partisan legislation that would ban taxpayer dollars in the form of federal grants or guaranteed loans to American companies that move call center jobs overseas.

The legislation would also require call center employees to disclose their location to U.S. consumers and transfer that call to a U.S.-based center if requested by the consumer, as well as require that a list of companies that off-shore their call center work be made available to the public.

Key Updates to the Report Include:

  • Information from an alarming investigation by The Sunday Times: The investigation details the existing black market for consumer data in India, and shows how easily undercover reporters were able to access and purchase valuable consumer data.
  • The U. S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) uncovered a telemarketing scam operating out of an Indian call center:  Employees pretended to be from a debt collection agency and defrauded Americans out of over $5 million.
  • Foreign entities and affected corporations are downplaying the incidence and risk of consumer data fraud: According to the recent Sunday Times investigation, “the Indian government — anxious to preserve the reputation of an industry worth an estimated £3.7 billion a year — described it as a “freak incident.”  Additionally, a police source told The Sunday Times that “British companies are reluctant to report such breaches for fear of the potential adverse publicity.” 
  • Despite concerns, further plans to offshore call center jobs continue: T-Mobile is closing seven U.S. call centers, a development that will mean approximately 2,000 Americans will be out of work.  T-Mobile USA took over $61 million in state and local recruitment subsidies to originally locate these call center jobs in the U.S.  Similarly, Wells Fargo recently announced plans to expand its call center operation in the Philippines – after earlier laying off hundreds of American workers by shuttering call centers in such locations as California, Florida, and Pennsylvania.   Meanwhile, Wells Fargo received a $25 billion lifeline from the government via TARP.  

Link to full report:

http://files.cwa-union.org/national/News/Misc/20111215-offshore-callcenter.pdf