CWA members at CenturyLink (LegacyQwest) in D7 will vote on a new tentative agreement reached last week. A majority of the CWA bargaining committee is recommending ratification. For voting information and details on the tentative contract, go to http://www.cwadistrict7.org/ The results must be provided to the District 7 office by locals no later than 4:30 MST, Oct. 25.

Members of Peoria Unit 86 of the United Media Guild approved a three-year contract extension — with no concessions — covering editorial and outside circulation employees at the Peoria Star-Journal. It includes digital training for all members and protection of copy-desk jobs. The United Media Guild represents journalists, media workers and activists in Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana and Tennessee plus journalists at Truthout, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing independent news and commentary on a daily basis.

In New Jersey, the Hamilton township council unanimously approved a new contract with pay increases for the members CWA Local 1032.

CWA Verizon West members from across southern California rallied in Long Beach to support the fight for a fair contract. About 4,500 Verizon West CWAers are working without a contract and are fighting back against Verizon’s demands for givebacks.

Members of CWA Local 6171 in San Angelo, Tex., are protesting Verizon’s plans to cut jobs at its Livesource wireless directory assistance operation.

In D6, CWA bargainers reached a tentative agreement covering workers at Verizon Enterprise Delivery. The four year contract provides for a wage increase and a ratification bonus. Source: CWA

You’re likely to see a lot of pink during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. And this is an ideal time to take action on cancer screenings like mammograms.

Mammograms are the best way to find breast cancer early – sometimes up to three years before a tumor can be felt. And when breast cancer is found early, the odds of successful treatment are much better.

The Mayo Clinic recommends that women ages 40 and older get a mammogram every other year. Younger women with risk factors for breast cancer may also need mammograms. Talk to your doctor about whether you should get one.

Verizon generally covers mammograms at 100%, if you are enrolled in a Verizon medical plan. To find a doctor or clinic that does mammograms, go to anthem.com/verizon and click Find a Doctor. Also visit WellConnect > My Healthy Living > Preventive Care for additional preventive care recommendations. Source: Verizon

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk Oct 20 – Find an Event near you!

When you participate in a Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk, you are sharing your passion and raising funds to help save lives from breast cancer. Sign up for a Making Strides walk near you, and make a difference with every step you take. Find an event today!

CWA Local 1101 Breast Cancer Walk

Order a Local 1101 t-shirt – The price for the union-made and printed shirt is $20.00 with $8 of those dollars going directly to the American Cancer Society. To order a shirt, call the Local and ask for Ron, (212) 633-2666.

Put a face to it! Almost all of us know someone with breast cancer.

My sister Cindy (left) and myself, Dawn (right), October 2013.

My sister Cindy has a rare form of Breast Cancer called Inflammatory breast cancer, or IBC. IBC, accounts for one to three percent of all breast cancers. This type of cancer is distinct from other types, with major differences in symptoms, prognosis, and treatment. Did you know that, not all breast cancer starts with a lump.

Early detection is the most effective means of fighting breast cancer. The signs to look for IBC include: Redness of the breast, breast swelling, pain or itching, thickening of the skin or dimpling, swelling in the lymph nodes in your armpit or above or below the collarbone.

Read more about IBC here:

The Local 1101 General Membership/Budget Meeting will be held Wednesday, October 23, 2013 at 5:30pm at the Fashion Institute of Technology College. 227 West 27th Street (@ 7th Avenue) in Manhattan.

Contract Meeting 10-02-2012

Update: Letter to Next Step participants from Hudson Valley Community College regarding Identity Theft Program.

A laptop computer that was assigned to an administrator of the TTA program, was stolen from his/her home in early September. The computer had a database with personal information (including full social security numbers) of every employee who was accepted into the TTA program as well as all employees who applied to the TTA program. The computer also had over 100,000 e mails which may also have contained social security numbers. The administrator works for Hudson Valley Community College, which is the lead college for the TTA program.

Due to this breach of employee identity, Hudson Valley Community College will be sending a letter to all employees who may have been affected, informing them of the theft. In addition, the college will offer an Identity Theft Program to those employees, free of charge, for a two year period.

More information will be posted once it’s available.