Monthly Archives: October 2011

Elections for Officers Postponed

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The nomination process for Local union officers began on September 19, 2011. In the course of verifying signatures for the nomination process the election committee notified the Secretary of the Local regarding their concern over an unusual amount of AT&T members who were classified as agency fee payers.

The Local immediately investigated the problem and discovered membership status was being changed through the MUMs membership data system. This is the data base the local uses which is administered by the National union.

The Local discovered the National union data base system was changing the status of our members in AT&T Mobility for no known reason. The local investigated the problem and was advised by the National union there was an anomaly in the system which they could not identify.

With the knowledge that our membership files were incorrect we immediately searched the files and discovered 300 members of AT&T had been disenfranchised by the National union.  There is no way the local could continue with the election with this error in place.

We contacted the Department of Labor and the American Arbitration Association. We have also notified the members who were disenfranchised of their rights as members. 

We have set a new date for the election. Ballots will be mailed on November 4, 2011 and counted on November 21, 2011.  If you do not receive a ballot by November 10th, please request a duplicate.

CWA District One Supports Occupy Wall Street Demonstrations

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Rally to Support Occupy Wall Street! Wed, Oct 5th @ 4:30

Occupy Wall Street protesters are fighting to make the rich pay their fair share – and for working people everywhere, including at Verizon. CWA will rally with community groups and other unions at Foley Square, (Duane St and Centre St) starting at 4:30pm. Join the march!

Yesterday, the National Executive Board of the Communications Workers of America voted unanimously to endorse the Occupy Wall Street protests that began three weeks ago in New York and have now spread to cities across the country. Tomorrow, our members will join with thousands of New Yorkers who are taking to the streets for the labor and community day of solidarity with the Occupy Wall Street movement. 

Martin Luther King famously wrote after the Montgomery bus boycott that Rosa Parks’ pivotal role in the historic struggle for civil rights came because she “had been tracked down by the zeitgeist—the spirit of the time.”   He meant that the time for a civil rights revolution had come, and that Rosa Parks, by her simple act of sitting down in a Montgomery bus, became the embodiment of that urgent movement.

The young people who have Occupied Zuccotti Park have captured the spirit of our times. They have given voice to the frustration that Americans feel after watching Wall Street recklessness and greed destroy our economy, and millions of jobs along with it. They have tapped the anger of those who have watched Washington shower billions in bailouts on Wall Street, while ignoring the jobs crisis on Main Street; corporations ring up record profits while middle-class jobs disappear; and taxes slashed again and again for the wealthy while income inequality soars. 

At CWA, we have seen these same forces first hand. Verizon and Verizon Wireless, which make billions in profits and use loopholes to avoid paying federal corporate income taxes, have proposed destroying middle class jobs of 45,000 workers – even as the pay and bonuses for their top executives grows to the hundreds of millions. 

Like the protests in Madison, the Occupy Wall Street activists have used courage, creativity, and social media to create an urgently needed movement. We are proud to stand with them, and join them in the streets.

From District One

Verizon Tape

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Executive VP Angel Feliciano
Tuesday, October 4

Your Regional Committee spent the afternoon yesterday presenting a series of comprehensive proposals covering healthcare, returning jobs to the bargaining unit, benefits, absence and job security.

The Company committee had a few initial questions and is currently reviewing our proposals. We expect to meet with the Company to answer any additional questions they may have prior to receiving any counter proposals from them.

Our mobilization at Verizon Wireless and the Apple stores is in full swing as the iPhone 5 debuts today. 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 the last 50 years.

Regional Bargaining Report #44 – Oct. 3

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CWA District 1/IBEW Local 2213 and IBEW New England Regional Bargaining Committee and the Mid-Atlantic Regional Committee met separately today with the Company at the Rye Town Hilton in Rye, NY.

Your Regional Committee spent the afternoon presenting a series of comprehensive proposals covering healthcare, returning jobs to the bargaining unit, benefits, absence and job security.

The Company committee had a few initial questions and is currently reviewing our proposals. We expect to meet with the Company to answer any additional questions they may have prior to receiving any counter proposals from them.

CWA 1101 Members at Verizon Wireless on W.44th Street New York City.

Our mobilization at Verizon Wireless and Apple stores is in full swing as the iPhone 5 debuts tomorrow. 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.

“I Won’t”: Unions And Allies Target New Iphone And Tax Loopholes

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Fight for Middle Class Jobs at Verizon and Verizon Wireless Continues

CWA, IBEW, MoveOn.Org, US Action, Jobs with Justice, and the National People’s Alliance Team Up for “Campaign to Save Middle Class”

WASHINGTON, DC – The Communications Workers of America and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, joined by allies including MoveOn.org, the AFL-CIO, US Action, Jobs with Justice, and the National People’s Alliance announced today the next stage in the fight for middle-class jobs at Verizon and Verizon Wireless.

The groups are launching the nationwide iWon’t Campaign, asking Americans to delay upgrading to the new iPhone on Verizon Wireless until the company agrees to a fair contract with its workers.  The campaign, which includes online outreach by MoveOn.org and other groups, advertising, grassroots outreach and leafleting at hundreds of Verizon Wireless stores, is timed around the launch of Apple’s new iPhone expected on Tuesday, October 4th.

“Throughout the strike, we heard messages of support from literally hundreds of thousands of Americans who are sick and tired of profitable companies like Verizon and Verizon Wireless showering millions on their CEOs while taking away good jobs,” said Chris Shelton, District 1 Vice-President of the Communications Workers of America.  “Today, we are asking everyone who cares about the future of the middle class to help us fight back.  Upgrade to the bew iPhone on Verizon Wireless only when the Verizon companies stop trying to downgrade their workers and give them a fair contract.”

“MoveOn.org’s 5 million members are committed to fighting the corporate greed that is crushing the American Dream,” said Justin Ruben, Executive Director of MoveOn.org.  “Verizon and Verizon Wireless jump through hoops to avoid paying federal taxes, dole out millions to their top executives, and then have the audacity to cut back and ask their workers to pay the price. We are joining the iWont Campaign and asking consumers to get the new iPhone on Verizon only when Verizon and Verizon Wireless treat their employees with the respect and fairness they deserve.”

The coalition will also work to expose the “Verizon Tax Loopholes” – the tricks and tax dodges Verizon and Verizon Wireless use to pay nothing at all in federal corporate income taxes even as they make billions in profits, pay their top 5 executives hundreds of millions of dollars, and undermine the American Dream of good middle-class jobs.  As Congress considers ways to close the deficit, the CWA and its partners will lead a grassroots campaign calling on lawmakers to force companies like Verizon to pay their fair share in federal taxes and respect workers’ rights.

“Why should Verizon and Verizon Wireless – which make billions of dollar a year – pay less in taxes than America’s small businesses and working families?” said Ed Mooney, District 2-13 Vice-President of the Communications Workers of America. “And why should the American public subsidize Verizon’s attack on the middle class with billions in tax rebates? As Congress considers drastic cuts to Social Security, Medicare, and hundreds of programs that the country depends on, we think Verizon and Verizon Wireless’ tax breaks should get a second look.”

Since August, 45,000 Verizon and Verizon Wireless workers have been fighting to protect their health care coverage and other standard employee benefits against company demands for massive takebacks that threaten tens of thousands of middle class families.

From CWA-Union.org

Emancipator to the Liberator Rally and March

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Date: Oct 15, 2011

Location: Washington, DC

Join CWA Leadership, staff, members, family, friends and the AFL-CIO as we rally and march with Reverend Al Sharpton’s National Action Network (NAN) to celebrate the dedication of the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial.

The event will be Co-chaired by Larry Cohen, President of the Communications Workers of America.

This will be an event of unprecedented importance as CWA and all of organized labor continues this historic national journey in support of the ideals established by Dr. King, the NAACP, the National Urban League, our own CWA union and other important national organizations. Please join us!

Rally and March Schedule- Saturday October 15, 2011 :

Event : Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial March and Rally with Reverend Al Sharpton’s National Action Network in conjunction with the AFL-CIO
Date: Saturday October 15, 2011
Arrive CWA HQ Building: 9:30 AM, First Floor Lobby/Conference Room. Round trip Metro fare card, box lunch, and water will be provided.
GROUP Photo: 9:40 AM (Don’t be late!) 🙂
Depart HQ Building: 10:00 am for Metro to the Smithsonian Station
Rally Begins: 11:00 AM
Location: Sylvan Theater, 15th and Independence Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 20001
March to Memorial: Starts at 15th and Independence (the Sylvan Theater/Washington Monument), to the Memorial Site at 1964 Independence Ave, SW (the intersection of Independence Avenue and West Basin Drive SW)
Departure: At conclusion of the march. Use round trip Metro fare card to return to CWA HQ. 

Please Note: A limited number of parking spaces will be available (12-15) at the loading dock on a first come, first serve basis for participants without garage access. Windshield passes will be available at the security desk.

Please register your participation by contacting Alfonso Pollard at (202) 434-1334 or email him at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) with “MLK Rally and March” in the subject box.

If you signed on to participate in the August event, please sign up again. 

For more information: