“A Tale Of Two Companies”

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Local 1101, CWA
275 Seventh Avenue (17th Floor) New York, NY 10001
(212) 633-2666 FAX: (212) 633-8337
E-Mail: CWALOCAL1101@AOL.COM
Jim Trainor, Secretary 

To the Members of Arms Acres and Conifer Park

Fellow Members:

Your union, Local 1101 is engaged in contract negotiations with Liberty Health Care and Verizon. Over 600 members are represented at Arms Acres and Conifer Park and over 46,000 members are represented at Verizon. These companies are vastly different. Verizon is a major corporation with billions in profits. Liberty Health Care is a privately held corporation which is profitable. 

Regardless of the size of the company, or the size of their profits, both companies have presented the same retrogressive proposals at bargaining. Corporate America has one agenda when it comes to their employees. Their plan is simple, cut wages, slash health benefits and pension, eliminate time off and reduce the workforce. This is how they make more profits. The company wouldn’t be in business if it wasn’t profitable for them. 

Liberty Health Care has hired the law firm of Jackson Lewis (anti-union lawyers) to conduct contract negotiations. This law firm is the most expensive and ruthless in the country. Their goal is to follow the corporate model and destroy the union, your contract and your job.

There are many challenges facing us in the Behavioral Health Care Industry. The union recognizes the changes the industry will face. We have all accepted the changes which have evolved over the years and we continue to provide excellent patient care. Liberty needs to face these challenges by innovation and creative marketing. Not by slashing wages and benefits.  The company needs to send Jackson Lewis packing and spend our money at the bargaining table and not in breaking the union.

We are at a critical stage in negotiations. We have conducted a strike authorization and it has been overwhelmingly approved. Most of you have completed your member’s relief applications and they have been processed. Your union is prepared to do whatever it takes to get a fair contract.

Whether we work at Verizon or Liberty Health Care only through membership mobilization can we achieve our goals. We all stand or we all fall together. Whatever benefits you have, your union negotiated them because you deserve them.  Stand up and let the company know we are not going backwards.

If you were employed during the 1999, 2002, 2005 or 2008 negotiations, you know union members stood together and we did not lose any benefits. Wear red on Thursdays to show the company that union members are not willing to give up their benefits.

We are doing updates via email. If you have not provided the union with your email, please send it to cwahealthcare@aol.com.

In Solidarity,

Jim Trainor

Your Bargaining Team

  • Paul Bouchard – National Union Representative
  • Jim Trainor – Secretary
  • Pat LaScala – Business Agent
  • Donna Sharron – Healthcare Coordinator
  • Janice Reed – Chief Steward, Arms Acres
  • Michele DeMarco – Steward, Arms Acres
  • Arlene Ricci – Steward, Arms Acres
  • Frank Lanktree – Steward, Conifer Park
  • Janice Baird – Steward, Conifer Park
  • Kathy Brindle – Steward, Conifer Park 

Thank you for your input and support.