News and events

CWA/IBEW Verizon Bargaining Report 11-19-07

 

The CWA/IBEW bargaining teams met with Verizon today to begin the process of bargaining an early agreement in advance of the August 2008 expiration.

 

The meeting began with the company making an opening statement about the only proposal they were putting on the table – concessions on healthcare.

 

Administrative Director to Vice President Cattucci, Ron Collins issued an opening statement that the Union’s goal in this round of bargaining was not only to make gains that reflect our members’ contributions to a successful corporation but to also secure the future for our members.

 

Dist. 13 VP Jim Short spoke to the cost to our members when jobs are lost and stated that the union is not interested in a contract extension.  “Our members’ needs and concerns must be addressed in this round of bargaining.”

 

The Company then put their sole demand on the table.

 

The Company’s proposal includes employees paying part of the medical premium on a weekly basis, annual deductibles on prescription drugs, additional cost for not using mail order prescription drugs, additional cost for out of network pharmacies, increased cost of mail order pharmacy, HMO’s will have drug cost increased, the MCN will cost now, out of pocket maximums would increase, increase in co-pays for doctor visits, penalties for failing to pre certify hospital visits, MEP-PPO eliminated, and increased costs to members for HMO’s   In addition, the company demand included the elimination of retiree healthcare for workers hired after 8-3-08.

 

The Union placed its demands on the table.  Those demands include

1.        Work & Jobs of the Future

2.        COLA

3.        Corporate Profit Sharing

4.        Pension Cash Out

5.        Merger Agreements – (No Layoff – No Transfers)

6.        All Existing District and Local Agreements extended

7.        Wage Increases

8.        Pension Increases

9.        Remove the “Break in Service” clause in regard to the Pension Death Benefit in the Mid Atlantic Pension Plan.

10.        Lump Sum Payment to all Retirees

11.         ACFC – Increase funding for the ACFC and carry over any money not spent.  Change the ACFC Coordinator title and make the wage and pension band equal to the Healthcare Benefit Coordinators.

12.        Bargaining Unit Protection – Provide Bargaining Unit protections when employees are temporarily promoted to a management position.

13.        Local Union Payroll Deduction – Establish payroll deduction for Community Service and or Scholarship Fund for each CWA Local.

14.        401K Improvements – Improve 401K by applying the 82% match to 6% of gross wage and establish a ROTH 401K Option.

15.        Job Posting and Bidding – Provide job posting and bidding to internal candidates, including VCSI (where it exists in the bargaining unit), for promotions prior to hiring new employees.

16.        Holidays – Add Martin Luther King’s Birthday as a company paid holiday.

17.        Regional Attendance Plan – Eliminate the Regional Attendance Plan.

18.        Mandatory Overtime – Eliminate Mandatory Overtime.

19.        Payment for Dr. Visits – Company to pay all costs associated with company required doctor visits.

20.        Overtime Payment – Provide one and one half time pay for Saturday and two times pay for Sunday.

21.        Vision Care Improvements – Improve eye care coverage to include Lasik surgery and provide vision care to all retirees.

22.        Healthcare Improvements

23.        Safe and Healthy Working Conditions

24.        VCSI, Global Network, and Verizon Avenue need to address these subsidiaries in early negotiations.

25.        The Union reserves its right to add to, delete from or modify its bargaining demands.

The Company demand on healthcare is concessionary and cost shifting to both active and retired employees and represents a huge step backwards.

Informational Picket

 

The local held an informational picket on Thursday 03-13-08.  The picket was held to make public the union busting and deceptive tactics that Verizon is using.  The company is hiring many term employees and not honoring the contract.  The local media was present for the successful picket.  We had a good turn out.  Thanks to all of those who participated!  Please see the pictures page for updated photos from the event.

TAKE A LOOK AT OUR NEWSLETTER

 

The local prints and mails out a small newsletter quarterly to its members.  Have a look at them here.  They are in a PDF format.  The files are large so please be patient.

 

VOL 1

 

VOL 2

 

Thanks to Shannon Fink for putting together the newsletter.  If you have any topics you would like to see or would like to volunteer to help with the newsletter please send Shannon an email (shannonfink@cwalocal2009.com).  He would appreciate any input or assistance.