10/02/2008 12:02 PM Filed in:
Politics
Both the House of Representatives and the Senate
passed the Broadband Data Improvement Act, (S. 1492)
a key initiative of the Communications Workers of
America's Speed Matters project. The bill now moves
on to a joint conference committee to work out the
differences between the House and the Senate
versions.
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09/19/2008 09:21 PM Filed in:
Bargaining
Washington, D.C. -- Members of the Communications
Workers of America at
Verizon Communications overwhelmingly ratified a
three-year agreement,
approving the contract with a greater than 90 percent
“yes” vote.
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09/10/2008 11:30 PM Filed in:
Politics
Lifetime republican and CWA member Bill McGlashen
speaks out about John McCain's anti-union legislation
in this video. Click
"here" to view
09/10/2008 11:24 PM Filed in:
Politics
Barack Obama speaks out about legislation for Unions
and Free Choice Act. Click continue reading to
view
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09/10/2008 11:20 PM Filed in:
Politics
Barack Obama speaks at the CWA Legistlative
Conference on April 8th 2008. Click continue reading
to view video.
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08/19/2008 09:17 PM Filed in:
Bargaining
| Verizon
The Common
Issues document that was reviewed with Local 2205 by
their President Jerry Rogers on August 18, 2008 has
been posted. This document will serve as a reference
for the key issues that were discussed during
bargaining negotiations as well as highlight key
areas that have changed. The document can be
viewed Here.
(Please keep in mind that this document is
82 pages in length may take some time to download
depending on your internet speed)
08/10/2008 07:49 PM Filed in:
Bargaining
Washington,
D.C. -- A new tentative three-year contract
settlement with Verizon achieves union employees'
major goals of promoting union jobs and expanding
bargaining rights, providing good health care for
both active and retired workers, and increasing wages
and pensions for 65,000 workers from Virginia to
Maine, the Communications Workers of America and
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
reported.Continue
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08/10/2008 03:15 PM Filed in:
Bargaining
Negotiations
are continuing and we've made significant progress
toward our goal of a settlement that meets our
members' critical goals and issues. We will
update you throughout the course of the day and still
have some remaining issues to work
through.
08/09/2008 07:25 PM Filed in:
Bargaining
The Unions
and the Company continue marathon bargaining in an
attempt to bring the contract in before the
bargaining deadline of 12:01 am, Monday, Aug. 11.
While there still are
important issues on the table, setting the deadline
has moved the pace into turbo drive. Verizon fully
understands the power that our union members have
poised to exercise if progress slows or
stops.Continue
Reading...
08/08/2008 11:05 AM Filed in:
Bargaining
Washington,
D.C -- The CWA/IBEW Unified Bargaining Committees
have set a bargaining deadline for completing
contract negotiations with Verizon. That deadline is
Monday, Aug. 11, 12:01 am. At that time, the existing
contract that was extended last weekend will expire.
Strike action then becomes possible if a fair
settlement is not reached.Continue
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08/07/2008 07:44 PM Filed in:
Bargaining
Negotiations between the
CWA/IBEW unified bargaining committees and Verizon
are continuing around the clock in Washington
DC. The clock remains stopped at 11:59 pm, Aug.
2.
Progress is being made, but the issues yet to be
resolved are among our most
important.
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08/06/2008 11:18 PM Filed in:
Bargaining
Negotiations
continued throughout the day and will continue into
the evening. We’ve made some progress but not
enough.
As we said earlier, we
will do whatever it takes to secure our contract, one
way or another. That means we’ll get it done at
the bargaining table or on the picket
line.
Continue
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08/06/2008 04:09 PM Filed in:
Bargaining
Yesterday the
parties continued marathon bargaining throughout the
day, ending at 11 pm. last night. Today,
negotiations have resumed.
Is progress being made? Yes. Is it slow
going? Also yes. Do we have a plan for
success? You bet. Continue
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08/05/2008 09:31 PM Filed in:
Bargaining
With the
clock frozen at 11:59 PM 8-2-08, the bargaining
continues around the clock with all the MidAtlantic
and North Verizon Bargaining Units. Running
concurrent with the bargaining of the core agreements
are separate tables for VCS and Global Networks Inc.
here in the MidAtlantic area. While some
progress has been made at the table in all of the
bargaining units, we still have some distance to
close before we can reach a fair agreement on all of
our issues. Continue
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08/04/2008 10:34 PM Filed in:
Bargaining
The Unions and the
Company have met throughout the day and into the
evening and will be working throughout the night in
an attempt to reach an agreement. Slow but
significant progress is being made and the clock
remains stopped at 11:59 pm August
2nd.
Continue
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08/04/2008 10:00 AM Filed in:
Bargaining
The Unions
and the Company bargained late into the night and
early hours of today. After a brief recess,
talks resumed at all levels and will continue in an
effort to pound out an
agreement. Continue
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08/03/2008 09:58 AM Filed in:
Bargaining
The Unions and the
Company have been in intense bargaining at all levels
throughout the day and talks will continue to take
place until either an agreement is reached or it is
clear that we cannot. The clock remains frozen
at 11:59PM 8-2-08.
Continue
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08/02/2008 11:54 AM Filed in:
Bargaining
The Unions
and the Company met today in another fruitless
session. We are no closer to an agreement, and
in fact, have gone backwards. We have no
agreement on pathway to the core, no agreement on
work jurisdiction, no agreement on wages, benefits or
anything that even comes close to an acceptable
contract. Continue
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08/02/2008 11:54 AM Filed in:
Bargaining
The Unions
and the Company met today and discussions took place
regarding new technologies and the future of work.
Continue
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07/31/2008 04:30 PM Filed in:
Bargaining
The Unions
and the Company met today. The Company rejected
the Unions earlier counter proposals on the Medical
Plan and insisted on their original proposal provided
on July 28th. Continue
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07/31/2008 03:16 PM Filed in:
Bargaining
The Unions
and the Company did not meet in formal session today
as the Unions await the Company’s response to the
proposals placed on the table yesterday. The
Unions spent the day working on developing proposals
while discussions continue at the executive
level. Efforts are intense as the Unions seek a
breakthrough to an agreement before contract
deadline. Continue
Reading...
07/29/2008 11:25 PM Filed in:
Bargaining
The Unions
and the Company met today and the Unions presented
counter proposals in response to their proposals
presented yesterday. The meeting recessed while
the Company prepares a response. We are
entering the final hours and still are very far apart
on reaching an agreement. This round of
bargaining has had fewer issues on the table than any
other in memory, but it has more major issues on the
table than any before. Continue
Reading...
07/29/2008 11:23 PM Filed in:
Bargaining
The Unions
and the Company met today and exchanged
proposals. To date, there has still been no
substantive issue resolved, and the numerous economic
proposals brought forward by the Union have either
been rejected or not addressed at all by the
Company. Continue
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07/29/2008 11:21 PM Filed in:
Bargaining
The Unions
and the Company met today and the Company provided
counter proposals to the Unions' healthcare proposal
made in earlier meetings.
The meeting adjourned and
the Union will assess the counter proposals and
prepare a response.
Continue
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07/25/2008 01:50 PM Filed in:
Bargaining
The Unions
and the Company met today and the session began with
the Unions making data requests on the prescription
drug plan. The Unions then presented counter
proposals to the company's demands on the medical
plan. The meeting recessed until Monday
July 28th. Continue
Reading...
07/25/2008 10:01 AM Filed in:
Bargaining
The Unions
and the Company met today and received a presentation
from the American Heart Association on the cost
benefits of wellness programs. The executive
level committees continue to
meet. Continue
Reading...
07/25/2008 10:00 AM Filed in:
Bargaining
The Unions and the
Company met today and discussions took place in
subcommittees on ways to improve the grievance
mediation process. Meetings went late into the
day at the executive level seeking a breakthrough in
the major issues including healthcare for active and
retired employees, employment security and work of
the future.
Continue
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07/24/2008 09:42 AM Filed in:
Bargaining
The Unions
and the Company met today and the Unions placed
proposals on the table regarding a number of
healthcare issues. The meeting recessed for the
day while the Company reviews the
proposals. Continue
Reading...
07/22/2008 09:20 AM Filed in:
Bargaining
The parties
met today and the discussions focused on healthcare
issues. The Company provided data requested by
the Unions at earlier meetings. The meeting
recessed so that the Unions can assess the data and
prepare a response. Continue
Reading...
07/21/2008 05:40 PM Filed in:
Miscellaneous
Prior to the
July 10th bargaining meeting with
Verizon, over 150 CWA members from Districts 1,
2, and 13 along with IBEW Local 1944 and Local
participated in a rally outside of CWA headquarters
in Washington, D.C. to support our bargaining
committee. Continue
Reading...
07/19/2008 12:49 PM Filed in:
Bargaining
The parties
met today and the Unions once more reaffirmed our
members’ agenda and the Company again rejected all
items. With only a few short weeks before the
contract expiration, the parties are still in
disagreement on virtually all issues. The Union
continues to demand employment security, work of the
future and other critical demands while rejecting the
Company’s take back and concessionary
agenda.Continue
Reading...
07/17/2008 01:02 PM Filed in:
Bargaining
The Unions
and the Company subcommittee on healthcare met today
and continued discussions on medical benefits.
The Unions restated their goal to reduce healthcare
costs without diminishing benefits. The parties
have recessed for today. Continue
Reading...
07/16/2008 10:11 AM Filed in:
Bargaining
The Unions
and the Company met today and continued negotiations
on the Unions' agenda. As the clock continues
to move toward the August 2nd deadline, the
parties have not reached agreement on any
issue. Continue
Reading...
07/14/2008 10:09 AM Filed in:
Bargaining
The Unions
and the Company did not meet today. The Unions
spent the day working on our bargaining agenda and
preparing proposals to be presented at tomorrow's
session.Continue
Reading...
07/11/2008 07:09 PM Filed in:
Bargaining
The Unions
and the Company did not meet today. The Union
committee met to appoint members to a subcommittee to
work on demands for job security issues including the
jobs of the future.Continue
Reading...
07/09/2008 10:04 AM Filed in:
Bargaining
The Unions
and the company met yesterday and the company
responded to several information requests submitted
by the union.Continue
Reading...
07/08/2008 10:00 AM Filed in:
Bargaining
The Unions
and the Company met today and the Union made several
additional information requests. The Unions requested
a subcommittee from both teams be established to
discuss "common interest issues" of health
care.Continue
Reading...
07/04/2008 09:19 PM Filed in:
Bargaining
The Unions
and the Company met today and the Company provided
data and answers to issues raised at the 7-1
session. The meeting recessed and the Unions
will be studying the data and preparing a
response. The parties are scheduled to meet on
Monday, July 7th. Continue
Reading...
07/02/2008 08:59 AM Filed in:
Bargaining
The Unions
and the Company met today and the session began with
discussions about the demands the Company presented
yesterday. The Unions expressed their anger over the
Company changing their commitment to limit their
agenda to “modest changes designed to change behavior
in the medical plan.” The Company is demanding cost
shifting in healthcare for actives and retirees,
elimination of the cash out option, elimination of
the COLA, elimination of the Corporate Profit Sharing
and other reductions in wages and
benefits.Continue
Reading...
07/01/2008 11:43 AM Filed in:
Bargaining
The Unions
and the Company met this morning and the Company
presented a set of proposals in response to the
Unions' demands placed on the table on
6-16-08.Continue
Reading...
06/25/2008 09:00 AM Filed in:
Miscellaneous
Appearing via
satellite from the campaign trail in Albuquerque,
N.M., Sen. Barack Obama was met with wild cheers from
the 2,500 delegates, alternates and guests at CWA's
70th annual convention in Las Vegas. Earlier Monday,
delegates passed a resolution enthusiastically
endorsing Obama for U.S. president and pledging to
work tirelessly to elect himContinue
Reading...
06/12/2008 05:07 PM Filed in:
Bargaining
The Unions
and the Company met today. The Company gave
details of their prescription drug plan which would
impose increases in the cost of medications for
active and retired members. In some examples,
the increases would cost some retirees most of their
income.Continue
Reading...
06/11/2008 05:05 PM Filed in:
Bargaining
The parties
met today and there was intense and sometimes angry
discussion on the subject of subcontracting, access
to jobs and employment security. The Union
pointed out that our members provide Verizon’s
competitive edge. The Union also reminded the
company that Verizon opposed all attempts at a
National Healthcare solution and are now demanding
concessions from our members.Continue
Reading...
06/11/2008 03:21 PM Filed in:
Bargaining
The meeting
scheduled for Monday, June 9th did not take place
because the Company could not resolve their
transportation problems. The CWA/IBEW Regional
Bargaining Committee met jointly today and had
extensive discussions about needed improvements in
the grievance and arbitration process.
Continue
Reading...
06/08/2008 02:27 PM Filed in:
Bargaining
The Unions
and the Company met today and the Company provided
data comparisons for their proposed changes to the
prescription drug plan and answers to questions
regarding the Company’s proposed Medical Plan
changes.Continue
Reading...
06/08/2008 02:25 PM Filed in:
Bargaining
The Unions
and the Company met today and the discussions focused
on the grievance, mediation and arbitration
procedures. The Unions raised their concerns
about the unreasonable delays in these processes as
well as the difficulties in obtaining information and
records.Continue
Reading...
06/04/2008 02:23 PM Filed in:
AT&T
Negotiations opened yesterday in Atlanta, Georgia,
with our Bargaining Committee submitting a
comprehensive health care proposal to the Company.
District 3 Vice President Noah Savant, speaking on
behalf of CWA nationwide, told the Company in opening
remarks the Union is hopeful Mobility has come to
these negotiations with the intent to reach an
agreement that reflects our members' contributions
toward making Mobility the number one wireless
company in the United States.
Continue
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05/31/2008 09:43 AM Filed in:
Bargaining
The Unions
and the Company met today. The Company
presented the Unions with a proposal to modify the
medical and prescription drug planContinue
Reading...
05/28/2008 09:34 AM Filed in:
Bargaining
The CWA/IBEW
joint committee met with the company bargaining
committee today. The Union gave an opening statement
emphasizing job security, healthcare, labor relations
and economic needs of our members.Continue
Reading...
05/23/2008 08:57 PM Filed in:
Bargaining
CWA District
1, 2, and 13 as well as the IBEW have agreed to once
again enter into “Early” Negotiations with Verizon.
CWA President Larry Cohen and District One Vice
President Chris Shelton met with Verizon CEO Ivan
Seidenberg on Friday May 9, 2008 to discuss the
possibility of early negotiations.Continue
Reading...
04/22/2008 11:36 AM Filed in:
Verizon
Verizon Communications customers will lose the
quality service and accessibility provided by
employees at the Verizon Plus Store if Verizon goes
through with the scheduled closing of that location
on June 21st.
Continue
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