As provided in the CWA Local 1107 by-laws article XIV, “Nominations and Election of Local Officers and Shop Stewards”. Fifteen (15) days notice is hereby giving for the Nominations & Election for Shop Steward.
IF IT'S THURSDAY..... WEAR RED Excerpts of Article Written By a Member of IBM Poughkeepsie
It has been a custom since 1989 for the members of the CWA to show their solidarity by wearing red on Thursdays, but why and where did this day of red begin? Well for one, it represents the color of blood that was lost in the strife to gain fair and equal rights for workers throughout the years. The day of red is also in remembrance of Gerry Horgan, CWA’s chief steward for Westchester County who died as a result of being struck by a car driven by Tricia McNamara, a daughter of a second line manager as he worked a picket line in August 1989.
The red shirt brings together all of the CWA members on one day a week. It gives a visual statement to management of the workers solidarity. The red shirt gives everyone a sense of unity and fellowship. The red shirt is also a visual reminder that checks and balances in the work place have to be maintained daily. So next Thursday and every Thursday thereafter, if you are angered at the loss of jobs going off shore, WEAR RED. If you are angry on the loss of a defined pension that would have increased with earnings and service time, WEAR RED. If you are angry that medical insurance cost for you and your family will exceed your projected retirement payments, WEAR RED. If you are angry that your yearly performance evaluations are dictated by HR to a fixed number of 1's, 2's and 3's, WEAR RED. If you are angry that pay raises are for a select few and that there are no cost of living increases for all, WEAR RED. If you are angry that your job was down sized due to "needs of the business", but are hired back for the same job through Manpower, another agency, or as a contractor, WEAR RED. If you are angry that your job can be sold to another company without proper compensation or that you may lose vested rights, WEAR RED. If you are angry that you have little voice in the decisions that management makes that adversely affect you, WEAR RED. If you are angry when you’re on the downsizing list, you are not to be hired for a job in another area in IBM that you are qualified for, WEAR RED. If you are angry because billable work hours do not permit vacations, sick leave, or skill enhancement class training without significant unpaid overtime, WEAR RED. If you feel that the age of the employee is a big factor in head count reductions, WEAR RED. If you are angry that greedy executives raid the business coffers, WEAR RED Or just for the heck of it, next Thursday, WEAR RED.
Please contact everyone you know and ask them to WEAR RED. Talk to your friends, neighbors, colleagues, and members in your department. On Thursday, let's have a sea of RED in the work place. Just by wearing a RED shirt, or a RED dress, a RED hat, RED socks, a RED tie, or RED pants, you may be surprised with the results.
News of Verizon FiOS Build Out to Fire Island is the Right Decision for NY and All Communities
Sep 10, 2013
Washington, D.C. – The news that Verizon Communications plans to build out fiber optic cable in Fire Island, N.Y., rather than substitute Voice Link wireless technology, is the right decision and welcome news.(*)
It’s a positive development for Fire Island residents and one that should be repeated in communities across the country. (*)
Verizon should expand its investment in fiber optic, high speed broadband, which provides greater capacity for Internet use than wireless systems. That’s the only way to ensure that our country has a 21st century broadband infrastructure, one that meets global standards and enables us to compete with the rest of the world.(*)
Hundreds of local and state elected officials, public safety officials, labor activists, residents and small business owners protested Verizon’s plans to substitute inadequate Voice Link wireless service for the system in place before Superstorm Sandy. In objections made to the State Public Service Commission and the Federal Communications Commission, residents pointed out that they would face inadequate and unavailable alternative services and increased costs.(*)
Verizon’s decision is a big victory for Fire Island consumers who took a stand for the quality services they need, and it’s proof that consumers want the world class communications system that fiber optic broadband delivers.
The 2014 Annual Open Enrollment Dates are as follows:
Active Members: October 23, 2013 to November 6, 2013
Retired Members: November 7, 2013 to November 21, 2013
* Retirees can call starting November 1, 2013
* Retirees can continue to make changes up through November 30, 2013 to be effective January 1, 2014.
If your members are happy with their current health plan and want to continue it, there is nothing they need to do.
Also, as a reminder that Anytime Enrollment was discontinued last year and is not available – Changes can only be made during Open Enrollment with the exception of a Qualified Status Change. Examples of a Qualified Status Change are adding a spouse if you get married, adding a child when there is a birth of a new baby.
Any member who completed a Health Assessment in 2012 or who completes one at any time through 2013, will receive the $100 Health Assessment credit in 2014. There is no need to complete a second assessment if you already did it during that timeframe.
The New York State Senate is considering 2 bills that are vital to CWA members and also important to the general public:
1.Call Center Worker and Consumer Protection Act (A7144/S4434) – this bill takes away taxpayer subsidies and state contracts from companies that ship call center jobs overseas.Verizon alone has moved over 1,000 jobs from New York State to foreign countries.
VoiceLink Moratorium bill (A7635/S5630) – this bill prevents Verizon from cutting its customers off from the copper network and replacing their telephone service with wireless service, called “VoiceLink”.This bill protects CWA jobs maintaining the copper telephone network.VoiceLink is a threat to the jobs of thousands of highly-skilled workers with good, family-supporting jobs.This bill also protects our customers by preserving access to DSL and data services, and auxiliary power in an emergency.
Please urge your Senator to co-sponsor both of these bills and help push them to a floor vote. Verizon and other company’s lobbyists are swarming all over Albany right now.Your voice with your Senator can help counter their big money.Please make a call right now.
Call your New York State Senator right now at 888-659-7351.Please leave them a message urging them to co-sponsor and pass these two bills.
The Company announced today that the CPS award for full time employees is $675.00. The award was calculatedat $675.00 but will be paid at the minimum negotiated amount of $700. The award will be pro-rated for part-time employees and those employees who participated for more than 3 months but less than 12 months in the plan year.
The award will be paid on March 15th, 2013 based on your member’s regular payroll distribution schedule.
No Secret Deals' for Verizon Wireless
CWA called on the Federal Communications Commission to "stop the clock" on its consideration of the Verizon Wireless/cable company spectrum deal until the parties involved provide complete information about their commercial agreements.
IF YOU ARE CALLED INTO A MEETING BY ANY COMPANY MANAGER OR CORPORATE SECURITY, BE SURE TO ASK...... If this discussion could in any way lead to my being disciplined or terminated, or affect my personal working conditions, I respectfully request that my Union Representative, Officer, or Steward be present at the meeting. Without representation, I choose not to answer any questions.
Contact Congress!
YOU ARE THE UNION
UNION BEGINS WITH
YOU
MOST PEOPLE FEEL THAT THE "UNION" IS THE BOARD,
THE PEOPLE WHO "RUN" THE UNION. THIS COULD NOT
BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH.
THE "UNION" IS YOU: YOU ARE THE ONE WHO
ELECTS YOUR OFFICIALS TO REPRESENT YOU. YOU ARE
THE ONE WHO HAS THE PRIVILEGE TO GO TO YOUR
MEETINGS AND SPEAK WHAT'S ON YOUR MIND, TO LET
YOUR BOARD KNOW OF ANY GRIEVANCE YOU MAY HAVE.
A STRONG UNION IS ONLY AS STRONG AS ITS MEMBERS.
SHOW VERIZON YOU STAND BEHIND YOUR UNION, ATTEND
MEETINGS, REPORT INFRACTIONS BY MANAGEMENT TO YOUR
SHOP STEWARD OR LOCAL WHEN THEY OCCUR. YOU WILL
NEVER AGREE WITH 100% OF WHAT YOUR LOCAL DOES OR
DOESN'T DO. BUT, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU GET PAST
THAT AND CARRY ON AND CONTINUE FIGHTING FOR YOUR
RIGHTS. REMEMBER, YOU ARE THE EYES AND EARS OF YOUR
CWA's Response to Verizon EIPP Message[1].pdf
Nomination Notice Steward 2013.doc
