July 22, 2010

The parties met today in joint session in Grapevine, Texas. The Company submitted a counter proposal package to the Union. The committees recessed while the Union reviewed the proposals.
The parties reconvened and the Union asked for clarification on several Company proposals. The Union will further review the proposals and the parties have agreed to meet August 5, 2010.
CWA Local 6171 is committed to reach a fair agreement for our Dish Network Members.
Stay United,
Local 6171 bargaining Committee

Bargaining Report #3
Joint committees met today to continue discussions on the company’s proposal. The Union passed additional proposals on TPA, voluntary separation, VEBA and others.
The committees mutually agreed to come back to the table on August 2, 2010 to continue negotiations.
REMEMBER TO SIGN A NON-MEMBER AND WEAR YOUR RED ON THURSDAYS TO SUPPORT YOUR BARGAINING COMMITTEE.
IN UNITY AND SOLIDARITY,
YOUR CWA BARGAINING COMMITTEE

Bargaining Report #2
The committees met today in a joint session.
Both sides explained the rationale for their own proposals. There were considerable discussions and the parties agreed to continue Wednesday July 21, 2010.
We will provide an update again on Wednesday
Your committee remains steadfast in attaining a fair contract for the membership.
Thank you for your support.
REMEMBER TO SIGN A NON-MEMBER AND WEAR YOUR RED ON THURSDAYS TO SUPPORT YOUR BARGAINING COMMITTEE.
IN UNITY AND SOLIDARITY,
YOUR CWA BARGAINING COMMITTEE

Bargaining Report #1

The Union Committee consisting of Ann Margaret Sanchez Tovar- Chair Person, Allen Whitaker, Linda James, and Veronica Adams met with the company today on day one of contract negotiations between CWA and Century Tel of Central Arkansas.
The day started with Ann Margaret making an opening statement for CWA. Dan Groninger, Labor Relations Manager- Chair Person for Century Tel did not make an opening statement. Each side discussed clarifications on bargaining perimeters before exchanging proposals.
The Unions passed proposals and gave clarifications on those proposals. These included Wages, Seniority, Medical, 401K, Pension, Holidays, Union Recognitions, Subcontracting, Grievance and Arbitration Procedures, and other various proposals.
The company submitted proposals along the same line. The joint committee is scheduled to meet again on Tuesday, July 20th, 2010.

REMEMBER TO SIGN A NON-MEMBER AND WEAR YOUR RED ON THURSDAYS TO SUPPORT YOUR BARGAINING COMMITTEE.

IN UNITY AND SOLIDARITY,
YOUR CWA BARGAINING COMMITTEE

MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT

Between

VERIZON SOUTHWEST INCORPORATED
SUPPLY CHAIN SERVICES

and

COMMUNICATIONS WORKERS OF AMERICA, AFL-CIO
LOCAL 6171

This Memorandum of Agreement is entered into as of June _____, 2010 and agreed to by and between Verizon Southwest Incorporated and Supply Chain Services (hereinafter the “Company”) and the Communications Workers of America, AFL-CIO Local 6171 (hereinafter the “CWA”) with respect to employees subject to the collective bargaining agreements between the Company and the CWA (hereinafter the “CBAs”).

I. With respect to any employees who elect to voluntarily leave the service of the Company pursuant to the Income Security Plan (“ISP”) offer made on _______ (“the Offer”) under the terms of the CBA, the parties agree as follows:

A. One Time Supplemental Voluntary Termination Bonus
Those employees who leave the service of the Company pursuant to the Offer shall receive a lump sum amount of $40,000, less taxes and withholdings, in addition to the ISP Termination pay benefits and the voluntary termination bonus and continuation of medical coverage to which the employee is otherwise eligible under the terms of the parties’ CBA.

B. Raising of Caps on ISP Payment
Those employees with greater than 30 years of net credited service will have their ISP Termination Allowance capped at forty years of service, rather than thirty years.

C. Waiver of Age-Based Pension Reductions for Early Commencement
The Pension Plan will be amended such that Service Pension eligible employees who leave the service of the Company pursuant to the Offer will not have the age-based reduction for early commencement, if any, applied to the calculation of their pension.

II. Except as modified by this Memorandum of Agreement, the Income Security Plan provisions of the parties’ Collective Bargaining Agreement shall apply.

III. The Company will provide incentive packages to employees who are not part ofthe current declared surplus (Non-surplus Employees). These Non-surplus Employees will be sent incentive packages at or about the same time as employees who are part of the current declared surplus, and the separation benefits in the incentive package will be the same as those offered to employees who are part of the declared surplus. Non-surplus
Employees will have fourteen (14) calendar days from the date specified by the Company in the incentive packages to irrevocably volunteer to separate their employment and receive the benefits of the incentive package. At the conclusion of this 14 calendar day election period, the Company and Union will meet and confer for no more than thirty (30) calendar days regarding which, if any, Non-surplus Employees who have volunteered to separate employment will be accepted. The Company shall retain exclusive discretion to determine which volunteers, if any, will be accepted. Company determinations to accept or not to accept any one or more volunteers in conjunction with this Section III shall not be subject to grievance, arbitration, or challenge in any other forum.

IV. This Agreement memorializes a unique one-time offer and is without prejudice or precedent to any position either party may wish to take in any other matter. The negotiations leading up to this Agreement, including any proposals, and the Agreement itself, will not be cited by any party in any forum for any purpose, except to enforce the terms of this Agreement, should that be necessary.

FOR THE COMPANY FOR COMMUNICATIONS WORKERS OF AMERICA

_________________________ ____________________________
Rick A. Carpenter Ann-Margaret Sanchez-Tovar
Director, Labor Relations CWA Representative

Dated: ______________________

CWA Leads Successful Push for Recess Appointments to NLRB
CWA played a big role in the Obama administration’s recess appointments to the National Labor Relations Board. As the congressional recess began on March 27, President Obama appointed Mark Pearce and Craig Becker to seats on the five-member board.
CWA activists contacted members of Congress and pressed them to sign a letter to the President urging him to make the recess appointments. In the end, 141 members of Congress signed onto the “Dear Colleague” letter circulated by Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-Calif.) and a separate letter from the Pennsylvania congressional delegation that urged President Obama to act on the stalled nominations.
Senate Republicans used holds and filibusters to block the confirmations and most recently launched a filibuster to block a final Senate vote on Becker’s nomination.
CWA President Larry Cohen commended President Obama for naming Becker and Pearce to the Board. “These appointments are critical for workers to get justice in the workplace,” he said.
“For far too long, the five-member NLRB has consisted of only two members. This has resulted in a growing caseload of contentious issues left unresolved. Thousands of American workers who seek resolution of their disputes have been put on hold,” members of Congress told the President.
Despite criticism, recess appointments have become a common way for presidents to seat nominees in the absence of Senate action, with former President George W. Bush making 171 such appointments, and President Bill Clinton making 139.
Health Care Reform and Retirees
There’s some confusion out there regarding health care reform and retiree prescription drug coverage. It’s important to get the facts, not the spin that some people are trying to sell.
A number of companies, including some big CWA employers like AT&T, have taken charges on their financial reports for the end of March. These employers were accounting for the change in the subsidies they’ve received since 2003 to provide prescription drug coverage. Employers still will receive the subsidy, but now will pay taxes on it. It doesn’t change our retiree health care coverage.
There are a lot of good things for retirees in health care reform. Read about those benefits here.
CWA District 6 Going Member-to-Member in New Organizing Initiative
CWA activists across District 6 are leading a vigorous campaign to organize new members in the region dominated by Right-to-Work states.
Launched two months ago, the District’s organizing initiative, led by local union officers, organizing committee members, activists, and district staff, depends on members talking to co-workers. “To organize the numbers of new members we need to maintain good contracts, we can’t rely on the old ways of organizing,” says District 6 Vice President Andy Milburn. “Sending out occasional mailings asking workers to join just doesn’t cut it,” he said.

“I’m getting ready to retire, and I want to see my pension go on. I watch young people come on and I want a future for them, but I don’t see a retirement for them without organizing.”
“Success depends on members connecting with non-members where they work and we’re making progress by talking with co-workers about the value of joining CWA,” Milburn said. In internal organizing efforts, a special focus is on signing up new members at AT&T Mobility; nearly half of all Mobility workers are under age 35.
District 6 is taking full advantage of technology, like handy Flip cameras and social networking, to help get the message out. Right now, CWAers in District 6 are circulating short videos of members explaining why belonging to CWA is so important.
Click here to see members Carolyn Daily, Local 6300; Richard von Glahn, Local 6355; and Linda Talley, Local 6171.
Each week, District staff check with locals for progress reports, and once a month, local union organizing chairs and CWA staff share ideas and strategies in teleconferences