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AFL-CIO 000000Communication
Workers of America000000
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Special Events
VERIZON
COMMUNICATIONS
Overtime
The Local office has been notified by both
the copper and FIOS organizations that they need technicians to volunteer for
overtime this coming week.The problem ----Not enough
workers for the present workload".
In FIOS they have indicated
they will be scheduling non scheduled days this coming week ( they cannot do
this in consecutive weeks). They will not be forcing this coming Sunday but will
take volunteers. If you volunteer and work Sunday then you have met the eight
hour requirement. For those of you who are not big "overtime hounds", you will
have met the 8 hour bogey, for the "overtime hounds"you'll have six more days to
get more.
In the Copper organization
they are looking for technicians to volunteer to work at least one of their non
scheduled days.The Local pointed out as it did in the FIOS
organization that some techs find it more difficult to give up a day off than to
work before and after their tour.The company acknowledged
this and said they would accept volunteers but would like as many as possible to
volunteer a full day.
Again, as a reminder in the Core contracts
the company cannot force you more than eight hours in a
week unless we are in a state of emergency as defined in the contract. They
cannot schedule you six days a week in consecutive weeks;
the company must accept reasonable excuses.
“Surplus
Update”
On
Monday, June 28, 2010, Verizon notified the Union of the list of
surplus volunteer employees who are scheduled for their last day on
the payroll to be July 3, 2010. Another 1,230 more surplus volunteer
employees are scheduled for their last day on the payroll to be
November 20, 2010.
There
were 292 non-surplus volunteer employees from 28 different director
groups. As of Thursday, July 1, 2010, these directors have not
released all of the non-surplus volunteers. Discussions with the
Company continue regarding this issue. The Memorandum of Agreement
allows a 30-day period to determine whether these non-surplus
volunteers will be accepted. Updates will be communicated as soon as
a decision is reached.
One Time Enhanced Offer Latest Update
This is to update locals on the EISP/Surplus discussions.
The surplus and oversubscribed volunteers will be notified they are accepted or rejected and if accepted will also be advised of their date off the payroll by letters going out in the mail by Monday. The off payroll dates are July 4th and November 21st. Some locals have reported field management has started to verbally advise some members of their status. The company has not agreed to verbally communicate to all members.
I should receive a list containing the surplus and over subscribed volunteers at some point today. The company alleges they have not finalized some of the over subscribed lines of business. I will forward the data as soon as possible.
Verizon has yet to confirm that there will be no layoff of post 2003 members. I will update locals as information becomes available.
In Unity,
Gail Evans
One Time Enhanced Offer Update
After numerous calls to CWA STATE AND CWA DISTRICT OFFICE - no information is available on the current status of the EISP. We have received calls
and emails about rumors and speculation. We don't feed those. We will update this page when we receive an Update from the CWA District 2 office.
MORE INFORMATION ON ONE-TIME VOLUNTARY ENHANCED OFFER
The District has had several discussions with Vz. regarding the One-Time Enhanced Voluntary Separation Incentive Offer. To date no agreement has been reached with the company regarding a second off payroll date. The company has indicated there will only be one off payroll date of July 3rd. Any member not pension eligible until after the July off payroll date and who returns the voluntary separation request will forfeit service pension benefits by leaving the payroll in July. As of today the company indicated they have received approximately 1100 (Eleven Hundred) volunteers. (remember, this number can go up or down) This number includes volunteers from both the surplus and non surplus titles. A total list of volunteers will be provided shortly after the close of the EISP offer on June 16th. On Friday, May 28th the company mailed postcards to all employees reminding them of the deadline to apply for the offer. We will provide an update as new information becomes available.
Below are two links which may answer some of the questions you have regarding the ONE-TIME ENHANCED VOLUNTARY OFFER. The fact sheets will also be included in your package.
CWA will be having a COPE Drive from May1, 2010 to October 26, 2010. All members who sign up for the first time and contribute at least $1.00 a week or existing contributors who
increase their contributions by $1.00 a week will be eligible for the
drawing for a trip for two to Las Vegas including two round trip
tickets with hotel accommodations for two nights. Also
all members who sign up for the first time and contribute at least
$1.00 a week or existing contributors who increase their contribution
by $1.00 a week will receive a free CWA T shirt. The
winner of the trip will be announced November 2, 2010. See your steward
or call the Local office for a COPE card to fill out.
Article 35 ANNOUNCED
Following is the notification from Verizon regarding the Surplus in
Maryland, Washington DC and Virginia. This notification officially
begins the 90 day clock under article 35. The Union will be meeting
with the company early next week to discuss this issue further.
This is a continuation / adjustment to the Potomac EISP / Surplus
notices I sent you on 02/26/2010, 04/09/2010, 04/12/2010 and
04/19/2010. The first attachment is the determination of surplus
under the terms of Article 35 of the General Agreement.
EISP Packages for both groups will be mailed beginning 05/13/2010.
The volunteer period will begin on 05/18/2010 and end on 06/16/2010.
Volunteers will be accepted as necessary to meet business needs and
will have a last day worked of 07/03/2010 or by 11/30/2010 as
determined by the Company.
If EISP volunteers are not sufficient to meet the Company's force
adjustment needs, the Company intends to invoke the force adjustment
provisions under Article 35 which may require part-timing,
reassignment to lower paid job titles or classifications,
involuntary transfer which necessitates a change in residence and
termination or layoff of regular employees with a net credited
service date of 08/03/2003 or later. The date(s) of such adjustments
will be determined later.
Surplus List - The last column indicates whether the company plans to
implement article 35 in any title. "Yes" they will - "No" they will
not.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT ONE TIME ENHANCED VOLUNTARY SEPARATION
INCENTIVE OFFER
Next week, eligible Associates will receive detailed information
about the One-Time Enhanced Voluntary Separation Incentive Offer
that was announced in April. The information will be mailed to homes
during the week of May 14, 2010. Separately, eligible Associates
will also receive personalized summaries of financial benefits
available to those who volunteer and who are accepted to leave under
the terms of the Offer.
The volunteer period for Mid-Atlantic and Potomac area Associates is
from Tuesday, May 18 through Wednesday, June 16, 2010.
To volunteer, Associates must complete and sign the Volunteer Form
included in the package and fax it to the number indicated no later
than 11:59 p.m. EDT on June 16, 2010.
The Your Benefits Resources web site will be updated to provide
on-line pension estimates that include the provisions of the Offer
beginning Friday, May 7th, and as of that date the Verizon Benefits
Center will have the information needed to answer questions about
the pension enhancements and separation benefits.
How to request an online pension estimate:
Beginning Friday, May 7th you can go to the Your Benefits
Resources web site (through About You or www.verizon.com/benefits)
and select the “Pension” tab, then “Estimate Your Benefit.”
Scroll down the page to the section titled “Projection
Assumptions” and for “Last Day of Employment” click on “Other Date”
and enter “07-03-2010”.
For “Date You Begin Receiving Benefits” click on “Other Date” and
enter “07-04-2010” or the 1st day of any month August – December.
2010.
Scroll to the bottom of the page and click on “Redisplay
Projection”.
Most Associates can quickly view their estimate by following these
steps, and the estimate can be printed by scrolling back to the top
of the estimate page and clicking on the printer icon. Because of
the complexity of certain pension calculations, some Associates will
not be able to obtain an online pension estimate and will be
directed to call the Verizon Benefits Center.
CWA Reaches Agreement on
Enhanced Offer
CWA District 2 has
reached agreement with Verizon regarding an enhanced offer to all
CWA members in
Maryland,
Virginia, and the
District of Columbia.Previously, Verizon had reported as a Good Friday message
that talks with the
Union had been unsuccessful and
further indicated they did not foresee negotiating any future
enhancements.Discussions resumed and an
agreement was finally reached as a result of CWA’s persistence.CWA demanded Vz provide expanded employment security to post
’03 employees, the removal of contract workers and that the enhanced
offer be made to all members not just those declared surplus.
The agreement
contains a one time enhancement to the Voluntary Termination Bonus
of $40,000. for a total VTB of $50,000, raises the caps on EISP
payments from 30 years to 40 years, accelerates the effective date
of the October pension band increases of 3.75%, waives aged-based
pension reductions for certain early retirements, and provides for a
protected interest rate for converting the single life annuity to a
lump sum amount.
The agreement also
stipulates, if 12,000 employees from the entire footprint accept the
EISP, no employee hired after August 2, 2003 will be laid off prior
to May 1, 2011.Regardless of reaching the
12,000 employee threshold no Consultant, Fiber Customer Service
Analyst or Fiber Network Technician will be laid off prior to
May 1, 2011.
In addition, by
July 1, 2010,
union employees, not contractors, will place copper cable inside
conduit, place and transfer aerial copper cable, strand and poles
provided the work can be performed with existing vehicles and
equipment.This work does not include work
required by government entities. The company
will eliminate contractors performing maintenance administrator EVRC
work in the company by
July 1, 2010.The company will not increase the number of contractors who
perform bargaining unit work during the period of
June 1, 2010
through
May 31, 2011.
Update on Surplus 4-22
THE FOLLOWING IS AN
EMAIL WE RECEIVED EARLY THIS MORNING. DO NOT CALL THE LOCAL OFFICE.
WHEN WE HAVE DETAILS WE WILL PUT THEM OUT:
I am happy to report that CWA & Verizon reached an
agreement late last evening in reference to the latest surplus for
Maryland, The District of Columbia & Virginia. Details will follow
shortly.
Last night the
Union received an email from Verizon declaring a surplus in selected
titles. The local received that a short time later. Below is the
information from that email and an attachment of the job titles
affected. On this attachment, the titles marked with a red YES under
the far right column would be subject to the provisions under
article 35 of the General Agreement. All other titles would receive
voluntary EISP package. We will send out more info as soon as
it becomes available.
EISP packages mailed to employees
beginning April 16.
Volunteer Period is April 20 through
May 19.
Last day worked for EISP volunteers
is May 29.
Canvass for available jobs is May 10
through May 17.
Available jobs assigned by May 20.
Employees report
to available jobs by June 1.
Last day worked for surplus employees
who don't take EISP or an available job is July 10.
There will be discussion on this
surplus between the company and the Union on Wednesday, April 14,
2010. We will provide further information as it becomes available.
PROTESTING
VERIZON CUTBACKS
Sunday, April 11,
11:00AM – 1:00PM
VerizonCenter
a
success
We want to thank all of the members
who participated in this protest against the cutbacks at Verizon.
We passed out leaflets, made our presence known, and sent a clear
message to this company that we are strong, we are united, and we
are committed in our fight for job security and secure retirements
for our members.
Verizon Surplus Announced
Verizon has notified the Union of a surplus
and a meeting has been set for next Wednesday, April 14.
This notice relates directly to 122
surplus CSTs and 108 surplus OPTs in MJ Johnston's Regional Operations
organization (Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C.). We will
keep you updated as new information becomes available.
CWA’s response to Verizon’s (Good Friday)
Holiday Message
After reading Verizon’s Good Friday message, it would
appear that the leadership of CWA and IBEW is just dead set on denying
its members Verizon’s generosity. Can the
Union’s be so heartless?
Well, nothing can be farther from the truth. The
Unions are willing and even anxious to help reduce Verizon’s so-called
“surplus” by financially assisting those who, for whatever reason,
wish to leave the payroll. However, we cannot agree to leave 15%
of the work groups out of this special offer. Nor, can we agree
to assist Verizon in its attempt to eliminate such a large number of
employees while the Company continues to contract work that can be
done by its membership.
Over the past month CWA and IBEW met several times with
Verizon to discuss what appears to the Unions as a “headcount
reduction scheme”. In fact, confirming the Unions’ suspicion,
Verizon’s spokesperson told the Unions “even if we brought all
contracted work back in house, we still need to cut 12,000 employees”.
CWA and IBEW met with Verizon with the hopes of finding a
way to accomplish three things:
1.
Reduce the amount of outside contracting by bringing
that work back to the core employees, and thereby reducing the
surplus,
2.
Finding a way to safeguard the jobs of those hired after
8/3/03, and
3.
Offering all employees the best opportunity to leave the
payroll with an expectation of financial security.
It was the Unions that proposed raising or eliminating
the 30-year cap on calculating the
ISP payments (Verizon’s
final proposal raised the cap to 40 years) and providing the
additional bonus ($40,000) to all employees accepting the
ISP, not just those hired
before August 2003 as Verizon’s original proposal called for.
At the final meeting between the Unions and Verizon,
the Company representatives sat there empty handed and empty headed
when it came to addressing alternative ways to reduce their (real or
inflated) surplus. When the Unions raised concerns about
the potential for increased contracting with a reduced employee base,
they were met with silence. When the Unions raised concerns
about increased customer complaints over long intervals for service
repairs and installation, we were met with silence. When the
Union raised concerns about offering
a “one-time” enhanced voluntary leave package to only 85% of the
unionized work groups, they were met with silence.
Verizon claims that its $23 billion investment in FiOS
was to “lay the foundation for future success and employment.”
How does eliminating 12,000 jobs translate into future employment?
It is this and similar confusing statements that have left the Unions
wondering what is truly going on here. CWA and IBEW entered
these discussions in earnest; trying to find a way to relieve a
declared surplus. The Unions’ proposals were intended to provide
financial incentives to employees who wished to leave the payroll,
especially more senior employees. This, we believed, would help
secure employment opportunities for less senior employees. The
Unions also proposed ways to insure future job security by eliminating
dependence on contract labor. Verizon was not interested in any
work returning to core employees.
The whole-sale elimination of 12,000 jobs, as proposed
by Verizon, appears to leave one key element in a prosperous company
out of the equation - the customer. Only by increasing the
number of satisfied customers will our jobs truly remain secure today
and in the future.
CWA remains open to improvements in the
ISP and Pension Plan.
But, Verizon must demonstrate its intention to secure future
employment for its employees and not just make empty statements about
it.
DON'T BE
FOOLED BY VERIZON-- RESPONSE TO VERIZON 'S REPORT
The following email was received from District 2 Vice President ,
Ron Collins, in response to what the company put out today:
I understand Verizon sent out an e-mail
outlining specifics of the negotiations. There was a unified
decision to do a joint release from the Unions.
We all agreed, we should not negotiate in the public. It was also a
unified decision of CWA Districts 1, 2, 13, IBEW New England & IBEW
NJ to reject this offer. This offer was not in the interest of the
Union members. We also agreed that we would not negotiate in the
public, obliviously Verizon violated that agreement.
As a follow up to the Unions position from the Wednesday evening
conference call, I stated, " Verizon attempted to throw a lot of
money at the Unions in an effort to destroy our bargaining unit". To
re-state the Unions position, "we are not in the business of
negotiating away our jobs". We must do everything to maintain our
power in negotiations with Verizon. The more members we lose, the
weaker we become in negotiations for both active members and
retirees. I understand that some members may want to leave and would
like additional money. Verizon offered the following: additional
$40,000 to the voluntary termination bonus for all employees, change
the 30 year cap under EISP to 40 year cap, remove penalties if you
had at least 25 years of service and were at least 50 years old,
provide the October pension increase now versus in October.
DON'T BE FOOLED BY VERIZON - Verizon is not willing to do anything
about the huge number of contractors,they
refused to address contractors, they refused to address job security
for the post 2003 members, they refused to give any laid off member
access to jobs at Verizon subsidiaries, they refused to discuss an
early retirement incentive, they refused to treat any EISP as a
layoff. The Unions offered several options in an effort to help
reduce the 12,000 member surplus - all were REJECTED by Verizon.
Moreover, Verizon stated: "It doesn't matter what we do - it will
not change our surplus number of 12,000.
There was no spirit of negotiations on Verizon's part. Their only
goal is to de-unionize at Verizon, if there is no union at Verizon,
we can't negotiate for active members or retired members. Please
stay focused on the big picture - don't be fooled by Verizon. We are
at war with this company and we will do what ever is necessary to
stop this corporation from destroying us and our families.
I hope everyone has a Happy Easter.
Solidarity Forever,
Ron Collins
CWA District 2
PROXY
COLLECTIONS
Verizon Shareholder
Statements have begun hitting mailboxes and we are collecting proxy
votes from our members and retirees who hold Verizon stock.If you haven't already done so you should receive your
statement and proxy ballot in the next few days.Please fill out the recommendations listed below and date and
sign your ballot and return it to your Steward or get it to
the Local Office no later than Tuesday, April 27, 2010.With Verizon threatening a "surplus" and laying off workers,
it's more important than ever we let the shareholders of this
Company know they are on a path that leads to ruin.
Don’t put this off.As
soon as you receive your proxy fill it out and take it to your
Steward or get it to the Local Office the next day.
These are the two
recommendations regarding the proxy vote:
Section A - Item #3 - Advisory vote related to
Executive Compensation - We should vote AGAINST
Section B - Item # 6- Performance Stock Unit
Performance Thresholds - we should vote FOR
