"For Pete’s Sake"—That’s the slogan District 2 locals have adopted in organizing fundraising walks to help in the fight against ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s disease. The slogan refers to Pete Catucci, CWA vice president of District 2, who is himself fighting ALS and who gave an appeal on behalf of stem cell research at the CWA Convention.

Vice President Catucci will join walkers in Washington, D.C. on October 21, 2007. For more information regarding participation and donations, please contact the Local office on 202 291-1500.

October is Fire Prevention Month. This is the time set aside to bring fire prevention and awareness to the forefront. Across the country many organizations will be focusing on educating the public and reinforcing the importance of fire safety. The history of national fire prevention has its roots in the "Great Chicago Fire" which occurred on October 9, 1871.

The best way to stop a fire is to never let one start. Each year many lives are lost to fire. Often these losses could have been avoided had precaution been taken. Be sure to check your detectors at home—keep replacement batteries for any that are battery operated. A great deal of our time is spent in vehicles—both at work and at home. Be sure to check the fire extinguishers in your vehicles often to assure they are in proper working order.

Continue to encourage fire safety at home and in your work place. For additional resources on fire safety, visit the following links:

• http://www.pp.okstate.edu/ehs/links/fire/htm/
• http://hr.verizon.com/safety policies/fire safety.pdf
• http://www.befiresmart.com?src=&s=gglk=fire%20month%20prevention

CWA’s settlement last month with Verizon to train all Maryland technicians about electrical safety and health issues has been expanded to cover technicians throughout District 2. This means that union members in Virginia, West Virginia and Washington, DC will also receive the training, scheduled between now and February 1, 2008.

CWA pushed for the training as part of the settlement between Verizon and Maryland’s Occupational Safety and Health Division after the death of Local 2100 member Marvin Benson, who was electrocuted last October while working in an aerial bucket.

On Thursday, September 27, 2007 bargaining between PIW and CWA reconvened for its 6^th session.

• There was some movement on proposals involving wages.

• A counter proposal by PIW pertaining to the use of PRNs during periods of low census brought about open discussion by the committees.

• Some level of agreement was attained on issues pertaining to employee definition and contract language modification supporting those definitions.

• PIW and the Union continue to struggle for common ground on force and hour reduction during low census.

• Both committees will continue to work on a feasible solution that will minimize monetary impact to our members without function ability lost to the hospital.

We will continue to keep you informed as negotiations progress. Your support and patience during this round of negotiations is greatly appreciated.

Bargaining between CWA and the McLaughlin Company convened its first session on Monday, September 24, 2007 with the Union’s rejection of McLaughlin’s proposals to shift healthcare costs to the employee and eliminate paid vacations.

The Union proposed an alternative, possibly less costly, healthcare package for our members. However, the premium quotes will not be available for review until mid October.

We will continue to keep you informed as negotiations progress. Your support and patience during this round of negotiations is greatly appreciated.