Every day, CWA Customer Service Professionals bring our communications skills, problem-solving abilities and dedication to the job. CWA will salute all of these professionals during Customer Service Week which will be observed October 1^st through the 5^th.

Service rendered by these CWA Professionals makes all the difference for our customers, and at the same time, vital to the bottom line of our employers.

CWA is holding off on an endorsement of a presidential candidate, for now, but has put in place an innovative on-line poll for the union’s 70,000 plus members and retirees to indicate the candidate they prefer.

"CWA’s goals in the political process are first, to maximize member involvement, second, to keep the focus of our members and the candidates on critical economic issues, and third, to make a difference that produces results for our members at the ballot box and in critical legislation," said CWA President Larry Cohen.

"We are convinced that over the next 18 months all members in every CWA industry will see the connection between their work life, their families and the electoral and legislative process more than ever. We will bring back bargaining rights in the United States, win the fight for real health care reform and create policies that support American jobs," he said.

At the 2007 convention, CWA delegates voted to expand the Executive Board to ensure that CWA leadership fully reflects the diversity, experiences and perspective of local union leaders and membership. The action was a key part of CWA’s Ready for the Future program, a union wide initiative built on strategic planning and strong grassroots activism.

The CWA Executive Board has appointed four members to the at-large diversity seats established by CWA Convention delegates this year. They are: Carolyn Wade—President of CWA Local 1040; Nestor Soto—President of CWA Local 33225; Claude Cummings—President of CWA Local 6222; and Madelyn Elder—President of CWA Local 7901.

These members were selected from nominations made by the Committee on Equity, the National Women’s Committee and the CWA Minority Caucus. They will serve until the 2008 CWA convention, when elections for the at-large seats will be held.

Arbitrator Patrick Hardin rendered a decision on a grievance filed by the Union contesting the Company’s adoption and implementation of the Performance Excellence Plan (PEP).

In denying the grievance, Arbitrator Hardin interpreted certain provisions contained in Article 41 not precluding the Company from adopting the PEP. The Arbitrator reasoned that Article 41 only precluded the Company from making changes to the express terms of the collective bargaining agreement during the duration of the contract.

Because the PEP was a policy that did not amend any provision contained in the collective bargaining agreement, the company was not prohibited from devising and implementing the PEP. Therefore, the Arbitrator ruled that the Company’s adoption of the PEP was a proper implementation of a work rule not covered by provisions contained in the collective bargaining agreement.

The Company and the Union has agreed to reinstate and apply the terms and conditions of the July 16, 1997, Memorandum of Understanding Concerning Working Retiree Trial signed by Tyler Williams and Pete Catucci with the following limiting addenda:

• The Company may hire working retiree CSTs to free up regular full time CSTs for DSL expansion work and a project for Spring Wi Max.
• The working retiree CSTs may be employed through the end of 2007. Once established, the union may not cancel its participation in this agreement.
• The working retiree CSTs will be assigned to replace regular full time CSTs from High-Cap crews who are accepted by the Company as volunteers for DSL expansion work and the Sprint Wi Max project.
• The working retiree CSTs will be assigned on a one for one basis to the reporting locations of whichever regular full time CST volunteers they’re assigned to replace.

The Union was notified back on April 13, 2007 of the Company’s intention to modify RAMP. The modifications of RAMP will be implemented during December of this year.

As the effective date to implement these RAMP modifications approaches, a communication will be distributed to employees that will explain and provide instruction.

After extensive review by Verizon and MetLife, it was discovered that several CWA represented employees were erroneously enrolled in the Verizon Long Term Care (LTC) program. When an employee called to inquire about the LTC plan or sign up for it, the reps mistakenly assumed that since the employee was eligible for Home & Auto insurance, they were automatically eligible for LTC.

MetLife has advised that LTC coverage for these affected participants will be cancelled and a letter of explanation with an enclosed refund for premiums paid will be mailed within the next week.

It has been confirmed by MetLife that none of these participants have collected benefits under the plan.

There will be an advanced steward training session held on Tuesday, October 16, 2007 at the Local office on 5321 1^st Place NE, Washington, D.C. The session will begin at 6 p.m. All stewards are requested to R.S.V.P. by Friday, October 12, 2007.

There will be a new steward training class conducted on Tuesday and Wednesday, October 23^rd and 24^th, 2007 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. held at the Local office on 5321 1^st Place NE, Washington, D.C. Any members interested in attending this class should notify the Local on 202 291-1500 no later than Friday, October 19, 2007.

Regular season tickets at the cost of $26.00 including tax are still available at the Local office.