On Thursday, October 8, 2009, elements of CWA Local 2336’s Steward Army including Vice President Claudia Cole and Secretary/Treasurer Brenda Savoy joined with teachers, parents, students and many other community and labor activists to demonstrate a solid wall of opposition to DC Mayor Fenty’s and School Chancellor Michelle Rhee’s mass firings of nearly 400 school employees.

"We need our teachers and we want them back—not last week or yesterday, but right now," was the message that was sent out loud and clear from one of the largest local labor rallies in recent memory.

AFL-CIO President Rich Trumka pledged support saying, "The American labor movement is with you here today, for as long as it takes and whatever it takes." Also in attendance was D.C. Council Chair Vincent Gray, one of a contingent of council members including Harry Thomas, Phil Mendelson, Yvette Alexander and Marion Barry—some of whom reiterated a pledge to hold hearings soon on the firings.

Verizon laid off about 200 technicians in Massachusetts and Rhode Island last week as a part of an effort to cut its workforce by 8,000 workers nationwide. However, preparations by officials of the union that represents those employees have already initiated a plan to challenge the layoffs, citing Verizon to be in violation of their general agreement.

"Regional Safety Flash"

On October 12, 2009, a Verizon technician was working aloft in an aerial lift, when his vehicle was struck by a public vehicle. Due to the fact that he was wearing all required PPE, he remained in the bucket and was not injured.

As a reminder, the following is a list of potential hazards associated with working

aloft in an aerial basket:

• Faulty equipment.
• Falling from the bucket.
• Contact with electrical power.
• Exposure to traffic.
• Unintentional movement of the vehicle.

To reduce the risk of injury while using aerial lift vehicles, workers must observe all instructions on using the tool and wear proper personal protective equipment.

CWA members at AT&T Legacy locations nationwide ratified a new three year agreement by a strong two-to-one margin. The agreement covers about 7,000 CWA-represented workers.

"This contract achieves our members' key goal of improving employment security and safeguarding jobs. It maintains workers' standard of living and quality health care. In these extremely difficult economic times, these are tremendous achievements," said CWA Communications and Technologies Vice President Ralph Maly.

The settlement sets a "watermark" for job retention and provides new layoff protections for workers. It increases pay by about 9 percent over the contract term, including cost of living adjustments, and provides pension band increases of 2 percent in each year of the agreement. 

The health care plan provides for fully funded preventive care and new company-funded health reimbursement accounts that can be used toward any eligible health care expense; both serve to offset some cost changes in the plan, along with wage increases and other improvements.