"TIRELESS FIGHTER" PETE CATUCCI PASSES: Former CWA District 2 Vice-President, Pete Catucci, passed away last Thursday night. "All of us in District 2 know that Pete was an extraordinary person," said District 2 Vice President Ron Collins. "His commitment to the labor movement and to improving the lives of working women and men was unmatched.  Throughout his career, he fought tirelessly on behalf of our members.  We will benefit for a lifetime from the victories he achieved while Vice-President of CWA District 2."

Catucci was diagnosed with ALS two years ago, and turned his fighting spirit towards finding a cure for the disease. On March 9 Catucci - with his wife, Terry, and CWA President Larry Cohen - attended a ceremony at the White House where President Obama signed an Executive Order expanding stem cell research possibilities.

"Pete's work as a champion for this cause will help countless families in the years to come," added Collins. Catucci’s funeral was held at 11 a.m. on Monday, April 6^th at Cornerstone Church, 16010 Annapolis Road in Bowie, Maryland.

Condolences may be sent to: Terry Catucci 3562 Ashland Drive, Davidsonville, MD 21035.

CWA members covered by the AT&T Mobility "Orange" contract ratified a new four-year agreement. The contract broke new ground, especially in the areas of compensation for retail store workers and expanding career opportunity in customer service, two top priorities for Mobility members, said CWA Executive Vice President Annie Hill.

The proposed settlement provides for a compounded wage increase of 8.8 percent over the four-year contract term, along with a $500 bonus. More than 11,000 retail sales consultants now will earn a minimum monthly commission of $1,000 if targeted sales goals are met. In addition, some 500 consumer care workers will receive job upgrades and additional pay increases, as will 50-70 wireless technicians. Other important improvements addressed monitoring and quota relief.

Mobilization by Mobility workers throughout the Orange territory – Districts 1, 2, 4, 7, 9 and 13 – made a tremendous difference as did support from CWA Mobility members in the Southeast and Southwest covered by separate contracts and CWA members at the core AT&T Company.

CWA has just become aware of the new Attendance Policy. We recognize this policy as one unilaterally promulgated by the Company and not bargained with, or agreed to, by CWA. Please be advised that CWA reserves the right to challenge the application of this policy to employees through the contractual grievance and arbitration process.

The Employee Free Choice Act builds on the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and other civil rights pioneers and has the strongest possible support from those still fighting for justice today, national civil rights leaders said Thursday.

"The Employee Free Choice Act has been largely written about as a labor bill but those of us in the civil rights community know it is so much more -- workers' rights are civil rights and that the right to organize is a civil and human rights issue of the first magnitude," said Wade Henderson, president of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, which hosted a telephone news conference Thursday.

"He was fighting for working people and poor people when he was killed," said Benjamin Jealous, president of the NAACP. Today, he said, King's fight would be for Employee Free Choice. NAACP members across the country are weighing in with their representatives. We feel confident that as the full depth of support for the Employee Free Choice Act becomes known, we will see it passed.

"PSC Order #82584"

On April 6, 2009, the Public Service Commission of Maryland issued an order stating that the proposed settlement by Verizon does not serve the public interest and that the Commission could not find that the proposed settlement would ensure the quality, availability and reliability of telecommunications services throughout the State as required by statute.

Plan For the Furture. That’s Where you’ll spend all your tomorrows.