The CWA Executive Board, in accordance with the CWA Constitution, Article VIII, Sections 1 and 3, has advised Local 2336 that the 71^st Annual Convention will be held at the Washington Hilton, Washington, D.C. beginning at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, June 22, 2009.-

This year we will hold a combined Convention/Legislative-Political Conference in Washington, D.C., on the dates of June 22-25, 2009- . 

The Internal Revenue Service has released new withholding tables that will result in more take-home pay this spring for millions of American workers. The new tables incorporate the new Making Work Pay credit, one of the key tax provisions included in the recently enacted American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. -

No action is required for eligible employees to receive the Making Work Pay credit who will see lower federal withholding on all payroll payments issued after March 20, 2009.

The credit is phased out for a married couple filing a joint return who’s modified adjusted gross income (AGI) is between $150,000 and $190,000 and other taxpayers whose modified AGI is between $75,000 and $95,000. Therefore, employees whose income falls into these categories will see no change in their current federal withholding.-

CWA District 2 has agreed to a loan of 100 technicians from other Verizon areas to work in Stephenson and Childs organizations for up to one year. The loaned technicians will perform FIOS work only in Montgomery County MD, Northern VA, Norfolk and Richmond. This is a remedy for the Company’s immediate problem with extended clocks for date dues of FIOS orders.-

In exchange for our agreement on the loans, Verizon will withdraw the current Article 35 in Virginia and further will not process any Article 35 announcements in MJ’s organization for the duration of this agreement. This protection covers anyone who works under M. J. Johnston and provides job security for all members with the NCS after 8-03-03.-

In an attempt to care for concerns we know arise out of loans coming into an area, the Union addressed issues of overtime, FIOS training, and Saturday assignments.

Either party may cancel the agreement with 30 days notice. At that time the company can and more than likely will re-issue the Article 35 in Virginia.-

As part of our Speed Matters program, CWA has formed a partnership with the Alliance for Digital Equality. ADE is an Atlanta-based organization led by dynamic civil rights leader Julius Hollis. ADE has strong connections with members of Congress, including Majority Whip James Clybourn, and politicians and community leaders in many cities.-

Our partnership with ADE brings an urban dimension to our Speed Matters program. ADE's program consists of organizing Digital Empowerment Councils in select cities. The ADE Empowerment Councils include prominent individuals from the community who come together for 4 monthly meetings to develop an agenda to bring digital equality to low-income and minority populations in their cities.-

ADE has already formed councils in Houston, Detroit, Miami, Charleston SC, Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, and is in the process of developing councils in Washington DC, Baltimore, and Richmond.-