Back in 1997, Verizon began to assign its Corporate Mail Group employees additional duties. Initially, these clerks received extra money for performing these duties, but the money paid was cut off by the Company between 1998 and 2000.

The Union filed a grievance in December 2001, and in February 2006, the Arbitrator ruled that Verizon had violated Article 16B of the general agreement by failing to give notice to the Union of the new job classification and negotiate a new wage rate for these employees.

After failing to reach an agreement on the correct rate of pay, the dispute went to Arbitrator Paul Gerhart—a neutral third party. Arbitrator Gerhart ruled, in May 2007, that the employees were entitled to an increase in pay, and that the pay should be retroactive to December 2001 despite the fact the contract states that in no event shall the retroactive effect exceed 150 days.

Verizon appealed the decision by Arbitrator Gerhart based on the fact that he had disregarded the 150 day limitation. The District Court then vacated the arbitration decision, and accused Arbitrator Gerhart of applying his own brand of industrial justice.

CWA appealed the district court decision and retained Attorney Stephen Koslow to argue the case on behalf of the Union in front of the United States Court of Appeals.

The District Court order vacating an arbitration award that gave retroactive pay to the voice mail clerks, who were members of Local 2336, was reversed by the United States Court of Appeals. The Court of Appeals decision states that an arbitration award can only be vacated if it does not draw its essence from the terms of the collective bargaining agreement. The Court of Appeals opinion is that the arbitration award was based on the arbitrator interpretation of the contract (same as our interpretation) and was acting within the scope of his authority.

On Wednesday, July 15, 2009, the Union was notified by the Human Resources Director of the United Planning Organization of a reduction in force of bargained for employees in the Department of the Office of Aging. The effective off the payroll date for the impacted employees is September 30, 2009.

The Union will be meeting with UPO management to discuss possible placement for the impacted workers.

The Third Annual Labor Night at the Washington Nationals Park will be held on Friday, July 24, 2009 when our Nationals will host the San Diego Padres—game time 7:05 p.m.

All tickets are $10.00 per person with a portion of the ticket sales to benefit the Community Services Agency of the Metropolitan Washington Council.

Anyone interested in purchasing tickets to this event should contact the Local office on 202 291-1500 not later than Wednesday, July 22, 2009.

http://www.verizonfrontiersale.org/

Just as in 2008, when the company sold its Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont operations to the now-floundering FairPoint Communications, Verizon is again hoping to dump its rural networks and profit richly. Verizon is planning to sell its wireline and broadband assets in 14 states for $8.6 billion to Frontier Communications—and all without paying a dime in taxes for the sales.

There are significant questions concerning Frontier’s capacity successfully to operate and fund a new company that is three times its size, especially in West Virginia where new operating systems must be developed. Verizon has a bad track record with similar sales.

Additionally, the proposed sale may lock rural communities out from quality, high-speed broadband, as Frontier’s capacity for providing such services to its new customers is dubious at best. Since high speed broadband is increasingly becoming an economic necessity, communities who lack access will be left behind.

Click on to the above website and keep up with the facts of this matter, as we continue to fight the completion of this sale.