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August 21, 2009
Volume 09 NO 35
UNITED PLANNING ORGANIZATION
"Wage Increase"
 Effective
with the pay period ending July 25, 2009 and reflected in the July
31, 2009 pay check, members funded by CSBG and the Indirect Cost
pool received a 5 percent cost-of-living allowance pay increase.
The following formula was used to calculate the COLA for Fiscal
Year 2009:
- The base period will be fiscal year 2009 (10-1-08 thru
9-30-09)
- All CSBG and Indirect Cost Pool employees that have been with
UPO in FY09 are eligible to receive COLA
- COLA will be awarded retroactive to October 1, 2008 or to the
employee’s hire date if it was after October 1, 2008
- The maximum COLA to be awarded is 5%
- Employees that allocated to CSBG for less than 100% will
receive a rate adjustment and a retroactive amount equal to their
CSBG percentage allocation
VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS
"Article 35 Clarification"
In response to questions regarding termination allowance for
members involved in the recently declared surplus who decline the
EISP offer as well as the lateral move to a job over 35 miles
farther than their current commute, Article 35, Section 7(b) of our
general agreement species that in such a case, the employee will be
paid as a termination allowance the ISP benefits identified in
Article 36(a), Sections 2 through 4.
The Union has challenged the company on this issue and argued the
ISP offer should be the EISP at a minimum and should include the
Voluntary Termination Bonus as well. However, we have been advised
that our case would not be a strong one to claim the language
intends to capture the EISP, let alone the VTB.
In addition to the reference to the specific language in Article
36(a), we would not be successful ignoring the surface appeal of the
"Enhanced ISP and VTB" as they are clearly meant to incent people to
volunteer to leave the payroll, and not wait to be terminated.
"Executive Level Grievance"
On Thursday, August 19, 2009, the Union filed an executive level
grievance on behalf of all CWA District 2 members, related to
Verizon’s July 24th offer of EISP benefits in the
Mid-Atlantic Region.
CWA is grieving the surplus declaration of these offers and the
announcement to make force adjustments by applying the force
adjustment provisions under Article 35 of the General Agreement. The
Union is also grieving Verizon’s unnecessary reduction of force
while continuing the use of contractors to perform the work of CWA
members in titles and locations covered by the EISP offers.
Verizon’s declaration of "surplus" in CWA’s view is caused in
part by the use of contractors performing bargaining unit work. The
continued use of contractors is a violation of the spirit and intent
of Article 39 and all other applicable articles related to
contracting initiatives.
CWA seeks Verizon’s immediate compliance with the terms and
conditions of the General Agreement and an immediate cease and
desist order regarding the forced transfer, layoff or part timing of
any employee within the jurisdiction of CWA District 2.
COMCAST
"Arbitration Scheduled"
An arbitration hearing date of December 1, 2009 has been set
regarding the dispute initiated by Local 2336 on behalf of all of
our members at Comcast. The concern is that non-bargaining unit
employees are performing bargaining unit work.
MAKE THE CALL!
 The
battle for health care reform in America is upon us! Swarms of
lobbyists from the Chamber of Commerce, insurance and drug companies
and other special interests are trying to block pro-worker reform.
If we are going to secure quality, affordable health care for
all, we must participate in this major mobilization by following
these steps:
Dial 1-888-580-0792
At the prompt, speak slowly and spell out your name and
your union local number. Press the # (pound) sign when finished.
At the next prompt, tell the system your five digit zip code
so it can look up the correct U.S. Representative.
Then press number 1 – for your U.S. Representative.
ASK FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF H.R. 3200 WITHOUT ANY CHANGES!
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