Please see below –

https://anthem.allclearid.com/

HOW ANTHEM IS PROTECTING YOU

Anthem is truly sorry for any inconvenience caused by this incident and we are taking steps to help ensure your protection.

Starting on February 13, 2015, the team at AllClear ID is ready and standing by to assist you if you need identity repair assistance during the next 24 months. This service is automatically available to you with no enrollment required. If a problem arises, simply call 1-877-263-7995 and a dedicated investigator will do the work to recover financial losses, restore your credit, and make sure your identity is returned to its proper condition.

For additional protection, and at no cost, affected U.S. individuals may also enroll in the AllClear PRO service at any time during your coverage period. This service includes credit monitoring and an identity theft insurance policy. Please follow the enrollment instructions below.

You are eligible to receive these protection services if you are a current or former member (from 2004 on) of one of Anthem’s plans. For additional information regarding your protections, please visit: https://anthem.allclearid.com/faqs.

For additional details or questions regarding this incident, please visit:
http://www.anthemfacts.com

IMPORTANT UPDATE on Data Security Breach at Anthem

We are writing to provide a critical update on Anthem’s data breach. Again, Anthem is working around the clock to identify who is being affected and will be contacting them directly to offer identity protection and credit monitoring at no charge.

Anthem just notified us that there are related email scams being sent in connection with the breach. These scams, designed to capture personal information (known as “phishing”) are designed to appear as if they are from Anthem or Blue Cross and Blue Shield, and the emails include a “click here” link for credit monitoring. These emails are NOT from Anthem nor Blue Cross and Blue Shield.

We are trying every way possible to spread the word. Please be advised:
DO NOT click on any links in an email.
DO NOT reply to the email or reach out to the senders in any way.
DO NOT supply any information on the website that may open, if you have clicked on a link in an email.
DO NOT open any attachments that arrive with an email.
Anthem and Blue Cross and Blue Shield are NOT calling members regarding the cyber-attack and are not asking for credit card information or social security numbers over the phone.

These emails are from scam artists who are trying to trick consumers into sharing personal data. There is no indication that the scam email campaigns are being conducted by those that committed the cyber-attack, or that the information accessed in the attack is being used by the scammers.

Anthem will contact current and former members via mail delivered by the U.S. Postal Service about the cyber-attack with specific information on how to enroll in credit monitoring. Affected members will receive free credit monitoring and ID protection services.

In addition, Anthem has launched a national media campaign to alert people of this email phishing scam.

Verizon takes the privacy and security of employee of information seriously and remain committed to monitoring this situation. We will continue to update you with any important developments.

The Union has been notified by Verizon Management that ANTHEM healthcare has suffered a significant cyber security breach. Anthem is the plan administrator for a large portion of Verizon’s healthcare plans.

Initial reports indicate that 80 million customer and employee records have been compromised up to and including names, email addresses, birthdays, mailing addresses, medical card numbers and social security numbers.

Verizon is working closely with Anthem in an effort to safeguard its employees. Anthem will notify those affected by the breach directly and provide at no cost credit monitoring and identity theft protection.

Please check www.anthemfacts.com or call 877-263-7995 for any questions regarding this incident.

Most members of Congress today are millionaires. Their wealth has increased 28 percent since 2007, while that of the average American fell 43 percent.

So when President Barack Obama told members of Congress during his State of the Union address to try living on $15,000 a year if they think it’s so easy, the lack of response was telling.

The smackdown was an uncomfortable reminder of how far out of balance our economy is and how many of our elected officials are benefiting from a system rigged to favor only the wealthy and powerful. It’s no wonder most lawmakers sat stone-faced after the president’s remark, perhaps hoping Americans wouldn’t notice this economic anomaly.

But we have noticed and we’re outraged. We are tired of being told that if we just work harder, we can get ahead when we know that hard work has very little to do with achieving success in a system that is rigged. There’s no guarantee anymore that putting in more hours at work will result in a raise or a promotion. There’s no guarantee that getting a college degree will result in anything more than crushing student debt.

A recent Oxfam study found the world’s wealthiest 1 percent is on track to own more than the rest of the world combined. The report said the 80 richest people in the world have more combined wealth than the 3.5 billion people at the bottom. This staggering disparity, the authors note, hits working people twice as hard. We have to make do with a tiny slice of the pie and, as the rich accumulate more, the pie itself gets smaller.

It hasn’t always been this way. There was a time in our not-so-distant past when poor Americans could work their way into the middle class. There was a time when people in the middle class could afford to buy a home, send their kids to college and save for retirement. Today, middle-class families must make a choice — a home, college or retirement. They no longer can do all three.

This fast-disappearing upward mobility was made possible by the American labor movement, which helped workers gain a fair share of the nation’s prosperity through collective bargaining and political activism. Unions were and continue to be the only organizations willing to stand up and fight for working people and the middle class. And it is unions that can get us out of the mess we’re in now.

While extremists in Congress refuse to raise the minimum wage, it is unions at the bargaining table who are hammering out contracts that raise wages for working people. As corporate lobbyists seek to eliminate regulations that protect workers, it’s the shop steward who fights for a safer workplace. When anti-worker governors come up with another scheme to steal pensions, it is union members who go door to door to warn the public.

The benefits to workers who form a union are concrete and undeniable. Unionized workers earn on average $207 more per week than their nonunion counterparts, according to the latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and are more likely to have employer-sponsored health care and access to a guaranteed retirement plan.

At a time when so many Americans are feeling beat down by an economy rigged against them, the peace of mind that comes with a good union job is immeasurable. Unions provide better wages and benefits, job security, and a better standard of living.

Unions have the ability and the track record to rebuild the American middle class and help close the yawning divide between the rich and the rest of us.

Obama acknowledged as much in his State of the Union address, calling for new laws that make it easier for workers to join unions. No one should have to survive in our nation today earning only $15,000 a year.

The New York Times recently reported on a study that shows union workers are just plain happier, and no wonder. Not only do they earn more, but they’ve got a real voice at work. Unions are the agents of change that our nation so desperately needs.

Lee Saunders is president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. He wrote this for CQ-Roll Call.

The following opening is available under Article P13 of the IBEW Labor Agreement.
VZCareers Req #: 378370

TITLE:
BUILDING EQUIPMENT MECHANIC
# OF POSITIONS:
1
WAGE TABLE:
2
TOP PAY:
$1,589.00
LOCATION:
234 Washington Street, Providence RI
INITIAL TOUR:
7A – 4P (40 hours)

REQUIREMENTS:

• Candidate has to be BMQT qualified
• 2 Year Associates Degree from vocational/technical school
• Experience in ventilating, air conditioning, plumbing, electrical work and heating plant operations and maintenance
• Must have valid refrigeration license
• Must have oil burner’s license
• Must have EPA certification

Applications should be faxed to:
Labor Relations
125 High Street, Boston, MA
FAX: 617-737-0624

Applications should include the following:
Job Title
NCS
Work Location
Rating Date (if applicable)
List all relevant qualifications

Questions may be directed to:
Jeffrey Coaston cbr 617-696-4020

Human Resources Guideline

Weather – New England (Associates)

OBJECTIVE:

It is the expectation of Verizon to maintain essential services and operations during any severe weather or emergency condition while providing for the protection, safety and health of all employees and customers.

SCOPE:

These guidelines apply to all associates in the following states:

· Maine

· Massachusetts

· New Hampshire

· Rhode Island

GENERAL:

Because of the essential telecommunications services Verizon provides to the community at large, the Company is not at liberty to cease operations during severe weather and emergency conditions.

Service demands, weather, and transportation conditions may vary from location to location. The administration of this guideline should be appropriate to meet the situation in each location and should be uniform between locations and departments to the extent that the situation is similar.

If travel bans or curfews are imposed by federal, state or local authorities, Verizon leadership will contact civil authorities and will seek appropriate exemptions for essential employees to report to work and perform their jobs.

Authorization, Coordination and Notification:

In the event of inclement weather or other abnormal condition, the respective Area/Region Presidents and/or Business Unit Leader(s) will work through the appropriate Area Control Center (ACC) and the National Emergency Coordinating Center (NECC) to establish an incident management bridge. The ACC/NECC will engage the required Working and Planning Committee Members for the affected area. In consultation with regional Health, Safety, Environmental, HR Business Partners and Labor Relations, a decision will be made by the respective Area/Region Presidents and/or Business Unit Leader(s) on whether to release employees and/or trigger facility closure(s).

Once a declaration to release employees and/or close facilities is made, the ACC/NECC will work with Employee Communications to craft and distribute the appropriate messaging to the affected employees and their line management.

Any access issues due to restrictions implemented by government authorities (local, county, state or federal) should be addressed with the ACC/NECC and will be managed in accordance with their existing standard operating procedures.

Employee Responsibilities

An understanding should be developed with each employee, outlining his or her responsibility in an emergency.

Generally, each employee is responsible for the following:

· To report to his or her regular place of employment on time.

· If delayed, to call his or her manager or the coordinator for the work unit and advise of his or her progress or problems in reporting to work. This will enable the manager to plan and coordinate the force necessary to meet the service needs and to give advice to the individual. The supervisor may be able to offer assistance in transportation or suggest an alternative location where the employee can be of needed assistance.

Payment Criteria

Payment
Most employees recognize their personal responsibility and conscientiously respond to emergencies. For this reason, generally an employee will be paid if he/she meets one of the following criteria:

Employees who reach their regular work location:

· Employees who work some part of their normal assignment will be paid for the full assignment.

· Paid absence for part of a session will be considered as “Time Worked” for purpose of determining overtime payments.

Employees who do not reach their regular work location:

· When taken in accordance with a prearranged plan or upon the direction of his/her supervisor or coordinator, employees with necessary skills and experience who report to a different work location, where they can be of real assistance in an emergency.

· Employees who have medical conditions that may jeopardize their health or safety by attempting to travel during a severe storm. For example, an employee with a chronic serious health condition, or who is currently recuperating from recent surgery, illness, or accident.

· Employees who, despite making reasonable and conscientious efforts appropriate for the circumstances and being in communication with their supervisor, are unsuccessful in reaching their work location.

Non-Payment

Employees who do not report to work and fail to meet any of the above criteria should not be paid. This determination and recommendation should be made locally based on close, detailed knowledge of the individual, of his or her effort, and the prevailing conditions. Appropriate entries should then be made on the

Despite mother nature we will still be holding the party tonight as planned please make every effort to attend and please drive safe.

The Local will be hosting a Retirement Party in the Union Hall on Saturday January 24th, 2015 – 4:00pm for all our members who recently retired. All members are welcome to attend.

P13 Jobs for Local 2323

1. Safety Coach for SSTs
• Must canvass all I/M, CXM & Special Services SSTs
• Will have an interview with Pat Regan, Larry Savarese & Jim Fennel

2. Contract Work Inspector for Rhode Island North (CXM)
• Must canvass all SSTs and OPTs in Local 2323, including Special Services

3. Contract Work Inspector for Rhode Island South (CXM)
• Must canvass all SSTs and OPTs in Local 2323, including Special Services

4. Power Follow Through Inspector for McManus District
Southeast MA and RI
• Must canvass all I/M, CXM & Special Services SSTs in Locals 2322 & 2323

Local 2323 Promotion Jobs Available

JOBS:
Safety Coach
Available to SSTs only
I/M, CXM & Specials

Contract Work Inspector – North
Available to all SSTs & OPTs Will report to 21 Business Park Dr.,
(Including Special Services) Smithfield, RI*
Will cover Northern RI area

Contract Work Inspector – South
Available to all SSTs & OPTs Will report to 2979 Tower Hill Rd.,
(Including Special Services) South Kingstown, RI*
Will cover Southern RI area

PFTI for all Southeast & RI
Available to all SSTs (Including Special Services) Will report to 15 Currant St,
in Locals 2322 & 2323 Fall River, MA (Local 2322)

*May also report to 100 New Engand Way, Warwick, RI

Power Follow-through Inspector
This is a P13 Title. The Power-follow Through Inspector provides assistance on a daily basis to Outside Plant Team Leaders, Analyzers, Engineers, and other personnel as necessary for the resolution of power influence, electrical protection, electrolysis, and other transmission related service issues. The PFTI installs (or coordinates the installation of), inspects, and maintains power substation special circuit protection equipment as engineered by the Inductive Coordination and Electrical Protection Engineer. The PFTI is responsible to assist the ICEP in conduct claim case investigations for the corporation when requested. In addition, the PFTI is responsible for conducting surveys and inspections relating to the above activities, as well as assist evaluation of new test equipment.

Contract Work Inspector
This is an Article P13 Title. Please refer to IBEW – New England Contract, general section for additional information. The Contract Work Inspector ensures that all outside contractors complete their work in accordance with Company practices, standards, quality plans, contracts and agreements and that the interests of the Company are protected.