The 3rd Annual Chuck Austin Memorial Golf Tournament will be held at Fenner Hill Golf club on October 15, 2015 at 9:00am, $125 per golfer (includes dinner) or $30 dinner only. Please call 401-539-0645 if interested in attending.
CLICK THE ABOVE LINK TO DOWNLOAD APPLICATION
Enclosed is the information for the 2015 Scholarship:
NOTICE
September 24, 2015
Local 2323, I.B.E.W. Telephone Division in Rhode Island is pleased to announce the
annual renewal for 2015 of its scholarship in the amount of $1000.00 per year for the sons and
daughters of active dues paying members.
In order for you to understand the rules for eligibility and selection of the scholarships
for 2015, the Executive Board of this Local has drawn up the following guidelines:
Eligibility
1. The applicant shall be the natural or legally adopted child up to the age of 25 of an
active dues paying member in good standing of Local 2323 for six months at the time of this
application or a retired dues paying member in good standing of Local 2323.
2. Graduate of any public, private or parochial high school or the equivalent who plan to
attend a school of higher education.
3. Acceptance at an accredited college or school of higher education.
4. Verification of union membership of Local 2323 of parent and address of employment,
if applicable.
5. The deadline will be date of the Executive Board meeting in October.
Committee Rules
1. The Scholarship Committee appointed by the President will be the Executive Board.
2. The winner will be selected at a union meeting in November.
3. There will be three names drawn.
(a) The first name drawn will be the winner of the 2015 IBEW Local 2323 Scholarship
(b) in the amount of $1000.00.
(b) The second name drawn will be the 1 st runner up. The third name drawn will be the
2nd runner up.
4. The scholarship will not be confined to academic programs, but will also be granted to
students planning post-graduate or vocational studies.
5. Should the winner of the scholarship transfer to another college or school of higher
education during the term of the scholarship, the Scholarship Committee must be notified and
may review whether the scholarship should continue.
6. The award will be paid to the parent of the $1000.00 scholarship recipient upon proof
of receipt or proof of payment to the institution of higher learning for that semester, not to
exceed $1000.00.
7. The scholarship for 2015 will be terminated when the recipient:
(a) has received a total of $1000.00 from the Scholarship fund;
(b) has completed the course of study for an undergraduate degree or post graduate degree:
(c) is expelled, suspended or withdraws from the selected college or school of high education.
8. It is expected that the scholarship program will continue indefinitely, however,
conditions may require changes or modifications. The right to modify or terminate the program,
in whole or in part is reserved by the committee. In the event of such changes, scholarships in
effect will be continued for their duration.
If you wish to make an application, fill out the application form and forward the same to
the Local’s Business Office by mail to Local 2323 Scholarship Fund, 22 Amflex Drive,
Cranston, RI 02901 or fax the application to 946-2327 where they will be reviewed.
Fraternally yours,
Dan Musard
President
IBEW Local 2323
Even Tom Brady needed union
By George H. Nee
Last Thursday, Tom Brady was able to lead the New England Patriots onto the field against the Pittsburgh Steelers because he is a member of a union: the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA). We are proud of the fact that Brady and the other 51 members of the New England Patriots Chapter are affiliated with the Rhode Island AFL-CIO.
Amid the pomp and circumstance of the Patriots raising their fourth Super Bowl banner over Gillette Stadium, one could be forgiven for thinking that this was football as usual in New England. However, the past several months have been Brady’s season of discontent, which mercifully came to an end when a federal judge in New York overturned NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell’s four-game “Deflategate” suspension. Thanks to the protections provided by the NFLPA contract, Brady took the field as the starting quarterback for the New England Patriots, just as he hasevery season since 2002.
Since Brady is a member of the NFLPA, he plays under the NFL and the union’s collectively bargained contract, which lays out work rules, pay and benefits, health and safety regulations and — most importantly for Patriots fans — disciplinary measures and due process.
There are many occupations where workers are represented by a union, and all are afforded rights that provide for good wages and benefits, safe working conditions, and a voice on the job. Many people regard construction workers, teachers and school support staff, state and municipal workers, truck and bus drivers, nurses and allied health care workers, and grocery store workers as traditional union members.
Today’s labor movement is much more diverse and varied than it once was. The union ranks include scientists, engineers, reporters, airline pilots, doctors and, yes, even professional athletes who are protected by a union, just as traditional union workers are.
Workers who are not covered by a union contract are considered to be “at-will” employees who can be disciplined or even fired at the whim of their boss with no recourse or due process. If the four-game suspension had been allowed to stand, Brady would have suffered a 25 percent pay cut, costing him millions of dollars in salary and performance bonuses.
Yes, Brady is a highly paid professional athlete, but his livelihood was still jeopardized because of an autocratic and vindictive boss. To put the suspension into perspective, imagine if an average Rhode Islander earning $48,838 were to be treated the same as Brady. He or she would be barred from going to work and providing for his or her family for 13 weeks, costing more than $12,000 in salary.
If you have a Roger Goodell in your workplace, you can stand up to him and do what Tom Brady and millions of other American workers have done and join a union. Having a union provides workers with a voice on the job, dignity on the job and respect on the job, as well as a path to the middle class.
As President Obama said at a Labor Day breakfast in Boston: “Even Brady’s happy he’s got a union. They had his back. You know if Brady needs a union, we definitely need unions.”
—George H. Nee is president of the Rhode Island AFL-CIO.
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady shouts on the sideline during last Thursday’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. AP PHOTO
As our fight for a fair contract reaches 2 months since expiration of our CBA we will be holding a rally @ 234 Washington Street Thursday Oct 1, 2015 at 530pm. We will be joined by fellow Rhode Island Labor leaders to show solidarity with us in our fight for a fair contract.
Regional Bargaining Report
August 26, 2015
CWA District 1/IBEW Local 2213 and IBEW New England Regional Committees spent Tuesday and Wednesday at the Rye Town Hilton in Westchester. On Tuesday, there were further off the record discussions on workplace flexibility.
This morning the Union Committee presented another comprehensive proposal to the Company. The proposal includes continued protection of our job security, pensions, contracting of work, quality and affordable health care and more.
There are no more meetings scheduled for this week and we are attempting to schedule additional bargaining sessions for next week.
This corporation has made $1 billion dollars a month for the last 18 months and has rewarded the CEO with a 16% raise. Meanwhile, at the bargaining table, they want to strip you, your family and our retirees of the wages and benefits you work hard for day in and day out. It’s time to say “enough is enough”!
In September, we will be resorting back to our normal schedule of Union meetings. Please make every effort to attend and bring a sister or brother with you.
Northern Unit – 1st Wed of the month at Asia Grille in Lincoln at 5:00p.m.
Southern Unit – 2nd Wed of the month at 300 Restaurant in S. Kingstown (next door to the Towerhill garage) at 5:30 p.m.
Metro Unit – 3rd Wed of the month at the Union Hall at 6:00 p.m.
Island Unit – 3rd Thurs of the month at Chelos in E. Prov at 5:00 p.m.
In Solidarity,
Steve Murphy
08/19/2015
We will be holding the August Summer meeting on Wed August 19th, 2015 in the Union office.
Morning Meeting with breakfast
8:30am
Evening Meeting
5:00pm Dinner
6:00pm Meeting
22 Amflex Drive
Cranston RI 02921
Regional Bargaining Report
CWA District 1/IBEW Local 2213 and IBEW New England Regional Committees spent Tuesday and Wednesday at the Rye Town Hilton in Westchester.
However, no formal bargaining took place with Verizon. Several hours of off-the-record conversations were conducted. The talks have ended for this week and the bargaining teams are returning to their locals. Further bargaining dates are being scheduled for next week.
While the tone of the conversations was somewhat better than talks prior to expiration, the company HAS NOT GOTTEN OFF A SINGLE ONE OF ITS CONCESSIONARY DEMANDS. Among those demands are:
• Elimination of Job Security
• Thousands of dollars in increased health care costs to actives and retirees
• Forcing you to choose between a Defined Benefit pension that will be frozen at 30 years, or an enhanced 401(k) plan
• Elimination of Accident Disability
• Elimination of the Family Care Leave
• Elimination COLA
• Increased Contracting
• And more…
Now is the time to intensify our Mobilization efforts. This is the time to follow all the directions you receive from your local unions. We will continue to pressure this company until a fair contract is won but we need your help.
We know that working without a contract is challenging and that sacrifices have to be made. But at this time your Bargaining Team believes that we are pursuing the most effective available strategy. Keep up the good work and be sure to do nothing but a quality job.
The next scheduled meeting of the Local will take place on Wednesday, August 19th at the Union office located at 22 Amflex Dr in Cranston. There will be a morning meeting at 9:00 a.m. with breakfast being served at 8:30 and an evening meeting at 6:00 with a cook out starting at 5:30 p.m. Please make every effort to attend and hear the facts about bargaining and our mobilization activities.
Please continue to work, think and act like a Union member.
In Solidarity,
Steve Murphy
We are NOT on strike. All members are expected to report to work on time bau.
We are working under the old contract minus arbitration rights. A strike or Lock out can come at any time we need members ready and mobilized.
A membership meeting is being held Aug 2, 2015 at 6:00pm. We need every member to attend to hear the facts on the next phase in our fight for a fair contract.
Sisters and Brothers,
Over the last three years, our Local has taken the necessary steps to be able to stand toe to toe with Verizon at this very moment. To highlight a few, Our Solidarity Committee has put together more events which have been well attended (our Christmas party had over 300 people in attendance), we have made the necessary decisions financially, and our membership’s response to our mobilization plan has been the best in the history of the Local.
It is imperative to understand that when we perform our mobilization tactics, it is not only to show the company that we stand together united, but it is also to let YOU know that you aren’t alone in this fight. Many of us overlook that simple fact because we get caught up in the day-to-day stress and pressure to perform your job. Going out on strike is not something anyone wants to do, but Verizon has no social conscience or moral obligation to its workers, their families, or the middle class of this country. Therefore, there are times when the line has to be drawn in the sand. WE, as union members, have to fight to keep our standard of living at its current level the way members in the past have done for us. If we don’t do it, who will?
It is no secret that all of our contractual benefits have been fought for, and there is no reason that we should be ashamed that we demand to be treated fairly from the employer that gets rich from our labor. Sadly, Corporate America has no limit as to how far they are willing to go for their greed. What sort of working conditions will our children work in, what sort of wages will they make, and how would they provide for their family if this erosion of the middle class continues? It is our moral obligation as union members–and as a member of a dying breed in the middle class–to say enough is enough. We have demonstrated at the rallies in New York last week and in Boston last night that we are ready and willing to take that stand.
As we come closer to the expiration of our collective bargaining agreement, I’m sure the stress, anxiety, and rumors are running rampant. Over the last month, we have done the best we can to communicate what has been happening at the bargaining table in an attempt to help put those things to rest. Many of us have a fear of the unknown and unfortunately the bargaining process plays into that fear. I want to assure you that regardless of what happens on August 1st at midnight we will get through it together! We always have in the past and this will be no different. So in closing I ask that you remember that this fight is not only for you, but for your sisters and brothers next to you and for the working middle class of this country, because WE set the standard!
In solidarity,
Steve Murphy
Regional Bargaining Report
CWA District 1, IBEW Local 2213 and IBEW New England Regional Bargaining Committees resumed negotiations with Verizon today at the Rye Town Hilton in Rye, NY.
This afternoon, the Union team presented a package proposal to management which made substantial movement on several issues. Now the ball is in the company’s court. The clock is ticking it’s time for the Company to get serious and agree to our demands. It’s not like they can’t afford a fair contract their sale of the Wireline properties in California, Texas and Florida netted them $10.5 billion in income. They should use that money to expand FiOS in the Northeast, upgrade the crumbling network where they are not building FiOS, and reward their employees with a fair contract.
Yesterday, we told the company that our members’ interest in jobs and job security is directly linked to the public interest because maintaining the legacy network, and building and installing FiOS, is what our members do and what the public needs. That’s why the Mayors of Syracuse and Kingston, backed up by four other letters of support from elected leaders, came to the table with us yesterday to argue for FiOS builds in their communities.
Not to mention that Governor Cuomo has created a $500 million New York Broadband Program that is available to subsidize Verizon’s buildout of high-speed internet in underserved communities. That money would provide a 50% subsidy to the cost of building out FiOS.
Verizon’s executive vice president and chief administrative officer, Marc Reed, suggests in his recent emails to employees that he is concerned for you and your family. But if he really cared about you and your family, why is he proposing to gut the contract that provides for you and your family? Why is the company unwilling to build-out FiOS and properly maintain the copper network to protect jobs as well as ensure good service for customers?
In solidarity,
Steve Murphy
