The 1st Quarter newsletter was mailed to all members. The Union will send out a newsletter every quarter going forward for the express purpose of providing relevant information to the membership. If any member has not received one I would ask that you call the Union office to update your address. Pursuant to our Collective Bargaining Agreement members will receive a CPS award in the amount of $770.00 shortly. Verizon and the Union have reached a settlement agreement on the federal lawsuit filed by Verizon against the Union for allegedly directing the workforce and breach of contract. The case was resolved with no further litigation necessary. The Business Manager of Local 2323 and the T-6 System Council have agreed not to direct the workforce for the life of the agreement. The Union has reached a settlement on one arbitration case. Several others remain pending at the American Arbitration Association in Boston. The Union has had legislation introduced at our request in the Rhode Island General Assembly. House bill H7360 was introduced by Representatives DeSimone, Caprio, Lally, Petrarca, and Slater. This bill would require all utility companies to complete transfer of wires, all repairs, and removal of existing poles within 3 months of the date of installation of a new pole. The owner of the poles must notify all other users of the starting date of the work. Any violations of the provisions of this section will be subject to a fine in the amount of $250.00 a day payable to the town or city in which the pole is located. With the assistance of state Senator John Tassoni a companion bill will be introduced in the state Senate. The Union has met with several key legislators in the House of Representatives with the assistance of Local 2323 President Steve Murphy. Obviously, Verizon does not want to perform the work in this state but they have an obligation to do so. The Union is already challenging the company in arbitration on pole work in Rhode Island. This legislation, if enacted, would mandate Verizon in Rhode Island to perform this work and both protect and save jobs for Local 2323 Outside Plant Technicians. The Union has requested that the state Department of Public Utilities investigate the number of double poles throughout the state and focus their attention on making sure Verizon complies with the maintenance of their outside plant in Rhode Island. All of this is part of a careful and deliberate strategy the the Union is employing under my direction in advance of Verizon attempting to sell off their landline assets and employees in Rhode Island. Brothers and sisters, do not kid yourselves – this company wants out of the business that generates your jobs. The Union’s strategy is all about focusing the P.U.C., legislators, and political leaders on quality of service issues critical to the general public. No one in this state is sympathetic to union member’s wages, benefits, pensions, or jobs. Private sector unions now represent less than 10 percent of the workforce. The public will have no sympathy for us in any potential sale. We must focus on service and force Verizon to comply with legislative mandates. This Union is not going to bitch and moan or complain about atrocious Verizon management. That is counterproductive and useless as well as beyond our control. The Union will intelligently and professionally fight this company’s systematic plans to divest itself of our members. Does everyone remember Fairpoint and Maine, Vermont, and New Hampshire? Frontier with Indiana, Illinois, West Virginia, the Carolinas,and Oregon, among others? This Union is fighting the sale now – before it’s declared – and we all have an uphill battle. Speaking of battles, Verizon emailed the Union and numerous other entities their latest in a long line of surplus declarations. This one is huge. 12,000 nationwide- 4000 in New York and another 2000 in New England. Virtually every title has been declared surplus. The company is not available to meet with the Union to discuss the surplus. The company will not provide the Union with information regarding the surplus. The company has provided the Union with no dates to officially declare the surplus. The company has stated that they will offer the contractually mandated EIPP offer and lay off employees hired after August3, 2003. What is Verizon’s intent in deliberately inflaming the workforce, creating fear, intimidation, and worry? Verizon has been unavailable to meet, cancelling a scheduled meeting with the Union on February 24th. They have not made any offers to the Union on increasing retirement incentives. It is no secret to the Union that the company has been intent on downsizing the workforce for some time. The Union has told the company that if they want members to voluntarily leave, make them a better offer- Two particular items have been discussed; elimination of the 30 year cap on the EIPP and the possibility of increasing the pension benefit by moving the pension band increase scheduled to go into effect in October 2010 to March 2010. The Union would love to see a 10&10, 8&8, 6&6, 4&4, or even a 2&2 – the company, however, has not proposed any of these. For the record, the proposed surplus total is 2055 in New England, with 198 in Rhode Island – a total of 853 SSTs with 93 in RI. This includes: 5 Woonsocket/Pascoag 17 Allens Ave (includes 5 Partner Solutions) 18 NE Way 10 Newport (includes 1 Partner Solutions) 2 Jefferson Blvd 8 Lincoln (includes 1 Partner Solutions) 14 Tower Hill 9 East Providence (includes 1 Coin) 10 Smithfield 201 OPT’s with 20 in RI- 89 EIT’s- 6 in RI- 5 New England Way 6 Washington St Providence 1 Newport 12 Smithfield 2 Tower Hill 380 COT’s -41 in RI 39 Providence (includes 35 MCO) 1 Cranston 1 Warwick 144 A.A.s - 6 in RI 6 FAs – 1 in RI (Pawtucket) 2 Pawtucket 26 TAs – 1 in RI (Providence) 2 Providence 1 Smithfield 1 Warwick
