Business Manager Reports

Business Managers Report September 2010

S.Murphy — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 09:06:26 -0400

Business Managers Report September 2010

Business Managers Report August 2010

S.Murphy — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 12:27:39 -0400

BUSINESS MANAGER’S REPORT - AUGUST 2010

June

S.Murphy — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 08:27:27 -0400

Business Managers Report June 2010

April 2010

Craig Duffy — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 12:46:38 -0400

Earlier this year Verizon announced to Wall Street the corporation’s intention to eliminate over 12,000 jobs nationwide. The Union and our members found out through the newspaper. In March Verizon emailed the Union a list of surplus employees and locations in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New York totaling 6,000 jobs. An additional 6000 jobs are targeted for reduction elsewhere. Several meetings were held with the respective unions where Verizon issued a series of ultimatums. Verizon offered to increase incentives for employees to voluntarily leave the business if the Union agreed not to challenge Verizon when the Company proceeded to layoff massive numbers of IBEW and CWA members throughout the country. In addition, Verizon stated that they intended to continue to use contractors and to increase the contracted workforce in the states in which they do business. This was not bargaining or negotiating with the Unions. The company was not interested in anything that would protect our member’s jobs. What has transpired since Verizon’s announcement of 12,000 job cuts to Wall Street is an attempt to decimate our membership and eliminate not only the two unions – the IBEW and CWA – but to ravage and eliminate good paying jobs forever. Don’t be sucked in by these evil corporate monsters that run Verizon. They are carrying out a systematic plan to forever eliminate union jobs throughout the United States. The evidence is in full display. Our brothers and sisters in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont sold off by Verizon like indentured servants. The same is happening in 14 other states with the impending sale to Frontier. In 2011 we will enter into bargaining with Verizon from Massachusetts to Virginia. In Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New York we have bargained-for job security for all members hired on or before August 3,2003. In MA, RI, and NY we have fully paid health care for all active and retired members. Verizon management has already gone on record as stating that they will not agree to a new contract that includes either contractual right. Our contract protects most of our members through August 6, 2011. Start preparing now for what appears is inevitable next year.

March 2010

Craig Duffy — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 10:49:39 -0500

The 1^st 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 24^th. 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

January 2010

Craig Duffy — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 11:21:14 -0500

The new year begins with Local 2323 scheduled to participate in a number of arbitration cases at the American Arbitration Association in Boston. In January this Local has three cases currently scheduled. That trend will continue through this year. The increase in the Local’s filing arbitration demands is a direct response to Verizon management not resolving grievances through the normal grievance procedure. Many members have expressed concern about the timeliness of our grievance procedure. This concern on behalf of Local 2323 members is well justified. The union is just as concerned with Verizon management’s lack of willingness to resolve grievances in a timely fashion in the interest of it’s employees. The Union believes Verizon is purposely slowing down the grievance procedure to force the Union into costly expenses related to arbitration and attorneys. The Union has bypassed steps in the grievance procedure based upon the Company’s lack of a timely response. Most of these grievances are awaiting a hearing at Step 3 of the grievance procedure. So it is incumbent for the Union to bring some of these grievances to a successful conclusion in arbitration and perhaps force the Company to get more serious and treat our member’s complaints in a more timely manner. The Union has met with representatives of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration over safety concerns we have with Verizon on behalf of our members. The Union has files an unfair labor practice charge against Verizon with the National Labor Relations Board over the failure of Verizon to respond to Union information requests. The Union is in the process of meeting with all departments in Verizon to discuss the Company’s business plans and their potential impact on our members in Rhode Island in 2010. There has been a surge in benefit issues that the Union has been attempting to resolve for impacted members and retirees. Thanks to the membership for all your help in the drive to help our laid-off members as well as the RI Community Food Bank. After 18 years, Marie Sweet has left the employment of Local 2323. We thank her for her service and wish her well in the future.

December

Craig Duffy — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 14:34:24 -0500

2009 is drawing to a close. If the Union could sum up one word to describe 2009, it would be frustrating.

Frustrating, because we see our members’ employer, Verizon, making illogical and bone headed decisions that are placing our members’ jobs at risk. Frustrating because, Verizon has demonstrated so much of a lack of common sense. It is all the more frustrating for the Union because we have been forced to seek legal relief to force the company to honor the contract. The year began with Verizon slashing their capital budget in Mass and RI. FIOS construction was curtailed in 2009. RI, due to the fact that commitments to the RI DPU, as well as, the Central Office build being in progress, continued work in Woonsocket and East Providence new franchise areas. 2010 looks even more dismal for Construction. FIOS build will be curtailed except where Verizon has an obligation to build out at least 20% per year in each franchise area. This is due to the RI regulation that 100% of a service area must be built out within 5 years of the initial build. What does this mean for Construction techs next year if there is no work in Construction? The Union has not been apprized by the Company. We do know that in 2009, Verizon moved CXM in Tower Hill over to I&M and similar occurrences have happened in Massachusetts. Hundreds of grievances have been filed by the local to protect member’s contractual rights in 2009. Many of these have been heard with various degrees of success. Verizon’s philosophy seems to be to try to tie the Union up in the grievance and arbitration procedure and not to resolve issues amicably. Local 2323 has seen a tremendous surge in members being suspended and terminated. Verizon is being zero tolerant of any infractions. For the first quarter of 2010, Local 2323 has at least two terminations of members per month scheduled for arbitration. We have additional termination cases scheduled. The Union has been asked what members can do to reverse this trend? Two things, Work Safe and Work Smart. In 2009, the local had its first layoff in 7 years with 61 members losing their jobs in October. Every quarter, Verizon declared a surplus with another one this quarter of 2009 for Central Office Technicians. These surpluses will continue into 2010. Verizon may be curtailing all FIOS expansion until they receive a ruling in their proposed sale of 14 states to Frontier Communications. Hearings on the sale are expected to be performed in the first quarter of 2010 and the majority of states seem to have no problem with the sale. West Virginia appears to be the state with the most opposition to the sale. Both the IBEW and CWA are investing heavily in attempts to block Verizon in West Virginia. All it takes is one state to prevent the sale. The last sale by Verizon in the Northern states with Fairpoint did not go well. Fairpoint has declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and has placed demands on the Unions for $30million dollars in concessions. Is it Verizon’s strategy to eliminate their bad debt and bail out of the land line business? 2010 will let us know. Towards that possibility, I have begun to get more involved at the Division of RI Public Utilities testifying last month on rules relating to cable to providers in Rhode Island. In 2010, the Union will continue to step up our efforts at the commission as well as the General Assembly. All this, to gear up potential support if Verizon tries to sell off Rhode Island. The Annual Local 2323 Christmas Food Drive to benefit the RI Community Food Bank is now in effect. We do this every year. It demonstrates the good things Union members do. This food drive will be conducted by the Union only. Verizon will not participate this year. No company vehicles will be utilized and collections will be on our time. At the suggestion of the Local Union’s Executive Board, members will be asked to contribute to a collection being taken for laid off members.

November

Craig Duffy — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 10:51:55 -0500

November 2009

Open Enrollment for medical benefits is now in effect through December 1^st. This year there are many changes that require our members to be extremely vigilant. Verizon has discontinued many regional HMO’s such as United, and is offering a National HMO, the Anthem Exclusive Provider Option (EPO) with benefits similar to the regional HMOs and a National Provider network. Harvard Pilgrim who partners with United is frozen. HMO’s are not bargained with by the Union. The Union bargains the healthcare Network benefits offered by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Mass and the Preferred Provider Option, formally known as the MEP offered by Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield. HMO’s have been historically covered as an alternate choice for members to select if they did not want one of the Union bargained for plans. If you, the member enrolls in an HMO then you are subject, according to Verizon’s New England IBEW benefit plan, to the eligibility requirements of the HMO. The Union is confident that one of the plans offered will meet the needs of yourself and your family. Our advice always is to check with your provider for recommendations on the plan that is right for you. Union negotiated fully paid health benefits cost Verizon up to $18,000 a year for a family plan. Take advantage of these benefits and be a wise consumer. If you currently have a discontinued HMO and choose to do nothing, you will be defaulted by Verizon into the National HMO administered by Anthem. To add insult to injury, our laid off members with more than a year of service are entitled to medical benefits for 3 months after they are laid off. The company in error cancelled the health benefits for our laid off brothers and sisters. Our laid off members should be reinstated for benefits shortly and be reimbursed for any outstanding charges. To date, the members have been reinstated and have received their termination payments, as well. The Union continues to pursue grievances in regards to training, qualifications and overtime. The T-6 Council is challenging the company on the layoff stating, Verizon should have provided laid off members with mark out jobs. The second day of hearing at the American Arbitration Association on Contracting Out Pole Work will be held on November 30^th. The Union testified on behalf of our members working as Service Representatives at the Rhode Island Division of Public Utilities on Wednesday November 4^th. The Division is currently looking at eliminating the requirement to have a local business office in every franchise area. The Union intends to increase our presence and visibility at the Public Utilities Commission. The IBEW and CWA continue to fight the sale of Verizon property in fourteen States to Frontier Communications. Hearings are currently underway. All it will take is one state to vote no to block the sale. South Carolina, California and Nevada have already approved the sale. The Union is waging a fight in Washington State, Ohio and what may be viewed as the most likely to block the sale- West Virginia. Fairpoint Communications who purchased the states of Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont from Verizon in 2007 has filed for bankruptcy protection under Chapter 11. Fairpoint has approached the IBEW and CWA in the northern states and demanded over 30 million dollars of concessions from the Union bargained for contract. Benefits, wages and contractual pay increases, nothing is sacred. If no agreement on the concessions is reached the potential is for the Judge assigned to the bankruptcy case imposing his will on the membership in the northern states. Verizon has informed the Union of its intention to declare another surplus during the month of November and December. No SSTs, OPTs or employees in the Fiber Center will be declared surplus. Discipline for safety related matters has risen dramatically. Verizon is of the opinion that they must discipline our members more for them to be more observant of safety. Members should be aware and always work safe.

September 2009

Craig Duffy — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 09:06:20 -0400

SINCE VERIZON’S DECLARATION OF A SURPLUS ON JULY 24, 2009 OF OVER 8,000 EMPLOYEES NATIONWIDE, INCLUDING, 1,246 IN MASS AND RI, THE UNION AND COMPANY HAVE MET NUMEROUS TIMES. BASED UPON THE COMPANY’S STATED INTENTION TO LAYOFF EMPLOYEES HIRED AFTER AUGUST 3, 2003, THE FOCUS OF THE UNION’S EFFORTS HAVE BEEN TO CONVINCE VERIZON NOT TO TAKE THIS ACTION.
THE CONTRACTUAL LANGUAGE PREVALENT TO THE SURPLUS AND LAYOFF DECLARATION BY VERIZON IS CONTAINED IN ARTICLE G25 AND ARTICLE P19 OF OUR COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT WITH THE COMPANY.

AN ENHANCED INCOME PROTECTION OFFER PURSUANT TO OUR CONTRACT WAS MADE TO IMPACTED EMPLOYEES. A TOTAL OF 187 EMPLOYEES VOLUNTARILY ACCEPTED THE OFFER TO LEAVE, REDUCING THE SURPLUS NUMBER.

VERIZON HAS DECIDED TO END THE SURPLUS AND STOP THE PROCESS FOR MOST JOB TITLES SUCH AS ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT, CENTRAL OFFICE TECHNICIAN, FIBER NETWORK TECHNICIAN, FIBER CUSTOMER SUPPORT ANALYST AND EI TECHNICIAN.

FOR OUTSIDE PLANT TECHNICIANS, SEVERAL LOCALS HAD MORE VOLUNTEERS THAN DECLARED SURPLUS. ALL OPTS WHO WANTED TO LEAVE WERE ALLOWED TO DO SO AND A VOLUNTARY CANVASS OF OPTS AT REMAINING SURPLUS LOCATIONS INCLUDING RI WAS CONDUCTED TO BACKFILL THESE VACANCIES.
ONCE THAT IS COMPLETED THE OPT SURPLUS WILL END.

VERIZON REMAINS COMMITTED TO FOLLOW THROUGH TO THE FINAL STEPS THE DECLARED SURPLUS OF SSTS INCLUDING A REARRANGEMENT ASSOCIATED WITH A LAYOFF.

VERIZON DECLARED A TOTAL OF 567 SST SURPLUS IN MASS AND RI. A TOTAL OF 65 SSTS TOOK THE ENHANCED IPP LEAVING A TOTAL OF 500 REMAINING SURPLUS. 285 SSTS ARE SUBJECT TO LAYOFF BASED UPON THE FACT THAT THEY WERE HIRED AFTER AUGUST 3, 2003.

A SERIES OF EVENTS ACCORDING TO THE CONTRACT HAVE TAKEN PLACE IN AN EFFORT TO REDUCE THE SURPLUS OF SSTS. MOST RECENTLY A LOCAL AREA CANVASS WAS CONDUCTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH ARTICLE G25.02. 10 VACANCIES FOR SSTS IN RI AT 288 ALLENS AVE WERE IDENTIFIED.
THE NEXT STEP IN THE PROCESS WILL BE THE COMPANY CONDUCTING A FORCE REARRANGEMENT ASSOCIATED WITH A LAYOFF. VERIZON WILL IDENTIFY VACANCIES ASSOCIATED WITH SSTS SUBJECT TO LAYOFF.

THE COMPANY WILL PERFORM A VOLUNTARY CANVASS OF SSTS AT SURPLUS LOCATIONS FOR THE VACANCIES.

AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE PRECEDING STEP, THE COMPANY WILL IDENTIFY ALL SURPLUS SSTS AT SURPLUS LOCATIONS THAT WOULD BE REARRANGED.

SUCH IDENTIFIED SSTS MAY ASSERT SENIORITY RIGHTS BASED UPON NCSD TO DISPLACE SSTS AT NON SURPLUS LOCATIONS WITHIN THEIR UNION LOCAL OR SELECT ONE OF THE IDENTIFIED VACANCIES.
AS FOR THE 285 SSTS SUBJECT TO LAYOFF, THE UNION CONTINUES TO ADVOCATE TO MAKE JOBS AVAILABLE TO REDUCE THE NUMBER TO BE LAID OFF. NON SURPLUS EMPLOYEES WITH LESS THAN ONE YEAR SERVICE, OF WHICH THERE ARE 22, JOBS PERFORMED BY CONTRACTORS, CABLE MARK OUT, MICRO DUCT, AND JANITORIAL. OBVIOUSLY, WHATEVER JOBS ARE LEFT FROM IDENTIFIED VACANCIES.
THE UNION CONTINUES TO PUT WHATEVER ROADBLOCKS IN THE COMPANY’S WAY TO PREVENT A LAYOFF AND PROTECT OUR MEMBER’S JOBS.

VERIZON BENEFIT PLAN ADMINISTRATORS NOTIFIED BOTH IBEW AND CWA ON MONDAY AUGUST 24TH OF A MAJOR CHANGE IN HEALTH CARE BENEFITS. VERIZON HAS UNILATERALLY DECIDED TO ELIMINATE A SERIES OF HEALTH MAINTENANCE PLANS (HMO’S) FROM CONSIDERATION BY MEMBERS FOR BENEFIT CHOICES IN 2010.

AMONG THE PLANS SCHEDULED TO BE ELIMINATED, UNITED HEALTH CARE FOR MASS AND RI, HMO BLUE OF MASS, FALLON COMMUNITY HEALTH CARE OF MASS, TUFTS HEALTH CARE PLAN, ANTHEM BLUE CROSS, NEW JERSEY BLUE CROSS, AETNA AND CIGNA.

THIS IS A CHANGE THAT WAS NOT NEGOTIATED WITH THE UNION. THE UNION HAS REQUESTED IN WRITING TO THE COMPANY THAT WE BELIEVE THE CHANGE IS ILLEGAL, MORALLY WRONG AND HAVE DEMANDED A CEASE AND DESIST AND BARGAINING.

WHILE HMO’S ARE OFFERED AS A CHOICE HISTORICALLY TO OUR MEMBERS BY THE COMPANY, THE COMPANY HAS ALWAYS SOUGHT AGREEMENT FROM THE UNION PRIOR TO ANY PLAN BEING OFFERED OR REMOVED. THIS DECISION BY VERIZON HAS DEMONSTRATED ONCE AGAIN A COMPLETE DISREGARD FOR MEMBERS AND RETIREES.

THE FIRST DAY OF HEARINGS TOOK PLACE AT THE AMERICAN ARBITRATION ASSOCIATION ON AUGUST 20TH ON THE ARBITRATION FILED BY LOCAL 2323 AGAINST VERIZON FOR CONTRACTORS FOR NATIONAL GRID SETTING POLES IN PROVIDENCE. PROVIDENCE IS A SET AREA FOR LOCAL 2323 OUTSIDE PLANT TECHNICIANS.

THE UNION PRESENTED EVIDENCE CLEARLY DEMONSTRATING AND BEYOND A SHADOW OF DOUBT THAT THE POLES WERE SET BY CONTRACTORS WITH EYEWITNESS TESTIMONY, PICTURES AND EVIDENCE GAINED THROUGH THE GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE. THE UNION WENT SO FAR AS TO SUBPOENA VERIZON ENGINEERING MANAGER WHO STATED FOR THE RECORD THAT THE VERIZON SET AREA POLES WERE SET BY CONTRACTORS, ALTHOUGH DISAGREED ON THE DATE AND TIME THEY WERE SET.

FOR A NEW LOW, THE COMPANY IS CLAIMING THE INSANITY DEFENSE, SAYING THAT THEY HAD NO IDEA AND DID NOT WILLINGLY VIOLATE THE UNION’S MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT ON CONTRACT WORK.
THE UNION BELIEVES VERIZON IS LYING AND HAS SUBPOENAED NATIONAL GRID OFFICIALS TO OUR NEXT DAY OF HEARINGS ON OCTOBER 5TH.

LOCAL 2323 CONTINUE TO BE EMBROILED IN A LAWSUIT FILED BY VERIZON AGAINST THE UNION CLAIMING WE VIOLATED THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT BY DIRECTING THE WORK FORCE. AN OCTOBER DATE IN FEDERAL COURT IS SCHEDULED.

VERIZON IMPLEMENTED A BUSINESS ATTIRE CODE INFLICTED UPON THE MEMBERSHIP ABSENT AN AGREEMENT WITH EITHER CWA OR IBEW IN NEW YORK AND NEW ENGLAND. SOME UNIONS, INCLUDING IBEW IN NEW JERSEY HAVE AGREED TO THE DRESS CODE.

THE NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD HAS DETERMINED THE UNION’S CHARGE AGAINST THE COMPANY BASED UPON THE FACT THAT, IT IS THE POSITION OF THE NLRB THAT THE GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE AS OUTLINED IN OUR CONTRACT MUST BE FINALIZED PRIOR TO ANY ACTION BY THE NLRB
ON THURSDAY OCTOBER 1ST, THE IBEW T-6 COUNCIL ALONG WITH THE MASSACHUSETTS AFL-CIO IS SPONSORING A MARCH AND RALLY FOR JOBS AND TO STOP THE LAYOFFS.

June Report

Craig Duffy — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 13:28:36 -0400

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The results of Local 2323 elections tabulated on June 1^st will bring dramatic change to the elected officers of IBEW Local 2323. A new President Steve Murphy, Treasurer Theresa Cassidy, Recording Secretary Ellen DiLorenzo and newly elected Executive Board members Patrick Leary, Tom Plunkett, Ray Silvestri, Steve Arcello and Brien Brietzke will certainly bring a new direction to Local 2323.

The only returning officers re-elected based upon the results of the election are Bill McGowan Business Manager, Craig Duffy Vice President, Phyllis Moniz and Dave Noren Executive Board members.

The next three years will present many challenges to the members of Local 2323. First and foremost all of us in Local 2323 must stand united and vigilant to remain strong. Verizon’s

Recently announced sale of local land lines in fourteen states, jeopardizing the employment of thousands of IBEW members throughout the country, should make all of us starkly aware of the fact that Verizon could care less what happens to their employees.

In Rhode Island, we in Local 2323 must work together to ensure that Rhode Island is never sold by Verizon. The Union has and will meet with elected officials and regulators to protect our members from such a sale.

Our collective bargaining agreement will also expire during the next three years. We all must work together to demonstrate our solidarity to Verizon as we prepare to bargain a new contract. As Business Manager, I look forward to working with your newly elected officers and will look to them for leadership and the future direction of IBEW Local 2323