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Final Bargaining Report – 2016

IBEW System Council T-6

2015-2016 Final Bargaining Report

May 30, 2016

After 48 Days on Strike 39, 000 Members of the IBEW and CWA have a Tentative Agreement.

The Members within the IBEW SCT-6 Council took to the streets in order to force Verizon to negotiate a fair contract. Without your efforts and sacrifice we would not have achieved our goal. Nearly 11 months of negotiations have concluded in securing good jobs, wages, and benefits until August 3, 2019.

We have emerged from an ideological war with a corporation that believed that this was their opportunity to break the Union. The exact opposite happened. The Membership who took part in the Strike of Verizon in 2016 did not waiver. When faced with no pay – we stood tall. When faced with the elimination of our medical coverage the company thought that would be a crushing blow; believing we’d fall apart. When that didn’t happen the Verizon brass realized that they had severely underestimated our Solidarity.

Strikes are not only for the immediate situation they are also to measure if those who currently do the work are employees first or if they are Union Members first. That question has been asked and answered.

This Membership has indeed earned the respect of the Labor movement. When times of difficulty arise it affords an opportunity for people to distinguish themselves. For character is not built. It is revealed. Only when placed in the midst of a dire situation will we discover what is within ourselves and each other. When we went on Strike April 13, 2016 there was a great amount of uncertainty as to how long the Strike would last. But what became apparent immediately, in a very public forum, was the fact that the Members of the IBEW and CWA were prepared. Prepared to fight for a fair contract. We stepped on the gas pedal from day one and never relented. Great, Great Job!!

Thank you to every Member on the picket lines. Thank you to every picket Captain for keeping your line strong. And thank you to every member of the IBEW Bargaining Committee.

Taking pride in the “I” or “Me” of things is sacrilege; being proud of the “us” and “we” of things is what gives commonality….And that Brothers and Sisters is what achieves Solidarity.

In Solidarity,

Myles J. Calvey Business Manager IBEW Local 2222 / SCT-6 Chairman
Rita Sweeney Business Manger Local 2313
Steve Soule Business Manager Local 2320
Craig Fields Business Manager Local 2321
Eric Hetrick Business Manager Local 2322
Steven Murphy Business Manager Local 2323
John Rowley Sr. Business Manager Local 2324
David Keating Business Manager Local 2325
Peter McGlaughlin Business Manager Local 2327

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Agreement reached in principle

News Release

U.S. Department of Labor | May 27, 2016
U.S. Labor Secretary Thomas Perez announces agreement in
principle on a new contract for Verizon workers
WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas Perez issued the following statement today regarding the ongoing labor dispute at Verizon:
“Today, I am pleased to announce that the parties have reached an agreement in principle on a four-year contract, resolving the open issues in the ongoing labor dispute between Verizon’s workers, unions, and management. The parties are now working to reduce the agreement to writing, after which the proposal will be submitted to CWA and IBEW union members for ratification.
Throughout the past 13 days of negotiations at the Department of Labor, I have observed firsthand the parties’ good faith commitment to narrowing differences and forging an agreement that helps workers and the company. The parties have a shared interest in the success of Verizon and its dedicated workforce. Indeed, these two interests are inextricably intertwined.
This tentative resolution is a testament to the power of collective bargaining. I commend the leadership of Verizon, CWA, and IBEW for their commitment to resolving these difficult issues in the spirit of constructive engagement.
I expect that workers will be back on the job next week.”

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Healthcare Deadlines

It is important for our members to know if you are interested in obtaining healthcare deadlines are looming for coverage. Please see deadlines below.

Massachusetts:
DEADLINE: May 23, 2016
Application and payment must be received by this date.
Health-connector coverage is effective June 1, 2016
MassHealth is retroactive coverage to May 1, 2016

Rhode Island:
All Rhode Island residents should apply immediately if you have not already @ www.healthsourceri.com or call 1-855-840-4774.
Coverage under both HealthSourceRI and Medicaid is retroactive to May 1, 2016

Also some members have reported in both states issues calculating your income with Rhode Island unemployment. They will include this in your income calculations, however the way in which it is being calculated is not entirely correct they are calculating your unemployment rate at $566 x 52 weeks.

Here is the correct way to calculate it:

$566 a week X 26 weeks = $14,716 then divided by 52 weeks = $283

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Unity Fund Donations

If interested in donating to striking Verizon workers the following funds have been established. Any donation is greatly appreciated.

IBEW New England Unity Fund

https://www.gofundme.com/unitynewengland

or checks to “Unity New England Fund”

Send to:
Unity New England Fund
c/o Local 2324
281 Cottage St
Springfield, MA

IBEW National Unity Fund

https://secure.ibew.org/unityfund/

Or Check VIA Mail
Send to:
IBEW Unity Fund
900 7th St.
Washington, DC 20001

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Rhode Island Presidential Primary

IBEW Local 2323 has endorsed Democratic Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders in tomorrow’s primary.

Sen. Sanders is one of the only candidates to stand with working people his entire political career. Recently in our fight against Verizon he has stood with us and walked our picket lines.

He has taken on Verizon’s insatiable greed and helped focus the media spot light on our fight for a fair contract.

Even yesterday he met privately with IBEW Local 2323’s leadership and members before his Rhode Island rally. He pledged his unwavering support in our fight.

Sen. Sanders also has shown that same commitment to our IBEW Brothers & Sisters at Fairpoint, during their brutal 4 month strike for a fair contract.

The IBEW Local 2323 PAC committee ask that when casting your vote tomorrow you consider voting for Sen. Bernie Sanders. He has shown he supports us in our time of need let us be a friend in return and support him tomorrow.

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Providence rally 4/22 at 5pm

IBEW Local 2323 will be holding a rally at the corner of Greene St and Washington St Friday April 22, 2016 at 5:00pm.

Every member is encouraged and expected to attend.

We need to send Verizon a Verizon loud and clear message that we demand a contract.

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Informational meeting for Unemployment

IBEW local 2323 will be holding an Informational meeting on Thursday 4/21 at 7:15pm.

Our attorney will be in attendance to cover our unemployment filing and answer questions. We encourage every member to attend.

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Picket Line DO’s & DONT’s

IBEW Local 2323
PICKET LINE DO’S AND DONT’S

DO
• Picket in an orderly fashion, in a safe area, with your fellow union members
• Park in a safe area near the picket line
• Follow the instructions of police and public safety personnel, including firefighters and
emergency personnel. Introduce yourself to the police officer on duty. You can ask police to
confirm CDL license for management or replacement drivers, or to control traffic.
• Wear safe, bright, weather-appropriate clothing and footwear, especially Union apparel.
• Ask customers to shop elsewhere; ask delivery drivers to not make deliveries. You can talk to
people when they arrive and, if they enter, when they leave. Don’t interfere with pharmacy-
only customers. Encourage replacement workers not to scab.
• Follow your assigned picket schedule.
• Ask your friends, family and other workers to join you on the picket line; make sure they see
these do’s and don’ts
• Anyone disrupting the picket line, or refusing to follow these rules, should be told to leave
• Making a record of any unusual incidents, of injuries, accidents or arrests, with the date,
time, place, description and people involved,
Call the Union office with any issues or questions.
Direct media questions to Steve Murphy.

DON’T
• Obviously, no violence or lawbreaking
• Don’t speak with company security or management about Union issues
• Don’t wear your picket sign away from the picket line
• Don’t engage hecklers or troublemakers. Ask police to get involved if you don’t feel safe
• Don’t use alcohol or drugs, or carry weapons, at or near the picket line.
• Don’t use profanity, threats or abusive language.
• Don’t block the sidewalk or street

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Strike Related Social Media Guidelines

IBEW STRIKE-RELATED GUIDELINES FOR FACEBOOK
AND OTHER SOCIAL NETWORK SITE POSTINGS

Many IBEW members will post pictures and text on Facebook, Twitter and other social networking sites about the Verizon/Verizon Wireless strike. Using these sites raises a number of legal issues, especially if the postings contain false/disparaging statements, discriminatory or threatening statements, or invade lawful privacy interests of others. Employers typically monitor these sites and, if statements disparage company services or products, contain threats, or are discriminatory/harassing, employees can be subject to disciplinary action. While you should make sure your security settings only allow access to individuals you have invited, you should still assume that Verizon and others will be able to obtain copies of whatever you post, as these sites are NOT private. To avoid legal or disciplinary problems, please observe the following:

1. You have a legal right to express your opinion about strike-breakers as long as you do so in a manner that is not intimidating or threatening. Do NOT list the names and addresses of people who are not supporting the strike. It is unlawful to harass or threaten or harass people because they do not support the Union’s cause. If you posted photos or statements that might be viewed as harassing, remove them immediately.

2. You have a legal right to support the Union and the strike, including the right to state opinions that are critical of the Company’s bargaining positions and treatment of employees, and to ask customers not to patronize the Company because of the issues involved in the strike. Do Not use social networking sites to make statements that Verizon’s services or products are not good or are defective in some way. If such statements have been posted, remove them immediately.

3. Do NOT make postings or add content to any social networking site that isn’t accurate and truthful.

4. Do NOT under any circumstances use social media sites to threaten, harass, use obscene language or offensive, harassing and/or discriminatory language towards Verizon, Verizon Wireless, or any persons associated in any capacity with the strike.

5. Do NOT post individual pictures of anyone on a social network site or make threatening statements personally attacking individuals who have allegedly crossed picket lines or otherwise failed to support the strike.

IBEW has an official Facebook page devoted to issues and facts concerning the strike
and has other social network and web sites that provide information about strike-related issues.

IBEW and its Districts do not review, approve or endorse content posted on other, non-official sites and is not responsible for the content on any non-IBEW official site.

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