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Getting Ready for Battle with Qwest--The CWA Stewards Army Working off the clock is not a Union value, “Off the clock work” is illegal Thousands Kick Off Mobilization for '08 Verizon Talks |
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Getting Ready for Battle with Qwest The goal for each local is to have 10% of their membership taking active roles in addressing these very issues. Nowhere is that more important than here at Qwest. In less than one year the current Qwest contract will expire. The issues that we face on the National stage are the same issues that we will face across the bargaining table from Qwest next summer; namely, to have a stronger voice in the workplace, to stop the shifting of more health care costs to working families and to end the corporate takeover or workers’ pension plans. There should be no doubt in anybody’s mind that, over the next year, we will be in for the fight of our lives. With the number of retirees surpassing the number of occupational employees, and the skyrocketing cost of healthcare in this country, the major hurdle to any agreement next year is going to be healthcare benefits. CWA Local 7800 kicked off what will be a series of monthly mobilizations on Monday August 20, 2007. In addition to advising members that contract expiration was just a year away, we disseminated helpful information and ideas about how to be prepared should we need to go on strike. Over the next 12 months there will be a series of mobilizations focusing on different aspects of the bargaining process, including how the bargaining process works and the Letter of Agreement on Retiree Healthcare on page 154 of the current contract. I would advise all members to take a look at the letter and understand what it says and the impact that it will have on next year’s negotiations; it will be one of the major topics of discussion over the next several months. It will take an army to win this battle, and we need your help. In addition to being informed, we will need everyone to be involved, and that includes occupational employees and retirees. Although we do not bargain for retirees, we will need their help. Traditionally, any negative changes that are forced on current occupational employees are unilaterally imposed, by Qwest, on the already retired. Over the past several months, CWA Local 7800 has made great strides in recruiting active stewards, committee members and people willing to volunteer their time for community and political activities. We have not quite reached our goal yet, however, of attaining 10%. If you are willing to participate in any grassroots union activities that help us win our major strategic goals, including a fair contract with Qwest, please call the CWA Local 7800 office at (206) 441-7800 Ext. 104 or email malachys@cwa7800.org.
Working off the clock is not a Union value Have you ever wondered why the working class is getting poorer while productivity rates in the United States are skyrocketing? Simply put, American employers are paying less and less, while expecting more and more. One phenomenon that exacerbates this situation is that the average American worker has become more willing and likely to work for free. Yes, we still get a paycheck, however we are doing more and more work on non-paid time. At most companies, workloads have increased, and with the advent of GPS and performance measurements, the pressure of performance has been ratcheted up to an all time high. Being the highly motivated, committed and professional workers that we are, we all have a strong desire to do the best job that we can. In order to get the additional work done each day, many workers have been working off the clock, either coming in a little early, or working through their lunch and breaks. Needless to say, management is delighted when workers come in early and start their day prior to their scheduled start time, or don’t take their lunches and breaks, as this ensures that they can get all of the technicians out of the garage in 15 minutes, and all of their work orders completed each day, while constantly reducing the workforce. Constant downsizing and job insecurity go hand in hand. Those who are left feel compelled to work longer and harder in order to ensure that they do not lose their jobs. In today’s corporate climate, however, decisions are made based on dollars and cents, and not on whether you work hard each and every day. Employees who go above and beyond are just as likely to get laid off. Now, management will not come out and blatantly tell workers to work off the clock; however, every morning many managers do turn a blind eye to their employees performing work-related functions on non-paid time. In addition to turning a blind eye, they will harass and intimidate employees into feeling that they need to work off the clock in order to meet arbitrarily inflated performance standards, and foster a culture where employees fear for their jobs. Working off the clock negatively impacts both you and your co-workers. It skews performance standards for everyone; it leads to arbitrary policies such as getting out of the garage in 15 minutes; and it flies in the face of the battles that our predecessors waged for fair pay and overtime compensation. Come to work prepared to start on time, and prepared to do a good job for the hours that you are paid. We need to stand together to fight this issue. Working together we have the power to stop these practices. If working off the clock is happening in your garage, contact your Shop Steward or Union Representative immediately.
Thousands Kick Off Mobilization for '08 Verizon Talks (Or, Why
They Make More $$ Than Qwest) "One Year 'til Expiration" demonstrations by CWA and IBEW members succeeded in getting the message out that workers won't stand still for attacks on their jobs, health care and other benefits when contract talks for Verizon East workers open next year. Thousands of activists turned out for bargaining mobilization events, held from Boston to Virginia and West Virginia. And support even came from the West Coast where 125 CWA members in Upland, Calif., braved 95-degree heat in a solidarity rally for their Verizon East brothers and sisters. Among the most powerful displays of worker solidarity came in the form of quiet shows of strength in the workplace. At Verizon business offices in Maryland, 2,000 CWA members from eight locals, all wearing red, rose in unison at 12 noon. "It was a powerful sight," said CWA Local 2100 President Steve Holland. "Hundreds of workers at each location stood in solidarity for one minute," he said. At a dozen garages and other outside work sites in the state and in Washington, D.C., technicians and splicers arrived at their work locations en masse and wearing red. At the day's largest rally, held outside Verizon's soon to close New England headquarters in Boston, nearly 1,000 members of CWA and IBEW urged management to respect workers' organizing rights at Verizon Business. "All we want is the same job protections and organizing rights that core Verizon employees have," Verizon Business tech John Elia told demonstrators. Senator Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) urged workers to keep up the pressure in a written message. "Unions make the difference between an economy that's strong and fair, and an economy where working people are left behind. It's time for the company to respect [workers'] right to have a union," he said. The demonstrators, also concerned about preserving quality service and quality jobs in the region, used the event to launch a nationwide postcard campaign to oppose the Verizon's sale of its New England access lines to FairPoint Communications. More than a 1,000 CWA members rallied in other locations. In Pennsylvania, hundreds rallied at Verizon business offices in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Harrisburg. In Richmond, Va., 300 gathered at Verizon's business office supported by a cadre of 100 Stewards Army activists, who passed out leaflets to core Verizon employees working at the location. In Fredericksburg and St. Petersburg, Va., dozens of CWAers conducted informational picketing at Verizon garages and storerooms. In Morgantown, W. Va., 100 CWA members were joined by students and faculty at West Virginia University in a march to Verizon's central office. WSLC Upcoming Activities & Actions Do you want to help build the political strength of the labor movement & your local union? This fall, the WSLC is partnering with local unions and Central Labor Councils to provide our members with training opportunities that will focus on strengthening the political voice of working families in our state. These trainings will include:
Look at the schedule below for that date and location most convenient for you, and then RSVP to reserve your seat! Saturday, October 6th - 10:00am - 2:00pm - Pierce County
Where: Pierce
County Labor Temple - RSVP: Benjamin Lawver (blawver@wslc.org) phone:(206)281-8901 x17 Patty Rose (pcclc@harbornet.com) phone:(253)473-3810 Saturday, October 20th - 10:00am - 2:00pm -Snohomish County
Where:
Snohomish County Labor Temple - RSVP: Benjamin Lawver (blawver@wslc.org) phone:(206)281-8901 x17 Allyn Triezenberg (snolabor@snolabor.org) phone:(425)259-7922 Saturday, November 17th - 10:00am - 2:00pm M.L. King County
Where:
Seattle Labor Temple RSVP: Benjamin Lawver (blawver@wslc.org) phone:(206)281-8901 x17 Lily Wilson-Codega (lily@mlkclc.org) phone:(206)441-3473
Bad Boss Contest I worked on a help desk in a plant. I was the
least senior of the help desk employees. Comments: This sounds like being employed by the phone company. Read all entries at www.workingamerica.org/badboss.
Dealing with Debt Contact your creditors immediately when you get behind. Don’t watt until your account has been turned over to a collection agency. Work out a payment plan, but be real9istic about what you can manage Don’t let debt collectors pressure you into making wrong choices about what debts to pay first, says the National Consumer Law Center. Pay what is most necessary—food, clothing, mortgage/rent and utilities. Unsecured debt, such as credit cards or medical bills, should have lower priority If you owe money, a collection agency can ask you to pay the debt for as long as it wants. However, in Washington State, an agency typically has only six years to sue you in court if it involves a written contract. Under federal law, collection agencies must provide you with a notice of your rights within five days of the first communication with your You can demand that collection agencies cease communication with you by writing a letter. Send it by certified mail and keep a copy for your records. This does not free you from the debt. You have a right to dispute the debt in a process known as “validation.” If you write within 30 days of receiving notice of the right to dispute, the collector must stop collection efforts and investigate. You can sue a debt collector for violations of the act in state or federal court. File complaints with the following:
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