May '08 Executive Vice President's Report

The Union for the Information Age

Month 2008 Executive Vice-President's Report
by Stan Wylie, Vice President

Grievances…I lost track really on how many were met on last month. Most were QJD records of discussion grievances. The company has denied them with the same basic form response without addressing the individual aspects of each case. We will reevaluate some of the Q&A in regards to the actual discipline meetings and the 1st step grievance meetings at our monthly representational meeting.

Using company assets for union activity. We had several people disciplined for this. In two cases the warnings were reduced to discussions and closed. On one we have met at 2nd step and are still waiting a response. That said we recently had yet another steward given a discussion for using the fax to send a grievance response to the local. We will be grieving that as well. The company has decided that anything to do with the union is considered a "business other then Qwest" therefore a singular email to any person asking a question about a workplace issue or grievance if the unionist responds to that email they could be disciplined. So incidental usage is ok to plan a vacation, contribute to a charity, check the weather or what have you, but a one time usage is a violation if it involves the union. Frankly I still am having a hard time with that logic when we have a 300+ page contract. How is it that the company can say a grievance response is not company business when they are the ones that provided it? Hmm… How does that work?

I cannot again stress documentation. I have had several responses recently that don't reflect what was discussed in a meeting and then when called upon it the company really has not acknowledged it or addressed it. I am aware of instances where stewards seem to be getting the same incorrect answers after 1st step grievances. So we really need to make sure we have good notes and documentation in all of our meetings. I would encourage members if they are meeting with their managers that they take good notes as well.

District 7 held their District meeting this week and a lot of information was shared. More then I could possible get in this report. I encourage everyone to attend our membership meetings because of course that is the best most direct method to receive information and gives you an opportunity to ask questions as well. For the last couple of years there has been a lot of talk and information about "Strategic Industry Fund Initiatives". You may have heard of the "Employee Free Choice Act", "Speed Matters", the "Health care Initative" and several others that CWA has been working on. These things are working and the benefits of these campaigns not only help out our other CWA brothers and sisters but our communities as well. I know this is working because recently the Washington State Legislature just passed the Speed Matters initiative unanimously to provide broadband service to all Washingtonians. That is very exciting. I also heard a Presidential candidate say in a speech the other day how important it is to get broadband lines across America to make us more competitive globally and educationally. This speech was given at a campaign rally and not a labor rally. So it is working so when you are asked to support these campaigns please give a few minutes of your time to help us work for the greater good. The same effect is also being seen concerning EFCA and health care.

I know we are fast approaching August and people are concerned about the contract and what is going on and what is going to happen. We are trying to get information out to you all through our website, word of mouth, and flyers and such. We are working hard and so is the District. Bargaining this year starts a little bit later then the last contracts and actually begins on July 8th. So don't despair we will have plenty of information for you by then. The hotline will be updated regularly as well as the website and there will be plenty of information handed out. We of course will need plenty of volunteers for these things so if you want to get involved and be one of the first to hear the "scoop"… here is your opportunity.

All in all the last few months have been increasingly busy and I can assure you the next few months will be quite the challenge as well. I hope to get an opportunity to get out and see you folks and hopefully you will be able to get to our meetings at the local.