The Union for the Information Age

The Union for the Information Age

June 2008 President's Report to the
Executive Board and Membership
Submitted by Malachy Sreenan

It is hard to believe that it has been three years since we last began contract negotiations with Qwest. With summer almost upon us, however, it is time to dust off those picket signs, get the red shirts out of the closet and start this process all over again. As formal table negotiations begin on Tuesday July 8^th, CWA Local 7800 will be stepping up Mobilization and Strike Preparedness activities. With Qwest already setting an adversarial tone, we should be under no illusion that we are in for a long, hard fight, a fight that can and will be won if we all stand together, in solidarity.

With an economy that is in recession, gas prices over $4.00 a gallon and the cost of healthcare continuing to skyrocket out of control, the stage has been set for what will undoubtedly be the two main priorities of the 2008 contract negotiations, living wages and maintaining healthcare benefits. Most of us have been through this before, however, there are some new union brothers and sisters at Qwest for whom this process will be new. As union members, it is important that we educate those who have not been through this process before, work together and engage each other in what is going on at the table. Now more than ever, we need to put our differences aside and prepare to stand side by side in order to be successful in securing a contract that is both fair and equitable.

I would like to thank Stan Wylie, who will be filling in for me while I am in Denver during these negotiations. I know that I can concentrate completely on the task at hand while remaining confident that the Local is in such capable and professional hands. I would also like to thank Joan Huey for stepping up to backfill for Stan this summer, Kathy Barker, Mobilization Chair, and Michael Lynch and Craig Dameron, Strike Preparation Committee, for all of the hard work that they have already done, and that they will continue to do until we have successfully reached agreement with Qwest. They cannot, however, do this work alone. I urge each and every member of Local 7800 to step up and help in whatever way you can. There are numerous opportunities to get involved. Please contact the Local at (206) 441-7800 to find out how you can help.

We have a number of activities planned over the coming months, beginning with a bargaining kick-off on Wednesday July 2^nd, and continuing with weekly mobilizations until a tentative agreement is reached. Please plan to attend the kick as we will be serving a boxed lunch and distributing new CWA Local 7800 ID badge holders and lanyards. The Kick-off celebration, which will be held in the Bell Plaza Courtyard, will also feature music and guest speakers. The Local will be providing more information in the coming weeks. We need volunteers for those activities and also to step up as picket captains and to assist with picket assignments should we need to go out on strike. Should that happen, I am excited to let you know that Local 7800 now has an active retiree chapter, whose members are engaged and who have committed to walk any picket line alongside their occupational brothers and sisters. I would like to thank Jerri Wood who is the President of the Local 7800 retiree chapter, Shirlee Russo who will be Vice President and Mike Taylor who will be the Secretary Treasurer. We should not forget that it is thanks to our retired brothers and sisters that we currently enjoy the company-paid healthcare benefits, competitive wages and the many workplace protections contained in the current Collective Bargaining Agreement. Should we find ourselves walking picket lines this summer, remember to thank the retirees for the fight that they waged in years past, and let them know that you support them in their fight to ensure that the Company does not take away any of their retiree benefits.

With the strong focus on Qwest negotiations this summer we also need to remember that we have important Local, State and Federal elections coming up in November. There is a lot at stake this year and a lot of work ahead if we are to undo the damage to and erosion of workers’ rights over the last seven years. On June 5^th, CWA's Executive Board approved a statement endorsing Senator Barack Obama for president of the United States, and will be submitting it to the Resolutions Committee for action by delegates at this month's 70th Annual Convention in Las Vegas. Senator Obama has made clear his commitment to CWA's four key issues, the Employee Free Choice Act, universal health care, fair trade and good jobs and financial security for retirees. CWA Local 7800 Legislative Chair, Jeanine Cunningham, is currently working with the Martin Luther King County Labor Council and the Washington State Labor Council to ensure that our members are both educated on the issues facing working families and where each candidate stands on those same issues. Jeanine is currently looking for volunteers to staff phone banks and to participate in Labor/Neighbor walk over the coming months. Please contact Jeanine or the Local if you would like to participate.

One of the pieces of legislation that Senator Obama has promised to sign into law is the Employee Free Choice Act. EFCA, if passed, will strengthen penalties against employers that intimidate workers trying to organize or bargain a contract, will establish mediation and binding arbitration on a first union agreement and will enable employees to form unions when a majority signs union authorization cards. We are asking members to sign postcards urging the new president and congress to enact this law immediately so that more workers can organize, have bargaining rights and provide a balance to the corporate greed that is currently ruining our country and Americans’ standard of living. Please talk to your Shop Steward or stop by the Local to pick up a postcard.

In addition to volunteering this year, Local 7800 also encourages all members to donate to COPE, the Committee on Political Education. It is important to remember that any gains and protections that are achieved though contract negotiations and through the passage of legislation, can be quickly undone with the stroke of a pen by a President, or State Governor. After the erosion of ergonomics laws and repeated attempts to privatize Social Security over the last several years, we should be under no illusion that working men and women should have a voice in Local, State and Federal politics. It is essential that we maintain protections such as unemployment compensation, workers’ compensation, FMLA, Medicare and workplace safety to name but a few. Corporations spend millions of dollars annually to weaken laws that protect workers. What we lack in money we more than make up for in numbers and passion, all we need to do is choose to be involved. Please take the time to learn more about COPE and how signing up for as little as $2 per week can make a big difference. I’m confident that you will agree that in terms of securing jobs, healthcare and retirement protection, it will be the most important $2 you will ever spend.

I would like to take a moment to recognize and thank both Gayleen Jennings and Dee Steele, and the CWA Local 7800 Community Services Committee for their hard work in organizing and participating in the National Letter Carriers Food Drive on Saturday May 10^th, 2008. The committee’s continued dedication over the years to helping those in our community who are less fortunate is an inspiration to us all, and will undoubtedly secure community support for our members should there be a work stoppage this summer. All of our committees have been very active over the last few months, and deserve our most heartfelt thanks and gratitude. The Equity Committee will be participating in the annual Gay Pride Parade on Sunday, June 29^th. The committee extends a warm welcome to all members who would like to join and participate in what is always one of the most enjoyable events of the year.

In Closing, I would like to thank all of the members of CWA Local 7800 for your continued support, and the hard work you have done and will do in preparing for negotiations this year. While I will be in Denver, in ‘Lock-Down’ until a tentative agreement is reached, my thoughts and prayers will be with you, the members of this Local. Regardless of the outcome this summer, I am certain of one thing, that when we stand together, there is absolutely nothing that we cannot achieve. Thank you, in advance for your hard work and support, and I look forward to seeing you all in August, at which time we can celebrate a contract that is both fair and equitable, a contract that protects and empowers all of our members, and a contract that we can both live with, and more importantly, be proud of for the next three years.