October '07 President's Report

The Union for the Information Age

October 2007 President's Report to the
Executive Board and Membership
Submitted by Malachy Sreenan

As of October 1, 2007 there were 321 days remaining until our current Agreement with Qwest Communications expires. Preparations for those negotiations began the week of August 27, 2007 when the elected members of the union’s Qwest bargaining committee met with the staff who will be with them at the 2008 bargaining table and the staff who currently have responsibility for administering the Qwest agreement, who will be supporting the Union committee during these talks. Also, included in the most recent CWA Local 7800 newsletter was a Qwest bargaining survey. Over the coming months, our Bargaining Proposals Committee will be reviewing the information submitted by members like you and will be submitting recommendations to the Bargaining Committee. Your recommendations will ultimately be formulated into specific proposals for bargaining. Over the coming months, we will also be distributing information highlighting those issues that we know will be the subject of the talks with Qwest next year, such as the steady escalation of health care costs for both active and retired employees and a renewal of employer demands to roll back contract language they view as inflexible.

October 1^st through 5^th was Customer Service Professionals Week, an annual, worldwide event that honors union members for their hard work and dedication throughout the year.

This year, CWA Local 7800 thanked its members who work on the front lines, and who provide exceptional customer service every day, despite the fact that their jobs have become more stressful than ever as supervisors monitor phone calls, keep count of sales made and force call-takers to follow scripts that most customers abhor. The goal of this year’s mobilization was, in the words of CWA President Larry Cohen, to show employers that their success is a direct result of these skilled professionals who resolve countless problems and build a strong base of loyal customers. Was the message heard? Well, there is some good news. Despite the corporate frenzy for outsourcing call centers to low-paid workers overseas, and as a direct result of the outsourcing message which as at the center of last year’s Customer Service Professionals week mobilization, some employers are beginning to understand how valuable an experienced U.S. workforce is. This year, CWA negotiated for the return of 2,000 AT&T jobs and 500 U.S. Airways jobs that had been sent to other countries.

On September 21^st, more than 7,000 volunteers throughout King County chose to lend their time and talents on the United Way Day of Caring, providing an estimated $600,000 worth of labor at 366 service projects. This year, CWA Local 7800 members volunteered with Page Ahead, an organization which provides new books and develops reading activities that empower at-risk children. One of the most important things that we took away from the day was the tremendous impact that having books in the home and being read to by adults can have on the lives of children, and their subsequent success as adults. From our calculations, we touched the lives of about 180 students at Van Asselt Elementary School. Each student got a brand new book of their choosing to keep, and they also got some big people to read with them during class time. I’m not sure how cool they thought it was, but many volunteers reported that this experience was personally rewarding, and more meaningful than the carpet removal work of last year. The efforts of our union members at this year’s United Way Day of Caring, and indeed through all the volunteer activities coordinated by our Community Services, Equity and Women’s committees, change our community in fundamental and lasting ways.

October also kicks off the United Way Season of Giving. Throughout the month, at Qwest, there will be numerous fundraising activities in addition to requests for employees to donate through payroll deduction or through one-time contributions. Please remember that you can designate which charity you want the United Way to donate your contribution to. I recommend that you contribute to CWA’s charity of choice, the Elizabeth Glazer Pediatric AIDS foundation, or to the King County Labor Agency CWA Local 7800 member fund, which assists union members who fall on hard times.

With the 2008 Presidential election just a little over a year away, it is refreshing to see that the major issues of healthcare, worker rights, the Employee Free Choice Act, and protection of American jobs, are being debated and are taking their rightful place in the national political forum. Recognizing that this will be one of the most important elections in history, for American working men and women, this past month CWA members weighed in on the 2008 presidential endorsement process. An overwhelming majority thought that the Executive Board should seek direct input from CWA's members and retirees about this important endorsement choice. So CWA is trying something that's never been done before. We're proud to announce the launch of CWA Votes 2008, an innovative website where local union members can learn where the candidates stand and let the Union know who you think CWA should endorse for President. Take a look at the new website and vote in the e-poll: www.cwavotes.org/leaders. Workers' jobs, the well-being of their families and the political process are linked more closely than ever before. CWA is determined to make a difference that produces real results for working families. Involving the membership in that decision-making is a critical first step. The Executive Board will review the e-poll results when they meet in November to discuss the presidential endorsement. This historic opportunity to help shape our presidential endorsement represents CWA democracy at work. Help bring back bargaining rights in the U.S., win the fight for real health care reform, and create policies that support American jobs by making your voice heard.