November '07 President's Report

The Union for the Information Age

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

With the Qwest contract expiring in just about ten months, CWA Local 7800 has been ramping up its mobilization activities. Last month we distributed fliers with information on both the bargaining team and process. We will have at least one mobilization activity per month highlighting the more important issues and obstacles that we will face next August. I urge all members to read the materials being distributed, and to show your solidarity by wearing your red union shirt every Thursday. If anyone would like to help or support, please contact the Local or any union steward for more information.

In what may be a prelude of what’s to come, Qwest is taking an ever harder stance on issues that affect our entire membership. While becoming more likely to dish out harsher punishments and discipline, they are becoming more and more reluctant to resolve issues through the grievance process. It is more important than ever before that we grieve all discipline and insist on having a shop steward present in all disciplinary meetings and any investigatory meeting from which there is a legitimate belief that discipline could result. If you are unsure as to whether you are entitled to union representation, please review page 159 of the CWA/Qwest Collective Bargaining Agreement, or consult a steward in your area.

There have been many questions with regards possible changes to the Qwest pension in the new year. CWA District 7 originally had the understanding that the Qwest pension plan was tied to the Treasury rate. That assumption was incorrect. The change in the method of calculating the minimum lump sum which could be paid in lieu of a monthly pension was to use corporate bond rates instead of 30 year Treasury bond rates, and to use a more up-to- date mortality table. The corporate interest rates are higher (by about one point or so) than the treasuries. By itself, that change would mean that the lump sum for a given monthly pension benefit would be smaller. But at the same time, life expectancies are increasing so the mortality table change would, again by itself, tend to increase the size of the lump sum. Qwest has announced that they will begin to use this new methodology beginning in January, 2008, phasing it in over the next 5 years. District 7 will be continuing our discussions with both headquarters and the employer and will bring that to you as it unrolls.

In October, a group of CWA retirees met with a representative from the District 7 Retirees Council, to discuss organizing retiree chapters in the Pacific Northwest. In the lead up to Qwest bargaining next summer, we will be asking retirees and current employees to organize and stand together to preserve the healthcare benefits for which we have fought hard over the last several decades. As has happened to many CWA members across the United States, healthcare costs are now being passed on to retirees,

Our brothers and sisters who can least afford those increases in co-pays and monthly premiums. Retirees, however, are a powerful force in public opinion and voter polls where politicians and corporations alike, understand the power they hold, when they are an organized unit, speaking with one voice. I urge all members to support efforts to form a Washington State Retired Members Council (RMC) and urge all retirees to contact a representative near you to let them know you are interested and want to participate in the preservation of CWA retiree benefits. The application form to join a retiree chapter can be found at: http://www.cwa-union.org/rmc/join.html. There is a one time $25.00 lifetime membership fee, but your participation will benefit many times this small sum.

Every October, corporations like Qwest hold workplace giving campaigns. This year was no exception with organized events being held the entire month long. Management and occupational employees worked side by side in a wide array of activities such as pie throwing, making gift baskets, and coordinating food and bake sales.I would like to thank all CWA Local 7800 members for giving so generously this year. You donation, which is matched 75 cents to the dollar by the Qwest foundation, provides a tremendous benefit to those in need in our communities.

Bargaining continued last month for the shuttle drivers at MV Transportation, with

members of the bargaining unit assisting by providing feedback and proposals. I am happy to report that a tentative was reached with the company on October 30^th, 2007. We are currently in the process of preparing a final bargaining report, at which the time the

contract will be presented to members for ratification. Bargaining will also be underway at two of Local 7800’s other units, Aronson Security and DGM controls, within the next couple of months.