Tomorrow, 285 Brooklyn-based Cablevision workers will vote in an election for union representation.
These workers have withstood a blistering assault on their right to form a union. Instead of coming to the table and discussing the merits of union representation in the open, Cablevision management is truly taking the low road, by pressuring workers with misinformation in endless “captive audience meetings.”
Despite this enormous pressure from the management 1%, the 99% are standing strong. Help support their effort right now. Check out their powerful video below
Cablevision workers have the right to decide for themselves whether a union is the best way to bring about a safer work environment, better healthcare, a more secure retirement and salaries that allow them to support their families.
Click here to stand up for the Cablevision 99%. Tell Cablevision management it is morally wrong to force workers to run a gauntlet of intimidation and misinformation simply because they seek to exercise their democratic right to have a voice at work, and to achieve a measure of equity and dignity on the job.
Make sure to join us next week for our next Union Hall Call for an update on Verizon bargaining and the important work CWA activists are doing all across the country.
During 2012 we will build on the energy and excitement of 2011 as we gain momentum and strengthen our movement. Together we will stand united against the billionaires, corporate executives, and right-wing politicians who continue to attack our rights.
Make sure you are part of it by joining our call next week.
Your CWA Local 1103 Executive Board honors Dr. Martin Luther King's legacy. Much of what he fought for is still under attack today. There is a movement in many states to disenfranchise minority voters under the guise of preventing voter fraud. The destruction of the middle class and workers rights is a top priority of wealthy corporations in order to exploit labor. Stand up and get involved! Check out the video and article below:
CWA 1103 Executive Board along with our partners from the Hudson Valley Coalition for a Fair Economy joined event organizer Sheila Harris of Hope House, Port Chester for the “I Have A Dream: Unity in the Community Walk” Sunday Jan 15th at the Slater Center in White Plains to honor Dr. Kings actual birthday.
CWA is proud to join this event and continue to demonstrate that Labor and Community are perfect partners. This is a lesson we all can take from Dr. King, who understood the Labor movement and job security are essential not only for reducing poverty, but for growing the middle class.
In 1965, Dr. King addressed the Illinois AFL-CIO convention in which he stated: “The Labor movement was the principal force that transformed misery and despair into hope and progress” During that speech he offers this challenge:
The two most dynamic movements that reshaped the nation during the past three decades are the labor and civil rights movements. Our combined strength is potentially enormous. We have not used a fraction of it for our own good, or the needs of society as a whole…if our two movements unite their social pioneering imitative, thirty years from now people will look back on this day and honor those who had the vision to see the full possibilities of modern society and the courage to fight for their realization”
Yesterday, labor leaders joined community partners to announce their campaign to bring fairness and transparency to New York’s corporate tax system.
Mario Cilento, President of the NYS AFL-CIO, said, "Throughout this budget crisis working men and women have been asked to bear the entire brunt of cost cutting through new pension tiers, higher health premiums and wage freezes. At the same time many corporations fail to even pay the taxes they owe. We need to close corporate tax loopholes to infuse reoccurring revenue and end the vicious cycle of cuts to middle class families."
The additional revenue will help New York to create jobs, create a fairer environment for small business, and prevent even more devastating budget cuts to schools, services and our safety net.
The groups released a list of some of New York’s worst corporate tax deadbeats, including American Express, Verizon, and Goldman Sachs. The list highlights the gross inequities in our tax system that hinder small businesses, job creation, and our economy.
The plan to reform New York’s corporate tax structure focuses on three main principles: enforcement, fairness, and transparency. FACT SHEET HERE.
For the past several years, when the discussion turns to the economic downturn, working men and women, in all sectors, have been asked to shoulder the burden, while corporate America has been given a free pass.
·It started with private sector workers losing tens and hundreds of thousands of dollars in their pension funds as a result of what happened with Wall Street. And there was no corporate accountability.
·Two years ago, we had a new Pension Tier implemented. No immediate savings. But it happened. And future workers had to sacrifice. But that wasn’t enough.
·Last year, several unions agreed to contracts that called for wage freezes and higher payments for health care. This time, current workers sacrificed. But again, that wasn’t enough.
It will never be enough if cost cutting continues to be the priority, rather than generating other areas of revenue. Working families cannot and should not bear the burden of rescuing our state from future economic downturns, while corporate America gets a free pass.
Yes Verizon members are working, yes they are earning a paycheck and yes their benefits are continuing as they were on August 6, 2011, but its no time to relax and think mobilization is somebody else’s job. These were Verizon’s Core Demands just a few weeks ago and they haven’t changed by much.
No mention of a Wage Increase
Eliminate Pensions:
Eliminate pension accruals. For all current employees, your pension would be frozen as of December 31, 2011 and no new employee would receive a pension.
Eliminate the Pension Cash-Out option.
Modify the 401(k) Plan and reduce the Corporate Profit Sharing (CPS).
Eliminate Sickness Death Benefits
Eliminate Job Security:
Eliminate the Job Security Provisions for all employees.
Eliminate the Movement of Work Protection
Eliminate the 35 mile transfer provision
Eliminate provisions in Force Adjustment Plan
Eliminate New Contracting Initiatives agreement – which would allow them to increase the level of contracting
Eliminate Benefits:
Eliminate the current health care, prescription, dental, and vision plans and offer plans with high deductibles and premiums.
Active Employees – Annual
Premiums range from $1026 for single to $4580 family
And
Increase deductibles in network to $850 single - $ 2250 for family
Increase deductibles out of network to $1,000 for single - $3,000 for family
And
Increase Out of Pocket Maximum to $2,000 for single and $6,000 for family
And
Increase co-pays for specialist to $25.
And
Require co-pays for X-Rays and labs
And
Reduce most in network coverage from 100% to 80%
Reduce most out of network coverage from 100% to 60%
Retirees – Non Medicare Eligible – Annually
Premiums Range from $1026 for single to $4480 for family
And
Increase deductibles in network to $850 single - $ 2250 for family
Increase deductibles out of network to $1,000 for single - $3,000 for family
And
Increase Out of Pocket Maximum to $2,000 for single and $6,000 for family
And
Increase co-pays for specialist to $25.
And
Require co-pays for X-Rays and labs
And
Reduce most in network coverage from 100% to 80%
Reduce most out of network coverage from 100% to 60%
Retiree – Medicare Eligible Annually
Premiums range from $181 for single to $1970 for family
And
Increase deductibles in network to $850 single - $ 2250 for family
Increase deductibles out of network to $1,000 for single - $3,000 for family
And
Increase Out of Pocket Maximum to $2,000 for single and $6,000 for family
And
Increase co-pays for specialist to $25.
And
Require co-pays for X-Rays and labs
And
Reduce most in network coverage from 100% to 80%
Reduce most out of network coverage from 100% to 60%
Verizon’s push to acquire additional portions of the nation’s airwaves, along with cross-marketing with cable companies, has the potential to stop expansion of high-speed broadband, stifle competition, and drive down wages. Some national media have noticed the threat and have sounded an alarm.
“When Congress deregulated telecommunications 15 years ago, it was counting on a burst of competition among phone companies, cable carriers and other high-tech newcomers. Instead, we have seen a relentless push for consolidation within and across technological platforms, carving the market into national and regional oligopolies.” The problem isn’t new, however. Almost since the development of consumer cable, the companies have refused to compete in each other’s geographies, buying up smaller companies and creating regional monopolies with national market power.
Verizon's FiOS build (along with AT&T's U-Verse) promised to challenge the cable companies' dominance of the video and high-speed broadband market. But as the San Jose Mercury News said, the Verizon/cable deal will put an end to that potential as Verizon pulls back on its FiOS expansion. “With these announcements, the companies have doubled down on their market-division schemes. This is a type of anti-competitive cooperation that would make even an old railroad monopolist blush.”
These stinging editorial positions ignore another negative consequence of the Verizon/cable joint marketing agreement -- the downward effect on wages – unlike the now-scuttled AT&T/T-Mobile merger which would have preserved union rights and kept decent wages. Cable has been built on a low-wage, low benefit, outsourced labor policy, and Verizon, by joining forces to market the non-union cable companies' video rather than growing its FiOS deployment will be pulling the rug out from under its unionized wireline workers.
In all, the Verizon/cable deal raises serious questions, and the media are right to raise them.
There has been no challenge to the Local 1103 Vice President Run-off election, within the 10 day time period from the tentative certification date of December 21, 2011. Therefore, the election committee has certified the election.
Your CWA Local 1103 Executive Board proudly announces an educational opportunity for Verizon Members. We have negotiated and partnered with Lehman College to offer you the rare advantage of an affordable education.
All classes are approved by the Verizon Tuition Assistance Program and are subject to the plan rules.
Of the many benefits the Union offers, educational opportunities are some of the greatest. It is with great pride that your 1103 Executive Board offers this benefit to you.
CWA CONGRATULATES 32BJ ON NEW CONTRACT --LABOR MOVEMENT UNITED IN ITS SUPPORT FOR THE UNION AND ITS MEMBERS--
CWA congratulate 32BJ SEIU on the tentative, four-year agreement reached last night with the Realty Advisory Board This tentative contract, which must still be ratified, was reached as the entire labor community rallied behind 32BJ while the possibility of a New Year's Eve walkout loomed.
"This agreement is a victory not just for 32BJ members, but for all working men and women. Union members from every sector stood side by side with 32BJ and demonstrated the collective strength of the labor movement. I commend the members for standing strong and applaud Mike Fishman for his tremendous leadership in this fight," said Mario Cilento, President of NYS AFL-CIO.
32BJ Members were very supportive during the Verizon strike. They were a common sight at the Hartsdale Verizon Wireless picket line during the 2-week strike. CWA 1103 attended and spoke at their recent Rally in White Plains letting the 32BJ Members know we will remember their support for us.
Recently Verizon mailed DVDs at the cost of $45,000 to all our CWA Verizon & Verizon Wireless Members. Verizon actually had the gall to tell our Members in spite of our work that made Billions in profits for them, they would need to cut our benefits and trim our wages to keep our jobs great.
Hey Verizon, News Flash it was the Union that made this job great and your Corporate Greed that is hurting us all.
CWA produced this parody of the Verizon Video; it’s a joke but, make no mistake the nonsense they are shoveling in bargaining is no joke. Verizon is trying to kill our Middle-Class jobs, stay in the fight against Verizon & Verizon Wireless for a fair contract.
Support the U.S Call Center Workers & Consumer Protection Act (HR 3596)
US companies are off-shoring call center jobs by the thousands, leaving communities devastated with job losses and lost financial investments.
Overseas call centers can put American consumers at risk for:
Identity theft
Fraudulent Financial Transactions
Mishandling of sensitive information including health records
Our Bill will:
Deny federal grants and restrict federal contracts to employers that relocate call center jobs to another country;
Require call center agents to disclose their physical location;
Give the consumer the right to be transferred back to a U.S call center.
Call your member of congress Toll-Free at 888-877-2040
Call your Representative today and tell him or her to support the U.S. Call Center Worker and Consumer Protection Act (HR 3596) and stop offshoring, and save U.S jobs and protect consumers.
CWA 1103 Executive Board thanks the Members who took the time to attend and fight for our contract at the Hugh Price Vigil on Dec 16th. Winning this contract is going to take these types of actions, and the willingness for the Membership to get invovled. If we stay home, we don't win.
US Companies are off-shoring Call Center jobs by the thousands. We need those jobs here! Click and Take Action Now!
If wealthy corporations like Verizon continue to outsource jobs and hold down worker wages, there is no hope for an economic recovery. This is why our fight is your fight and why your support is so important.
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