CWA Local 1170

There are still openings for the Tom Luciano Memorial Golf Tournament.  The tournament is being held Saturday, August 8^th at Victor Hills, 10am shotgun start. Registration begins at 9am.  For more information please view the flyer on the website at cwalocal1170.com.  You can sign up by calling Marge or Angela at the Hall.

We have held discussions with the company in regards to the night shift for Sales and Service Techs.  There is interest from those working noon to 8pm to work 9:30 to 6pm.  It hasn’t been determined how many people are needed to work that shift yet.  The hold up appears to be in the management of time reporting.  We will keep you updated as we receive more information.

This is your President John Pusloskie thanking you for calling your Union tape.

CWA Members with Caldwell Manufacturing last night approved an agreement that included enhanced severance benefits and preserved retirement health care benefits for those already retired.  This agreement ends six months of negotiations that began in January over the closure of the manufacturing facility on Manitou Road.

The plant closed on April 9^th and affects 28 members who worked the assembly lines, skilled tradesman that maintained the machines and employees in the shipping and receiving department.

Winners of the 50/50 raffle are:  1^st prize – Joe Girod $200, 2^nd prize – Jason Heaney $120, and 3^rd prize – Michele Odell $80.

Everyone have a safe weekend.  This is your President John Pusloskie thanking you for calling your union tape.

Your Vice President Rick Sanchez and I returned from the National CWA Convention late Tuesday night.  I have the following report.

On Sunday we attended the following meetings:

·      Telecommunications meeting chaired by Vice President Jimmy Gurganus

·      A healthcare reform seminar

·      District 1 meeting chaired by Vice President Chris Shelton

I can report back that the National representatives have serious concerns about the Verizon/Frontier merger based on similarly structured deals between Verizon owned Hawaii Telephone sold to a private equity group and the sale of Verizon properties in New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine to Fairpoint.  Hawaii Telephone is in bankruptcy and Fairpoint is on the verge of it.  The National union is going to challenge the deal in every state where public utility commissions need to approve the deal.

I can also report back that the country is on the verge of some historic changes in healthcare reform and unions are on the verge of leveling the playing field with the Employee Free Choice Act.  CWA has been a major force behind both pieces of legislation.

The following resolutions were passed at the convention:

·      CWA leadership will work on every level for a united labor movement

·      CWA members must do everything they can to pass the Employee Free Choice Act

·      CWA will join together in solidarity with other unions to support collective bargaining agendas

·      CWA supports an economic stimulus which produces good jobs and fair trade

·      Strategic Industry Fund may be used for organizing

·      CWA supports collective bargaining rights for public safety and law enforcement officers

CWA has challenges like every other union, with the bankruptcy of GM and Chrysler, tens of thousands of CWA union members have lost their retiree health insurance.  We are still six hundred thousand strong and the most diverse union in the labor movement.

New hats from New Era Cap have arrived, please call Marge or Angela or drop by the Union Hall if you’re interested.

This is John Pusloskie thanking you for calling your union tape.

The National CWA Convention begins Sunday and runs through next Tuesday.  Vice President Sanchez and myself will be out of the office Monday and Tuesday returning Wednesday.  Any issues that may arise please contact our Secretary Marie Spendlove or Treasurer Dave Barney or your Unit Chairpersons.

We have just received the new CWA Membership cards and will be mailing them shortly.

A reminder to update your beneficiaries on Frontier’s 401K with Fidelity.  You must do this through the website.  It is important as that information didn’t transfer from T. Rowe Price to Fidelity.  

This is your President John Pusloskie thanking you for calling your Union Tape, the place where we are Union and Proud of it.

Registration has begun for the Tom Luciano Memorial Golf Tournament.  Information concerning the tournament can be found on our website, cwalocal1170.com.  Please call Marge or Angela at the office to sign up.

Last week your Vice President Rick Sanchez and myself presented the President of the Rochester Locust Club a check for one thousand one hundred seventy dollars, made out to the Anthony Diponzio Fund.  I want to thank all members who contributed to this courageous young man.  He’s made tremendous progress and is a true inspiration to this community.

As of May 31^st, the members have generated $500,000 in new revenue through Take the Lead.  There is a new incentive for June and July.  Three leads that close to sales will get you an extra $50 on top of regular payouts.  After three sales have been made, you will receive an extra $10 per sale.  Anyone who puts in a referral in June and July will qualify for the Red Wing Suite drawing, which includes two tickets, food and beverages.

This is your President John Pusloskie thanking you for calling your Union Tape.

Several members have called in expressing their issues with the CWA Local 1170 Retirement Plan and their inability to change investments through the website.  First Niagara Benefits Consulting is aware of this and working on the website issues to get them straightened out.  We expect it to be corrected in a day or so.

Last December, the Trustees made a decision to add funds and replace the JP Morgan Funds with Manning and Napier ones.  It was determined at that time to limit investment in the S&P 500 Index, Columbia Small Cap, Columbia Mid Cap, The World Growth Opportunities, and Total Return Bond Fund to 20% of your plan investment total.  It was communicated at the investment meetings and letters went out that this was going to be so.  Some of you are mad about this but in the best interest of the Plan, and to meet our fiduciary liability of running the Plan, the decision was made to limit the investment amounts.  Anyone is welcome to call me at the office to discuss this.

There is a retiree picnic put on by Ray Kanis at Perinton Park by the Canal in Fairport on Wednesday, June 17th beginning at 11:30am.  Hope to see a lot of retirees there. 

This is your President John Pusloskie thanking you for calling your union tape, Up The Rebel!

Please read the included link on an enclosed proposal to protect employees and customers from companies selling access lines.

Good reading.

Click here to read.

Information concerning the annual Clambake, Tom Luciano Golf Tournament, and Discounted Darien Lake tickets have been posted on the website.  Please go to cwalocal1170.com to view this information. Registration for the Golf Tournament will begin Monday, June 15th, please call Angela or Marge to reserve your spots.

CWA has introduced two Bills into the State Legislature to protect workers and consumers in the event of a sale of telephone access lines in NYS.  You can find information on our website, who is supporting the Bills and what the Bills would do.

this is your President John Pusloskie thanking you for calling your Union Tape, the place where we are Union and Proud of it.