CWA Local 1170

1170 Wraps Up Successful United Way Campaign

The Local had a tremendous campaign again this year and was again presented with the United Way Excellence Award from United Way President Peter Carpino, Workplace Campaign Director Jon Roberson, and AFL-CIO Labor Coordinator Rose McKinney.  I want to thank Fritz Amrhein and Bill Netchke for doing an outstanding job coordinating our campaign and the following solicitors for their hard work in engaging our members in the work place:  Ryan Bills, Tony Gaudio, Lisa Tantalo, Mark Semrau, and Jeff Leshner.

This year’s campaign goal was set at $125,000 and after it was all said and done, we raised over $146,000.  The importance of these dollars cannot be overstated or their impact on the community.  We should all be very proud of our efforts and our involvement in this year’s campaign.  The incentive prizes will be drawn very soon.

CWA Cleans Up Awards

On Thursday, May 13^th the annual Rochester Labor Council awards dinner was held at the Rochester Auditorium.  The event was rescheduled from December when it was cancelled due to bad weather.

Labor Educator of the Year was presented to Vice President Rick Sanchez for his ongoing work on the Labor Council Education Committee.  Rick is responsible, along with this committee, for organizing Rochester’s Annual Labor Day Parade.  Congratulations to Rick for his outstanding work!

Labor Day Parade – Local 1170 was awarded best theme for Employee Free Choice Act and the hearse for this past year’s parade.  Thank you for the efforts of Diane Papas, Patty Roberts, Joann Dzwigal, Colleen Baliva, and Rich Winter who prepared the decorations for the parade and Joann Dzwigal who provided the hearse.

Community Solidarity Award – Our 1170 members who worked at Caldwell Manufacturing were presented this award.  Their long, hard fight with their employer finally resulted in a contract in August of 2008, after years of strikes, unfair labor charges, and negotiations.  In January of 2009 Caldwell announced they were closing the plant.  The Union negotiated for six months before we came to a closure agreement that preserved retiree health care benefits until the end of the contract.  A great show of solidarity by the members.

1170 Force Reduction – It has been anyone’s guess from day to day what the Company’s plans were for the bumping interviews this week.  Originally scheduled for last Monday and Tuesday, they were constantly rescheduled and now will go into this week.  Employees originally scheduled to be off the payroll Friday, May 21^st will now be on the payroll through this Friday.

On Tuesday, May 25^th we are scheduled to meet with the Company to discuss the administration of the jobs bank and what reporting location and work assignments will be assigned to those forced into the jobs program.  This program has never been utilized, as the force reductions have never reached those with job security.

LABOR COMMUNITY RAISES THE BAR ON AT&T: Lunchtime commuters passing the AT&T facility in Arlington yesterday couldn’t avoid seeing the giant union rat displayed next to rallying communications workers who are fighting to renew their contract. Waving signs that read “AT&T: Get off our backs and on our side” and “AT&T: Lowering the bar on job security,” the workers – who are represented by CWA Local 2252 – were joined by allies from the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, UNITE HERE and members from the DC Federation of Musicians. “We’re out here today to send the message that the entire labor community stands in support of AT&T workers,” Herman Romero, a cook at the Sheraton Crystal City and member of UNITE HERE, told Union City. “The only way to win this fight is through solidarity,” he added. CWA representative Laura Unger – who is part of the current bargaining unit – said, “Because AT&T is refusing to negotiate, we’re upping the anti,” telling Union City that the union is reaching out to Congress for support. “AT&T&rsq uo;s anti-worker behavior is directly hurting this country’s economic recovery and we need Congress to hold them accountable,” she added. CWA Local 2252 President Sean Linehan also told Union City “In addition to our weekly rallies, we are leafleting local retailers and members of the public to raise awareness and generate more support for our members, who have been working without a contract for almost two months.” Linehan added, “I encourage those who wish to assist us in these efforts to call the Local at 703-255-2351.”

HITTING BACK AGAINST CORPORATE BONUSES: As public anger continues to boil over bonuses paid to executives of companies rescued by taxpayer funds, shareholders and labor allies are fighting back at a breakfast conference – sponsored by the Institutional Investor Educational Foundation & American Constitution Society – next Tuesday. “Investors in our nation’s largest financial institutions and other corporations have lost billions, millions of people have lost their jobs and their homes, and federal taxpayers’ money has been poured into many companies as part of the recent unprecedented federal government bailout,” Grant & Eisenhofer PA Managing Partner Jay Eisenhofer told Union City. “Yet the executives responsible for causing this financial turmoil in the first place have retained the enormous bonuses and incentive compensation they ‘earned’ based on profits that have since vanished,” he added. The breakfast will explore questions relating to whether ta xpayer money is being used to pay executive bonuses and will discuss the liability of corporate directors if they don’t comply with shareholders’ demands that inappropriate bonuses be returned.

Click here to register or call 617-674-2201 for more information.

The FCC is proposing a new bill that will be voted on for November 4th.

The bill is called the Inter Carrier Compensation and Universal Service Reform Package. Whew.

What does this mean to you?

-This bill changes the reciprocal rates that carriers have to pay but it is only one sided.

-The revenue impact to Frontier during the first four years is a loss of $250M. (Billions for mid-sized carriers)

-The carriers cannot pass this loss onto customers, so only option is to cut costs. This could mean LOSS of UNION JOBS.

What can you do to help?

-Contact the FCC Commissioners, Especially Michael Copps and Jonathan Adelstein to let them know this approch to rulemaking is unacceptable.

-Goto www.stopthefccvote.org. There you will be able to enter your zipcode and get information on your legislators as well as send letters directly to them from the site.

Remember, this is going to effect your job and the jobs of your fellow UNION brothers and sisters in the future if this gets passed.