Important Tape Release 10/12/26 – Verizon/Frontier Phone Service & Benefits

Membership Updates:

Update on FCC ending traditional home phone service:  As far as we know there are several states suing the FCC,  service will not be ending in NYS on November 30th or as far as we know in the near future as Verizon has taken no action with the NYS PSC to date.  The Company still has an obligation to service existing customers.

Other Items:

The rumor about the Company installing dual facing cameras is no contract.  We’ve been advised that the Company is cancelling its contract with telematics and has contracted to upgrade the existing GPS units in the vehicles.  We’re working on an information request to see just what  the Company intends to analyze and how they’re going to use it.

Benefits:

Verizon doesn’t have a brokerage feature as part of its 401k offering.  For those members that have brokerage accounts, you’ll have to make decisions either before transition or the investments will be liquidated as part of the transition, you’ll then need to reinvest the funds in the investments that are part of Verizon’s 401k.

The EME program is going to end with the Verizon contract.  The Union is recommending that members get their claims in as soon as possible, do not wait until after the new Year.

We’re currently in the process of working with the Company on the vacation selections for next year.  Two things: first, we’ll be selecting our vacation off of our existing contract and rules; second, the amount of vacation everyone gets on January 1st will be adjusted based on Verizon’s contract.  Our secretary Diane Papas has emailed information out to our members in regard to Verizon’s vacation allotments.  There will be no carry over of vacation into 2027, the Company will be paying out any unused vacation.

We’re waiting on responses to benefit questions and will get information out to everyone over the coming weeks and months.

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