Local 1170 Joins CWA Upstate NY Coalition at Verizon

Brothers and Sisters,

We are writing one final time regarding the successful completion of the ratification vote process.

As you know, the Tentative Agreement was approved when a majority of members in CWA District 1 voted to ratify the contract extensions at Verizon. The coalition of union locals that make up this partnership supported the agreement and recommended a YES vote—and you delivered.

Together, members across our coalition broke participation records throughout the region and across New York State. That level of engagement is something every member should be proud of.

Our support for this agreement was grounded by a clear and simple principle: this is a strong contract that delivers real results for our members and their families.

Over the past month, there were strong opinions and spirited debate. That is part of union democracy—every member has the right to agree or disagree.

But democracy does not end with debate—it requires respect for both the process and the outcome.  The District 1 bargaining committee approved the agreement by a 5–2 vote. D2/13, IBEW T6, 2213, and 827 supported it unanimously.  A clear majority—thirteen of the sixteen locals—supported the agreement, with one remaining neutral and two opposing it.

So, while that principle was not respected initially, the system ultimately worked as it should. The ratification vote belonged to the membership—as it always does—and members turned out in record numbers to make their voices heard.

This contract is not perfect—no contract ever is. But despite the criticism some continue to throw at it, it remains the standard-bearer in our industry—and it’s not even close.

It’s the reason we encourage our family, our friends, and even members from other bargaining units to apply for these jobs. We would not do that if this were not a truly strong, blue-collar union job.

This is the contract we measure everything else against.  Whenever agreements are negotiated for other telecommunications bargaining units, this is the benchmark we fight to reach.  This is the model.

And yes, some will continue to criticize—that is their right. But the reality is simple: people stay in these jobs because they understand what this contract provides—strong wages, real benefits, dignity on the job, job security, and a standard of living built over generations of union members—including this one.

We didn’t get here by accident.
We fought for it.
We sacrificed for it.
And we defended it—together.

Can it be improved? Absolutely.

And with this agreement, we did exactly that—we made it stronger.

That is something worth recognizing and celebrating.

This process also demonstrated the strength of our coalition. Members stayed engaged, participated in large numbers, and made informed decisions based on facts. That unity is what drives results.

We are proud that locals across this coalition stood up for their members and families while standing shoulder-to-shoulder with our District 1 bargaining team and our brothers and sisters across New England, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and the Mid-Atlantic.

It proved something important: leadership matters. Having the pulse of the membership—and truly understanding your membership matters.

And size alone does not define strength.  Even when counted out, unity and determination can carry us forward.

We were told we couldn’t win.
We were told we didn’t matter.
We were told some of our locals were too small.

We were attacked on social media.  We faced criticism and noise along the way.

But we stayed focused.  We didn’t complain.  We didn’t make excuses.

We pushed though the finish line—together.

Thank you to every member who participated, stayed informed, and encouraged others to vote. That is how strong unions operate.

Because at the end of the day—
As CWA says: When we fight, we win.

This ratification proved that real strength is forged in unity—not division. 

In solidarity,

Kevin Sheil, President, CWA Local 1103

Mike Ippoliti, President, CWA Local 1104

Todd Kelsey, President, CWA Local 1107

Nicole Adams, President, CWA Local 1111

Tom Oakley, President, CWA Local 1115

John Van Denburgh, President, CWA Local 1118

Jim Gescheidle, President, CWA Local 1120

Tom Antonio, President, CWA Local 1122

Jim Leone, President, CWA Local 1123

Dave Wilson, President, CWA Local 1124

Laine Madison, President, CWA Local 1126

John Pusloskie, President, CWA Local 1170

Don Trementozzi, President, CWA Local 1400