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***BARGAINING UPDATE***

CONGRATULATIONS! ! ! !

LOCAL 1302 NOW HAS RATIFIED A NEW 5 YEAR CONTRACT! ! !  

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS REAGARDING THE NEW CONTRACT, PLEASE CONTACT THE UNION OFFICE.

December 9, 2008
Brothers and Sisters,
 
We have finally come to the time we have all been waiting for, our ratification meeting! 
 
We are trying to get this done as fast and as easy as possible.  We are planning to do the complete ratification this Thursday 12/11/08.  The Bargaining Committee will be splitting up to cover the north and south sales offices.  We cannot make it to each and every location but would like to give every member equal communication.  We are going to be going to Manchester, Worcester and the Warwick sales offices starting early Thursday morning.  People in the surrounding sales offices can choose to attend the meeting if they wish.  I will be getting the Bargaining Report out to the offices by early Wednesday for your review.  Have all questions ready and available as there is alot of information to go over.  Once we finish reviewing and voting in the sales offices then we will be returning to Middleton to complete the ratification.   The meeting in Middleton will be in the large conference room under the stairwell on the 1st floor.  We will let you all know what the times will be for the meetings in each office.         
 
STAY POSTED FOR APPROXIMATE MEETING TIMES.
 
Thank You,
Lynda Nordyke, President
CWA Local 1302

December 3, 2008

I was hoping to schedule a ratification vote this week, however the Union is waiting for language from the company.  Once we receive and review that, we will schedule our ratification meeting.   All of us want this completed and it can't happen fast enough! 

As soon as I can schedule a meeting, notification will be sent.

Thank you,
Lynda Nordyke, President
CWA Local 1302

WE HAVE REACHED A TENTATIVE AGREEMENT WITH THE COMPANY, WHICH SHOULD BE RATIFIED SHORTLY AFTER THANKSGIVING... PLEASE CHECK BACK FOR UPDATES AS THEY BECOME AVAILABLE.

Please read Chris Shelton's letter in regards to the latest email sent by Scott Klein:

Click here to read Chris Shelton's response letter

ALL MEMBERS PLEASE READ 11/16/2008
Brothers and Sisters,
I'm not sure if your aware but we (1302 & 1301) have been working without a contract for the past 17 months.  There are a few issues left that have to be ironed out.  But the last issue and one of the most important issues, which we can't seem to get anywhere with the Company on, is retiree healthcare.  We have been battling this issue more ways than you can possibly think and still the company does not want to acknowledge retirees, past, present or future.! ! ! !   Idearc claims they "never promised retirees anything"! ! !   It seems that the retirees, for some reason, are blaming the union and the bargaining team for what is happening.  I don't know why they would think that CWA would settle for less for our retirees.  Retirees had no voice in what happened when they were spun off and didn't even retire from Idearc.  We have been trying to protect retiree benefits since we sat down at the table 17 months ago.  Click on the link below to read a letter that the Vice President of District 1, Chris Shelton, wrote to the members of 1302, including the retirees.   Please share it with anyone and everyone you can reach out to.   The word  should go out as to how this company is treating the people that gave their lives to this company.   There are obscene amts of cash in their corporate pockets but yet do not want to take care of anyone once they have retired from the company. 
 
 The International is well aware of what is going on and they are taking steps to get this company to do the right thing.    
 
You may even want to let the CEO of this company how you feel  His email address is scott.klein@idearc.com.
 
That is where the messages should be going! ! !   Let this man know that this union is still here and we will NOT take this sitting down! ! ! 
 
In Solidarity,
Lynda Nordyke, President
CWA Local 1302

Click Here To Read Chris Shelton's Letter

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Dear Sisters and Brothers,

 

You must know that I absolutely share with each and every one of you, the disappointment, anger, frustration and anxiety over the failure to reach agreement with the Company for the past sixteen months. This is not due to any lack of concerted effort from your bargaining team. We have offered the Company several proposals, including three creative suggestions in just the last two weeks. 

 

This never-ending negotiating has tremendously exasperated and disillusioned your entire bargaining team. We have all spent many sleepless nights contemplating our fate. I have personally been at several bargaining tables over the years, and have never experienced anything like this. Frankly, it is unbelievable.

 

Incredibly, we have actually made some progress. CWA International has been terrific in their leadership, resources and support. We are now basically down to one issue of disagreement, albeit, a major issue.  We continue to remain hopeful that we can resolve our issues.

 

Please remain patient, everything possible is being done to bring this home. Stay strong, united and mobilized.

 

In Solidarity,

CWA 1302 Bargaining Team

Lynda Nordyke, President

October 3, 2008

****LAST NIGHT THE COMPANY AND THE UNION MADE SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS ON JOB SECURITY LANGUAGE, THE MEETINGS IN N.Y. HAVE ALSO PROGRESSED FAVORABLY - KEEP POSTED FOR MORE UPDATES ON A POSSIBLE RATIFICATION MEETING****

October 1, 2008
THE UNION AND THE COMPANY HAVE BEEN MEETING IN TX AND NY ALL WEEK. MAKING SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS. Negotiations continue throughout the week, both locally and regionally, keep posted for all updates.

STAY UNITED, STAY STRONG! ! ! !
IN SOLIDARITY
Lynda Nordyke

September 23, 2008
Talks are still ongoing on the Executive level this week. More updates to follow.

September 17, 2008
The International is meeting with the Company today to see if they can tie up loose ends with the major issues. They will get back to the Local by the end of the week and we'll see where we are at that point.

September 16, 2008
All Bargaining Units of 1302, 1301, 2213 and CWA International, are meeting today in Boston to discuss negotiations. Check back tomorrow for updates.

September 5, 2008
FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT DO NOT KNOW OR HAVE NOT HEARD
RETIREE BENEFITS ARE ONE OF THE MAIN ISSUES STILL OPEN
AT THE BARGAINING TABLE. IDEARC DOESN'T SEEM TO WANT
TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE RETIREES FOR ANY BENEFITS. CWA
IS STILL DISCUSSING THIS ISSUE WITH THE COMPANY.

August 28, 2008
Talks are ongoing at the higher level, and once an agreement is reached, we will settle any remaining issues and hold our ratification meeting.

July 14, 2008:
Bargaining has resumed. Some progress has been made. More updates to follow as they become available.
Latest Bargaining Update:
Yesterday CWA District 1 and IBEW 2213 met with Idearc Labor Relations at CWA Headquarters in New York. Discussion was held on going back to the bargaining table. Conversations were positive and both sides will be getting together later this week to discuss resuming formal negotiations. It has always been the Union's objective to get a fair and equitable agreement for the members of CWA 1302, 1301 and IBEW 2213. Your bargaining committee knows that this has been a difficult time for everyone.

We thank you for your support and solidarity!

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June 11th:
The Bargaining Committee has resumed regional discussions in New York. They will be meeting both today and tomorrow.
Also, the Verizon bargaining table has resumed today.
Stay tuned for updates!!!

June 5th - The bargaining committee will meet in Purchase NY to resume bargaining this morning.

Local 1302 sat down with the company on Monday to revisit Job Security.  We believe we made a lot of progress and at this time are waiting for a formal proposal from the company.   Once we receive this proposal from the Company it will be reviewed by Dennis Trainor and our attorney.

The regional table has been talking for approximately the past month in NY.  The only ones included in that at this time are the chairpersons and our International Rep.  They're discussing medical and pensions, which they also feel there has been progress made on those 2 topics.   

 

On the Verizon side, there are meetings scheduled to resume early bargaining in Rye NY on May 27th.  We will keep you posted on the progress at that table.

 

The company will present the Union with a formal proposal June 6th regarding job security.

STAY STRONG – STAY UNITED !

Unfortunately, this website cannot support the size files that were attached to the below bargaining update. We will forward those attachments to those members that have signed up here for bargaining updates by email. If anyone else wishes to get copies, please contact your Union Representative. There will also be a limited number of copies at this coming Saturdays membership meeting. Thank you for your understanding.

Bargaining Update

November 13, 2007

On Wednesday, November 7th you received an e-mail message from Georgia Scaife, VP of Idearc Human Resources letting you know the company is implementing their most recent proposal from September 18, 2007.

The CWA feels it is important for our members to understand what the company has actually proposed and what the Union has proposed as counters to Idearc's demands for huge give backs on everything in the existing Collective Bargaining Agreements with CWA Locals 1301 and 1302 and IBEW Local 2213. Over the past few months of bargaining the Union has exchanged multiple proposals with Idearc in an attempt to get a fair contract.

At an August 29th bargaining session, the Union gave Idearc a proposal which is available to you on this website. It is a comprehensive proposal for addressing the main issues for wage increases for non-commission employees, a sales compensation plan, health and other benefits, pensions, job security language.

After 3 weeks, Idearc, on September 18th, sent their counter-proposal via e-mail to Dennis Trainor, CWA Bargaining Chairperson. Idearc's proposal did not meet any of our needs with the exception of the sales proposal, which was still missing key items that the company had told us verbally that we could have. We met with the company again on October 10th and 11th. On October 30th, CWA met with Idearc in Washington, D.C. to discuss pension issues. We are also posting Idearc's September 18th proposal to us along with the Job Security draft language that they gave to Dennis October 30th.

We reconvened bargaining in Middleton, MA on November 5th in hopes of reaching an agreement. A session was held on job security where we asked the Company bargainers several questions on the job security document Idearc Chairperson Peter Konrad gave to Dennis on October 30th. At that meeting the company said they understood our concerns and said they would work on language to address our issues and get back to us. That same day we passed the company a proposal on health care (it is also posted here); which the company failed to respond to and we also met with the Sales Bargaining team to discuss the proposal in relation to what the company has been implementing over the past few weeks.

Clearly we were still bargaining when the company declared impasse.

Here are a few of the important points:

Healthcare:
Idearc proposed to cut the current benefit plans and have employees start paying towards the insurance premium costs. The plan you would be paying for would be a lesser plan than you currently have. The company would also offer an HMO in addition to the sponsored plan, but only guarantee they would do that for 1 year. Idearc's proposal has language that says they will not diminish the plan; but can not tell us exactly what "will not diminish"; means. If they were to make changes in the plan, the Union could go to an arbitrator if we felt they diminished the plan; but that arbitrator would only have the authority to send us back to Idearc and would not have any authority to remedy our issue.

CWA and IBEW have made movement in our proposals to accept our members contributing to their health plan and asking for some choices and some guarantees that during the contract the plan won't be changed.

Pension:
Idearc does not want you to have a pension. Idearc proposed freezing the current pension plan effective December 31, 2008. They would make no further contributions to employees pensions and future employees would have no pension. The lump sum option would also go away. In place of the pension, the company is proposing an enhanced 401k plan.

CWA and IBEW have made proposals and explored options with Idearc to protect the employees who have a lot of time invested and are close to retirement by proposing adding years to age and service in order to qualify for their pension sooner. We have also explored with the company the feasibility of phasing in an enhanced 401k plan with more junior employees and new employees in combination with a plan that would have the company making a contribution to the new 401k in order to help those members who find it impossible to contribute due to the cost of living.

Job Security:
Idearc wants to take all job security language out of the contract. Their September 18th proposal does not include job security provisions. They did give a proposal that is marked draft, but it falls short of addressing our concerns and leaves too much open to interpretation by Idearc.
CWA and IBEW have worked with the company by proposing job security language that is tied to group productivity. What we need is input in setting the productivity benchmarks and the ability to challenge any surplus or movement of work in arbitration if we need to. Historically the Union representatives in these groups have always worked jointly with the company in these types of things, but the company wants all the control now.

Sales Compensation and Standards Plan:
Idearc and the CWA have agreed that there is much in the current plans that does not work for the company or the employees anymore and the Union is willing to change the way the compensation and assignment plans work and also worked on a new Performance Improvement Plan that would replace the Minimum Standards Plan. Although Idearc has indicated that there are things in our proposal that they could agree to, they did not include these things in there September 18th proposal.
The CWA has agreed that many of these changes make sense as long as the health care and pension and other things were acceptable for our members. Our proposal gives them flexibility in assignments and commission rates that they need, while keeping our ability to address changes in a Joint Steering Committee.

Attached are some of the recent proposals that have been made:

1.Union Proposal-August 29, 2007

2.Union Sales Proposal-part of the Aug 29th proposal

3.Company Proposal-September 18, 2007

4.Draft Company Proposal-October 30, 2007

5.Union Proposal-November 5, 2007

***URGENT UPDATE 11/6/2007***

Brothers & Sisters,

As you know, the Union has been bargaining with Idearc since April. Throughout these several months the Company has engaged in a pattern of bad faith bargaining insisting on severely diminishing the terms and conditions of employment. Throughout, the Union has resisted coming back with creative attempts to meet the Company's needs and maintain decent standards for our members. Unfortunately, the Company has never really moved away from its original regressive positions.

Today, the Company advised us that they believe that the parties are at impasse and that they will be implementing their last offer. We think that they are wrong and that their actions are illegal. We have filed charges with the National Labor Relations Board and will be filing additional charges.

However, the Company's declaration of impasse has real consequences for you. The Company will be sending out its open enrollment package almost immediately. You will see that the plans they are offering are inferior to your current benefits package. Also, although this will not be obvious from the open enrollment package you will get, the Company is not agreeing to include all of the offerings in the collective bargaining agreement or to allow the Union to bargain over the details of the plans. This means that the Company will be free to cancel many of the plans if it so decides. Unfortunately, you will need to select a benefits option from these inferior offerings, however, the issue is not over. The Union will keep fighting to get better plan offerings and to get them into the contract.

Shortly, the Company will begin implementing other aspects of their last offer and you will understand why the Union would not agree to the Company's proposals. We believe all the other implementations are violations of the law. We will attempt to advise you of the Company's plans and their implications as they develop.

We strongly believe that the Company's actions are illegal and we are pursuing legal remedies at the Labor Board. We know that you have all stood united over the last several months. That unity will become even more important in the next several months. Our fight for a fair contract is not over, in fact, in some ways it has just begun. We have a better understanding of how low the Company is willing to go and it is only strengthening our resolve. Soon we will be meeting with everyone and will roll out our next steps.

Stay Strong! Stay United!

Dennis G. Trainor
Assistant to the Vice President
CWA District 1

Pat Telesco
Staff Representative
CWA District 1

George Alcott
President
CWA Local 1301

Lynda Nordyke
President
CWA Local 1302

***Bargaining Update 11/5/2007***
CWA Local 1302 and IBEW Local 2213 sat down with the company today to review job security. The union is waiting for answers to our request from the company. Also, there was a meeting with the regional table including CWA locals 1302, 1301 and IBEW 2213 where the union put forth a medical proposal and the company did not respond. Updates to follow.

Bargaining Update 10/16/2007

Negotiations started up again for a couple of days last week. Medical Packages will be coming out soon. PLEASE READ YOUR PACKAGE CAREFULLY. There will be an informational meeting regarding the packages at a later date to be determined.

OPEN ENROLLMENT FOR MEDICAL BENEFITS IS HERE

As you all know, it's that time of year for the open enrollment and people should be receiving their packages. It is VERY IMPORTANT for everyone to read their packages thoroughly!!! You should not see any changes to your current coverage. If you do, please contact the union office, an officer, eboard member or union steward and make them aware of the change. We then will go to the International with that information. If we are not made aware of the change by the members, there is no other way we will know of any changes. So, even if you choose not to change your medical coverage, you should still be looking your package over. DO NOT JUST THROW IT AWAY! ! !

If there are ANY questions regarding this issue please contact a union rep.

The Union & The Company spent the past 3 days meeting in Middleton.

The Union presented a Complete Package to the company.

The Company reviewed the package, but requested time to bring it back to Dallas to completely analyze it.

The meetings were positive & the Union hopes these lead to further discussions in the near future.

Nothing further scheduled at this time.

Any additional information will be updated when available !

***BARGAINING TO RESUME MONDAY AUGUST 27th***
UPDATES TO FOLLOW
WE ARE UNION, WE ARE STRONG! AND UNLIKE THE COMPANY, WE TAKE CARE OF OUR OWN! REMAIN SOLID! REMAIN UNITED!

***6/27/2007***

As you are all aware we are currently working without a contract. Basically, our current contract is intact, except, we do not enjoy arbitration rights.

The Union is awaiting the Company's response to our data requests. We need this data to do cost comparisons on the company's economic proposals. We are not in formal bargaining sessions.

Bargaining team members are going to New York City this Thursday for a number of reasons.

Most importantly is to meet with CWA District One Vice President, Chris Shelton and his staff.

Secondly, a rally of between five and ten thousand Union workers and supporters is being held at Verizon Company Headquarters. The main purpose of the rally is to stop the sale in Northern New England of the Telco. V.P. Shelton has asked President George Alcott from local 1301 to take the opportunity to speak of our plight. We are looking for all of our brothers and sisters in New York and throughout the Verizon footprint to support us. This is the perfect opportunity to begin to gather that support, as well as to get some press regarding our situation.

We know these are anxious and frightening times. But, if WE ALL STAY UNITED, and, WE ALL STAY STRONG, we will prevail!

It is more important at this time than any, to remain mobilized. WEAR RED ON THURSDAYS! WEAR BLACK ON FRIDAYS!

We have had some terrific Friday afternoon rallies up in Middleton. There was a tremendous showing of support Friday evening at the Peabody Marriott, where the Company is training and housing a good number of contract workers. Great job by those who attended!

Keep up the good work!

When further information is available we will get it out to you ASAP.

STAY STRONG! STAY UNITED! HAVE FAITH IN YOUR LEADERSHIP!

***6/24/2007 9pm***

The company and CWA Locals 1301 and 1302 along with IBEW 2213 have not made any progress. We are asking everyone to report to their normal work location. If you are in the Middleton,MA building, please arrive at 6:15am. If you are out in one of the sales offices, please report at 7:15am. We will be getting a call from CWA District 1 to let us know if we are going out on strike or working without a contract.

REMEMBER, REMAIN STRONG, REMAIN UNITED!

6/24/2007

At this time no agreement has been reached.
We are still miles apart on a number of issues.
An executive Board meeting has been scheduled for tonight at 8pm.
Your team captain will contact you with further information after the meeting.
STAY STRONG!
STAY UNITED!

***ATTENTION 6/21/2007***
The bargaining team presented a counter proposal to the one we received from the company on June 14th. We are waiting for a reply. Don't forget to wear BLACK tomorrow. Also, please do anything in your power to be at the GARDEN PARTY at the Middleton, MA building Friday the 22nd at 5:00pm!!! It is requested that ALL Union Members attend.

********BARGAINING UPDATE *********
6/14/2007
Today bargaining between CWA Locals 1301, 1302 and IBEW 2213 resumed.
Idearc presented all 3 locals regressive agreements which gave nothing to our members.
After that, the regional table resumed after a week and a 1/2 break.  During that time, the company did nothing but hand back to us the same retrogressive proposals they had given us on April 25th.

In these proposals Idearc did nothing but take EVERY ONE of our benefit plans and turn them into handbook items that they could change at will.

WE MUST MOBILIZE !!!!!!!!

WEAR RED ON THURSDAY - - BLACK ON FRIDAY -- let us show Idearc that they can't break us.
We will stay strong and United

We all know that the contract was extended 3 weeks, but that does NOT mean that the fight is over. The biggest item on the local table is the Job Security Letter that is in our current contract. The company wants to remove that letter and the bargaining committee is quite clear, that will never happen. We continue to bargain in good faith.

The strike assignments are currently being finalized. If you have any needs concerning strike assignments or any other questions, please contact Denise Thomas at: dt0527@yahoo.com. If you have not supplied anyone with your home/cell number, please forward that to Denise also. If and when the time comes, you will be notified by your picket captain by midnight the night before we go out on strike. EVERYONE is to report to your regular work location to picket first thing the following morning you are notified. Picket assignments for the sales offices have not yet been decided.
ALSO, STAY TUNED FOR UPCOMING MOBILIZATION ANNOUNCEMENTS!!!
STAY SOLID!
STAY UNITED!

********IMPORTANT NOTICE **********
Idearc Media, CWA Locals 1301 and 1302 along with IBEW 2213 have agreed to extend the Collective Bargaining Agreement until 11:59 pm, June 23rd, 2007.
There are several issues that are still outstanding. Both sides have agreed that the extra time is critical in trying to resolve these issues towards a mutual agreement.
Everyone should report to their regularly scheduled work assignment Monday morning June 4th.

6/2/2007 ********IMPORTANT NOTICE **********
Idearc Media, CWA Locals 1301 and 1302 along with IBEW 2213 have agreed to extend the Collective Bargaining Agreement until 11:59 pm, June 23rd, 2007.
There are several issues that are still outstanding. Both sides have agreed that the extra time is critical in trying to resolve these issues towards a mutual agreement.
Everyone should report to their regularly scheduled work assignment Monday morning June 4th.

6/2/2007

Here is an excerpt from Local 1301's website.
"One Day to Go!
Local Bargaining is expected to continue Friday evening. We have had some decent discussions regarding compensation. We are still waiting on an updated comprehensive presentation on assignment of work, Both the Local and Regional Tables will be meeting throughout the weekend".

PLEASE VISIT THEM AT THIS LINK: CWA LOCAL 1301

STRIKE VOTE: A strike vote was taken and our local authorized a strike if needed. There was a total of 188 votes, 174 "yes" and 14 "no". You passed the strike vote with 92% voting "yes".
STAY SOLID!
STAY UNITED!

5/22/2007
Today, the Union countered Idearc's Insulting and Regressive Proposals.
CWA Locals 1302 and 1301, along with IBEW Local 2213 have no intent of accepting any proposals that severely diminish our current benefits. Benefits, that we have all fought long and hard for over many contracts to attain.
The Union replied with Proposals that maintain and increase all of our current benefit plans, wages and Pensions.
We will continue to meet with the Company in trying to resolve our Significant Differences.
Stay Solid
Stay United
Wear your Red and your pins. Especially in the Middleton building !!!!

5/11/2007 Discussions are underway with no major issues at this time.
Common Bargaining: No meetings were held this week, but will resume next week.
More information to follow...

4/25/2007 Regional bargaining began today, Tuesday, April 25th in Middleton, MA. Between CWA Locals 1302, 1301, IBEW Local 2213 and Idearc.
The Company put forth a proposal which would terminate the current pension plan, and further, gut ALL benefits. We fought hard for these benefits over the years, particularly medical benefits. The Companys proposal would immediately gut the benefits and not guarantee them down the road.
Obviously, this is unacceptable. Stay united. Stay solid. Stay strong. Further updates forthcoming.
CWA/IBEW Regional Bargaining Team