The Tape

Attention Members - Please be sure to call The Tape daily during these times to get the latest negoatiations updates.

THURSDAY JUNE 12, 2008
BOB MORROW SPEAKING

CWA BARGAINING UPDATE: THE CWA/IBEW 2213 REGIONAL BARGAINING COMMITTEE WORKED YESTERSDAY PREPARING A COMPREHENSIVE COUNTER PROPOSAL TO VERIZON’S MEDICAL AND PRESCRIPTION DRUG BENEFITS.  THE COMMITTEES WILL MEET AGAIN TODAY TO CONTINUE THIS WORK BEFORE MEETING WITH THE COMPANY.

TODAY IS THURSDAY, LOOK AT YOURSELF.  DO YOU HAVE RED ON?  DID YOU SHOW UP FOR INFORMATIONAL PICKETING?  IF NOT, WHY NOT?  MAYBE 1% OF YOU FAIL TO WEAR RED OR PICKET.  TO THAT 1% I WON’T EVEN ASK YOUR EXCUSE, I HAVE HEARD ALL YOUR LAME EXCUSES BEFORE.  BUT YOUR ONLY LOGICAL EXCUSE COULD BE THAT YOU DON’T USE UNION BENEFITS, YOU DON’T ACCEPT UNION PAY SCALE, WHICH RUNS ABOUT 10 TO 20% HIGHER THAN NON-UNION, YOU WOULD ALLOW THE COMPANY TO LAY YOU OFF WITHOUT ANY REGARD TO YOUR SENORITY RIGHTS, YOU DO NOT ACCEPT PAID SICK TIME, YOU TURN DOWN DOUBLE TIME AFTER 49 HOURS AND SUNDAY, YOU DO NOT TAKE YOUR VACATION TIME OR YOUR EWD’S, OR YOUR 11 PAID HOLIDAYS.  YOU DO NOT ACCEPT THE UNION FOUGHT FOR 81% MATCH TO YOUR 401K PLAN, YOU TURN DOWN THE STOCK OPTIONSAND YEARLY BONUSES, YOU WON’T TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE RETIREMENT PLAN NOR WILL YOU ACCEPT THE IPP MONEY (78 THOUSAND) AND THAN WE COME TO THE BIG ONE.  YOU DON’T WEAR RED BECAUSE YOU AND YOUR FAMILY WILL NOT USE DENTAL AND MEDICAL COVERAGE, THE VERY SAME COVERAGE GERRY HORGAN GAVE HIS LIFE FOR IN 1989.  TAKE ANY OTHER  EXCUSE AND STICK IT.  TO THE OTHER 99%, I THANK YOU BROTHERS AND SISTERS TOGETHER WE WILL PREVAIL.  AS FAR AS THE OTHERS GO I WOULD NOT TRUST THEM AS FAR AS I COULD THROW THEM. REMEMBER UNITED WE BARGAIN DIVIDED WE BEG.

WEDNESDAY JUNE 11, 2008
BOB MORROW SPEAKING

CWA BARGAINING UPDATE
THE CWA/IBEW 2213 REGIONAL BARGAINING COMMITTEE SPENT TIME YESTERDAY MORNING WORKING ON A COUNTER PROPOSAL WHICH WILL BE PRESENTED TO THE COMPANY.  BEFORE THE PROPOSAL CAN BE COMPLETED THE UNIONS NEED ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THAT HAS BEEN REQUESTED FROM THE COMPANY.  THE PARTIES MET YESTERDAY AFTERNOON.  THE UNIONS REQUESTED CLARIFICATION FROM THE COMPANY PERTAINING TO VERIZON’S HEALTH CARE AND PRESCRIPTION DRUG PROPOSALS, AS WELL AS ON OTHER ISSUES RAISED BY THE UNIONS IN EARLIER BARGAINING SESSIONS.  THE COMPANY PROVIDED SOME BUT NOT ALL OF THE INFORMATION.  NEGOTIATIONS WERE CONCLUDED FOR THE DAY AND SCHEDULED TO RESUME THIS MORNING.

MONDAY JUNE 9, 2008
BOB MORROW SPEAKING

CWA BARGAINING UPDATE: CWA/IBEW 2213 REGIONAL BARGAINING COMMITTEE AND THE IBEW NEW ENGLAND TEAM RESUMED NEGOTIATIONS WITH VERIZON FRIDAY IN RYE, NEW YORK.  THE UNIONS REQUESTED THAT THE COMPANY BRING A REPRESENTATIVE FROM BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD TO DISCUSS THE MEDICAL EXPENSE PLAN AND HOW THEY COORDINATE BENEFITS WITH MEDICARE.  DURING FRIDAYS SESSION THE BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD REPRESENTATIVES GAVE A PRESENTATION AND YOUR BARGAINING COMMITTEE HAD MANY QUESTIONS.  THE REPRESENTATIVES ALSO PROVIDED EXAMPLES ON HOW THEY PROCESSED THE CLAIMS THE COMPANY NEEDED TO REVIEW SOME OF THE QUESTIONS AND WILL GET BACK TO THE COMMITTEE.

BARGAINING HAS ADJOURNED FOR THE DAY AND IS SCHEDULED TO RESUME TODAY JUNE 9, 2008.  TODAY YOUR BARGAINING COMMITTEE WILL CONTINUE DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING JOBS AND FUTURE WORK.  YOUR COMMITTEE HAS MADE IT CLEAR THAT THE JOBS OF THE FUTURE IN VERIZON BELONG IN OUR BARGAINING UNIT AND NEGOTIATIONS WILL FOCUS ON THESE ISSUES TODAY. STAY IN TOUCH WITH THESE TAPES.

FRIDAY JUNE 6, 2008
BOB MORROW SPEAKING

CWA BARGAINING UPDATE: CWA/IBEW 2213 REGIONAL BARGAINING MET IN CAUCUS ON WEDNESDAY MORNING.  THE AFTERNOON SESSION WITH THE COMPANY CENTERED ON GRIEVANCE AND ARBITRATION PROCESS.
BARGAINING THAN RECESSED FOR THE DAY AND RESUMED ON THURSDAY.  WHEN OUR BARGAINING TEAM HAD PREVIOUSLY QUESTIONED THE COMPANY ON DETAILS OF THEIR PRESENTATION ON THE MEDICAL AND PRESCRIPTION DRUG BENEFITS FOR NEW YORK AND NEW ENGLAND AND THERE WERE A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS THAT WERE OUTSTANDING.  THE COMPANY RESPONDED TO MOST OF THOSE QUESTIONS.  THEIR ANSWERS RESULTED IN MORE QUESTIONS THAT NEED TO BE ANSWERED.  THERE ARE MANY QUESTIONS CONCERNING THE PRESCRIPTION DRUG PLAN THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED.  THE UNION CAUCUSED LATE IN THE DAY TO REVIEW THE NEW INFORMATION THAT WAS PROVIDED. BARGAINING HAS RESUMED TODAY AT 9AM.

TUESDAY JUNE 3, 2008
BOB MORROW SPEAKING

BABYLON BOARD TODAY RULED IN FAVOR OF THE VERIZON FRANCHISE AGREEMENT.  THIS IS GOOD NEWS FOR US.  IT WILL GIVE US MORE WORK.  IT IS GOOD NEWS FOR THE RESIDENTS OF BABYLON BECAUSE IT NOW GIVES THEM A CHOICE.  AND WHEN GIVEN A CHOICE I BELIEVE THEY WILL PICK VERIZON.  IT’S A BETTER PRODUCT.  SUPPORTED BY THE BEST TECH.
GEORGE WELKER AMD THE EMTORE EXECUTIVE BOARD WOULD LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE WHO SHOWED UP TODAY TO GIVE SUPPORT.
THE AGREEMENT NOW GOES TO THE PSL FOR FINAL APPROVAL ON JUNE 2ND. CWA/IBEW REGIONAL BARGAINING COMMITTEE AND THE IBEW NEW ENGLAND TEAM RESUMED NEGOTIATIONS WITH VERIZON YESTERDAY IN RYE, NEW YORK.  THE COMPANY PROVIDED MUCH OF THE INFORMATION WHICH THE TWO (2) UNIONS REQUESTEE LAST WEEK.  THE COMPANY GAVE SPECIFIC EXAMPLES AS TO THE IMPACT OF THEIR PROPOSALS ON OUR MEMBERS RELATED TO MEDICAL AND PRESCRIPTION DRUG BENEFITS.  THE UNION CAUCUSED LATE YESTERDAY AFTERNOON TO REVIEW THE INFORMATION RECEIVED. BARGAINING HAS ADJOURNED FOR THE DAY AND IS SCHEDULED TO RESUME TODAY.STAY IN TOUCH WITH THIS TAPE FOR FURTHER UPDATES.

MONDAY JUNE 2, 2008
BOB MORROW SPEAKING

DURING FRIDAY’S BARGAINING SESSION VERIZON PRESENTED THEIR PROPOSAL ON HEALTHCARE INCLUDING THE MEDICAL AND PRESCRIPTION DRUG PLANS.  THE CWA/IBEW NEW ENGLAND BARGAINING TEAM MEMBERS QUESTIONED THE COMPANY ON ALL ASPECTS OF THEIR PROPOSAL.  ADDITIONALLY, THE UMIONS MADE SEVERAL REQUESTS FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. BARGAINING HAS ADJOURNED FOR THE DAY AND IS SCHEDULED TO RESUME TODAY.  AT WHICH TIME THE COMPANY IS EXPECTED TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TOMORROW JUNE 3RD, THE TOWN OF BABYLON WILL BE HOLDING THE FINAL FIOS FRANCHISE HEARING, PLEASE MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO ATTEND.  THE MEETING WILL START AT 8AM, LOCATION 200 E. SUNRISE HIGHWAY LINDENHURST, N.Y. 

OTHER FRANCHISE HEARINGS FOR JUNE ARE AS FOLLOWS:
TUESDAY JUNE 17TH, 7PM VILLAGE OF NORTHPORT.
THURSDAY JUNE 19, 7:30PM VILLAGE OF LAKE GROVE.
STAY IN TOUCH WITH THESE TAPES FOR FURTHER UPDATES.