CWA LOCAL 1108

COMMUNICATIONS WORKERS OF AMERICA LOCAL 1108, PATCHOGUE, NY WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 24, 2010  BOB MORROW SPEAKING

THE CPS AWARD FOR PLAN YEAR 2009 IS $770.00.  THE AWARD WILL BE PRO-RATED FOR LAID OFF EMPLOYEES AND THOSE EMPLOYEES WHO PARTICIPATED FOR MORE THAN 3 MONTHS BUT LESS THAN 12 MONTHS IN THE PLAN YEAR.  THE AWARD WILL BE PAID ON MARCH 4, 2010.

APPLICATIONS ARE NOW BEING ACCEPTED THROUGH MARCH 31^ST FOR THE JOE BEIRNE FOUNDATION’S ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIP OFFERING FOR THE 2010-2011 SCHOOL YEAR.

THERE ARE 15 PARTIAL COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS OF UP TO $3,000.00 EACH, ALSO THE WINNERS WILL RECEIVE SECOND YEAR SCHOLARSHIPS FOR THE SAME AMOUNT CONTINGENT UPON SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT.  APPLICATIONS WILL BE AVAILABLE SOLEY ON-LINE FOR COMPLETION AND SUBMISSION TO THE FOUNDATION WEBSITE, WWW.CWA-UNION.ORG/MEMBERS/BEIRNE.

THE UNION AND COMPANY ARE FORMING A COMMITTEE TO TRY AND FIX THE PROBLEMS WITH THE SCHEDULING CENTER, ANY PROBLEMS SHOULD BE GRIEVED.

THE ARBITRATION CASE FOR THE LAID OFF WORKERS IS BEING PREPARED, DAVID MINTZ WILL BE THE ATTORNEY FOR THE UNION.  DAVID IS THE ATTORNEY WHO SUCCESSFULLY ARBITRATED THE LAST DAY OFF.

REMEMBER TO WORK SAFELY, DO A QUALITY JOB, BE ON THE JOB AND DO YOUR OWN JOB.  THANK YOU FOR CALLING.

COMMUNICATIONS WORKERS OF AMERICA LOCAL 1108, PATCHOGUE, NY WEDNESDAY JANUARY 27, 2010  BOB MORROW SPEAKING

THE COMPANY RELEASED A PRESS RELEASE STATING IT WAS LOOKING TO CUT 13,000 JOBS THROUGH OUT THE COUNTRY.  THIS IS MANAGEMENT AS WELL AS CRAFT.  THIS ALSO TAKES INTO ACCOUNT THE PEOPLE IN THE MID-WEST WHERE THE COMPANY IS LOOKING TO SELL TO FRONTIER.

IN THE NEW YORK, NEW ENGLAND AREA WE HAVE VERY STRONG CONTRACT LANGUAGE TO PROTECT OUR JOBS FOR THOSE ON THE PAYROLL BEFORE AUGUST 2003.  THE COMPANY TESTED THIS LANGUAGE IN 2003 AND IT PROVED TO BE STRONG.  I WOULD HOPE THE COMPANY WOULD BE SMART ENOUGH NOT TO TEST IT AGAIN.

THOSE WHO HAVE RECEIVED ALL 6 SHIRTS FROM THE COMPANY, FOR NOW YOU MUST WEAR THEM.  THERE WILL BE MUCH MORE ON THE SHIRT ISSUE AS THE DAYS GO BY.

THE BARGAINING COMMITTEE MET WITH THE COMPANY ON THE NEW SAFETY COMPLIANCE PLAN.  INFORMATION REQUESTS HAVE BEEN MADE AND TALKS CONTINUE.

ANY PROBLEMS SCHEDULING VACATION, E-DAYS OR CHANGING AN N-DAY, SHOULD BE GRIEVED.

COMMUNICATIONS WORKERS OF AMERICA LOCAL 1108, PATCHOGUE, NY FRIDAY JANUARY 8, 2010,  BOB MORROW SPEAKING

SOON CONGRESS WILL MERGE SEPARATE HEALTH CARE BILLS FROM THE HOUSE AND SENATE.  CWA STRONGLY SUPPORTS THE HOUSE BILL.  IT WOULD:

1)      FINANCE REFORM BY MAKING THE WEALTHY PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE---NOT BY TAXING OUR HEALTH BENEFITS

2)      LET US KEEP THE HEALTH PLAN WE HAVE---AND STRENGTHEN IT

3)      REQUIRE MOST EMPLOYERS TO PROVIDE COVERAGE

THE SENATE BILL WILL TAX OUR HEALTH CARE BENEFITS.  IT ALSO DOES NOT REQUIRE EMPLOYERS TO PROVIDE COVERAGE.

WE NEED TO BE SURE THE HOUSE BILL---NOT THE SENATE BILL---BECOMES THE FINAL BILL.

CALL YOUR U.S. REPRESENTATIVE NOW AT 888-580-0792

TELL THEM:

1)      YOU SUPPORT THE HOUSE HEALTH CARE BILL

2)      YOU OPPOSE TAXING HEALTH CARE BENEFITS

3)      ALL EMPLOYERS SHOULD PROVIDE COVERAGE

REMEMBER TO WORK SAFELY, DO A QUALITY JOB, BE ON THE JOB AND DO YOUR OWN JOB.  THANK YOU FOR CALLING.

COMMUNICATIONS WORKERS OF AMERICA LOCAL 1108, PATCHOGUE, NY THURSDAY DECEMBER 31, 2009, BOB MORROW SPEAKING

ANOTHER YEAR HAS COME TO A CLOSE ALONG WITH THE DECADE; I PERSONALLY CAN’T SAY I WILL MISS THEM.

AN ATTACK ON OUR COUNTRY, TWO WARS AND BOTH STILL GOING ON, DOUBLE DIGIT UNEMPLOYMENT, 401K PLANS ANDS PENSION PLANS DEMOLISHED, OUR OWN LAYOFFS AND FIRINGS, FOR THOSE REASONS AND MANY OTHERS “GOOD RIDDANCE TO THIS PASS YEAR.”

LET’S AGREE TO WORK TO BRING ABOUT A BETTER NEW YEAR, LET’S END THE WARS AND GET OUR MEN AND WOMEN HOME.  LET’S PUT AN END TO CORPORATE GREED, LET’S START WITH VERIZON AND AT&T.  HOW ABOUT THEY START GROWING THE BUSINESS AND STOP RAPING IT. THE MANAGEMENT TEAM HAS SHOWN A TOTAL DISREGARD FOR THE CUSTOMER, IT IS UP TO US TO SHOW THE CUSTOMER THAT WE CARE ABOUT THEM.  ALL OF US WHO HAVE CUSTOMER CONTACT SHOULD DO ALL YOU CAN TO LET THE CUSTOMER KNOW YOU CARE.  DESPITE MANAGEMENT WE MUST DO THIS “IT’S OUR FUTURE.”

TO BEGIN 2010 THE COMPANY IS ROLLING OUT A NEW SAFETY PLAN WITH LOTS OF DISCIPLINE ATTACHED.  THE UNION NOTIFIED THE COMPANY THAT THEY MUST BARGAIN THE NEW PLAN.  BUT SO FAR THE COMPANY SEEMS TO BE PUSHING FORWARD WITH IT.  AS I SAID THIS SAFETY PLAN HAS DISCIPLINE BUILT IN.  SO TO PROTECT YOUR JOB YOU BEST WORK SAFELY.  WE TELL YOU THIS EVERYDAY ON THIS TAPE.  NOW THE COMPANY IS GOING TO USE SAFETY TO HELP THEM DOWNSIZE, DON’T GIVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY.  IF YOU WON’T WORK SAFELY FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES SAKE, DO IT FOR THE SAKE OF YOUR JOB.  TRUCK UNSAFE, DON’T DRIVE IT, TOOLS UNSAFE, DON’T USE THEM.  THE JOB YOU SAVE MAY BE YOUR OWN.

ON BEHALF OF MYSELF, OFFICERS AND THE EXECUTIVE BOARD WE WISH YOU ALL A HAPPY NEW YEAR!

REMEMBER TO WORK SAFELY, DO A QUALITY JOB, BE ON THE JOB AND DO YOUR OWN JOB.  THANK YOU FOR CALLING.

COMMUNICATIONS WORKERS OF AMERICA LOCAL 1108, PATCHOGUE, NY TUESDAY DECEMBER 22, 2009, BOB MORROW SPEAKING

ONCE AGAIN THE MEMBERS OF LOCAL 1108 SHOWED WHERE THEIR HEART IS BY CONTRIBUTING MORE THAN $19,000.00 TO THE VERIZON SUCKS FUND FOR THEIR LAYED OFF BROTHERS AND SISTERS.  THE LAYED OFF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN COMING INTO THE LOCAL TO COLLECT THEIR MONIES, THOSE WHO HAVE NOT CAN COME BY DURING NORMAL BUSINESS HOURS 7AM-5PM, ANY WEEKDAY OR CALL THE LOCAL OFFICE AT 631-654-1108 TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS.

ALONG WITH THE $19,000.00 FOR YOUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS, YOU ALSO COLLECTED ENOUGH TO ADOPT 8 FAMILIES THIS HOLIDAY SEASON.  WHEN YOU WERE DONE CONTRIBUTING YOUR MONEY, YOU ROLLED UP YOUR SLEEVES AND CONTRIBUTED OVER 190 PINTS OF BLOOD.

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK PHIL FORCINO FOR ONCE AGAIN MAKING OUR BLOOD DRIVE SUCH A SUCCESS.  ALSO THANK YOU TO THE CHIEFS AND STEWARDS FOR DOING SUCH A GREAT JOB AT COLLECTING FOR THE LAYED OFF PEOPLE AND BLOOD DRIVE.  AND THANK YOU CAROL MURRAY AND THE FOLKS AT RCMAC FOR MAKING THE ADOPT-A-FAMILY A SUCCESS.

MOST OF ALL THANK YOU, THE MEMBERS OF LOCAL 1108, FOR YOUR GENEROSITY, YOU FOLKS NEVER CEASE TO AMAZE ME.

ON BEHALF OF THE OFFICERS AND EXECUTIVE BOARD OF LOCAL 1108, WE WISH YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS.

REMEMBER TO WORK SAFELY, DO A QUALITY JOB, BE ON THE JOB AND DO YOUR OWN JOB.  THANK YOU FOR CALLING.

COMMUNICATIONS WORKERS OF AMERICA LOCAL 1108, PATCHOGUE, NY MONDAY NOVEMBER 16, 2009, BOB MORROW SPEAKING

WE HAVE BEEN ADVISED BY CHRIS CREAGER VERIZON’S PRESIDENT FOR THE NORTHEAST AREA, THAT VERIZON WILL LAY OFF ALL FIELD TECHNICIANS WITH POST 8/2003 NCSD ON WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2009.  THE NATIONAL UNION INFORMED CREAGER THAT IF THE COMPANY DID THIS, IT WAS IN VIOLATION OF OUR COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT AND THAT THE UNION WOULD DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO PROTECT OUR MEMBERS.

THERE WILL BE A GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING TONIGHT AT THE PATCHOGUE MANOR LOCATED ON RAILROAD AVENUE IN PATCHOGUE, IT WILL COMMENCE AT 6:00PM.  HAVE YOUR UNION CARD WITH YOU.

REMEMBER TO WORK SAFELY, DO A QUALITY JOB, BE ON THE JOB AND DO YOUR OWN JOB.  THANK YOU FOR CALLING.

COMMUNICATIONS WORKERS OF AMERICA LOCAL 1108, PATCHOGUE, NY TUESDAY NOVEMBER 10, 2009, BOB MORROW SPEAKING

AS IT BECOMES CLEARER, EVERY MOMENT THAT LAY OFFS WILL TAKE PLACE.  FOR THE SIMPLE REASON VERIZON MANAGEMENT REFUSES TO DO THE RIGHT THING BY THEIR EMPLOYEES AND GIVE THEM THE WORK THAT IS RIGHTFULLY THEIRS.  THE MANAGEMENT TEAM FOUND 49 MILLION DOLLARS TO BUY A GULFSTREAM AEROSPACE JET TO ADD TO THEIR ALREADY BLOATED CORPORATE AIR FORCE.  THE (7) JETS WE KNOW ABOUT COST OVER 100 MILLIOM DOLLARS.  WHAT IS THIS AIR FLEET FOR? 

WELL IVAN USED $143,000.00 JUST FOR HIS PERSONAL USE OF COMPANY AIRCRAFT IN 2008 TO GO ALONG WITH $15,000.00 FOR PERSONAL USE OF A COMPANY VEHICLE AND $10,000.00 FOR FINANCIAL PLANNING.  HE WAS ALSO GIVEN $150,000.00 FOR AN EXECUTIVE LIFE INSURANCE POLICY THAT PROVIDES 10 MILLION DOLLARS IN DEATH BENEFITS. 

THESE PERKS WOULD NOT NORMALLY RAISE MUCH OF A STINK AFTER ALL THESE ROBBER BARRONS HAVE BEEN STEALING FROM THEIR COMPANIES FOR A LONG TIME.  BUT WHEN THEIR EMPLOYEES ARE FACING LAY OFFS YOU MUST WONDER HOW THEY CAN SLEEP AT NIGHT.  YOU CAN ONLY HOPE THERE IS A SPECIAL PLACE IN HELL FOR THEM.

TOMORROW IS VETERANS DAY & LOCAL 1108 HONORS THE COURAGEOUS MEN AND WOMAN SERVING TODAY IN IRAQ, AFGHANISTAN AND THROUGH OUT THE WORLD, AND FOR THE VETERANS WHO HAVE SERVED THROUGH OUT THE YEARS.  MANY OF OUR LOCALS MEMBERS, ACTIVE AND RETIRED SERVED OUR NATION FROM WWII, KOREA, VIETNAM AND IN TODAYS CONFLICTS.  MANY OF OUR LOCALS MEMBERS ARE AMONG THOSE WHO CONTINUE TO SERVE THROUGH THE MILITARY RESERVES AND THE NATIONAL GUARD.  TO ALL OF YOU THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

REMEMBER TO WORK SAFELY, DO A QUALITY JOB, BE ON THE JOB AND DO YOUR OWN JOB.  THANK YOU FOR CALLING.

VERIZON REPORTED A 30 PERCENT DROP IN THIRD QUARTER EARNINGS TODAY, AS IT COULDN’T SIGN UP ENOUGH NEW SUBCRIBERS.  ANALYSTS BLAME VERIZON FIOS GROWTH NOT MEETING WALL STREET EXPECTATIONS, ALSO VERIZON LOST 135,000 DSL CUSTOMERS IN THIS QUARTER, WHICH WAS THE WORST ON RECORD.

BOTH WERE CAUSED BY CABLEVISION’S FIERCE COMPETITION, ALSO  VERIZON WIRELESS  WAS OUT PERFORMED BY AT&T BY ALMOST A MILLION MORE CUSTOMERS THIS QUARTER.  AND THIS ALL COMES BACK TO VERIZON’S MANAGEMENT FAILURE TO AGRESSIVELY GO AFTER THE COMPETITION, AS WE HAVE SEEN IN BROOKHAVEN TOWN, WHERE THEY HAVE BACKED AWAY FROM THE FIOS BUILD.

WITH GREAT SADNESS, I ANNOUNCE THE PASSING OF JOSEPH KELLY, LINEMAN FROM THE COMMACK GARAGE.  JOE PASSED AWAY OVER THE WEEKEND, OUR DEEPEST SYMPATHIES TO THE KELLY FAMILY.

REMEMBER TO WORK SAFELY, DO A QUALITY JOB, BE ON THE JOB AND DO YOUR OWN JOB.  THANK YOU FOR CALLING.