Good Afternoon All,
This is an update on the non-surplus group of volunteers for the special enhanced offer.  After meeting with the company on several occasions over the last month Vz. has agreed to release all of the non-surplus volunteers.  They will be released on one of two dates.  The dates are August 8, 2010 and November 21, 2010. A letter will go to the Potomac non-surplus volunteers who will be leaving the payroll on August 8, 2010.  The letters will be mailed beginning Friday July 23, 2010.
 
The second attachment lists all the Potomac non-surplus volunteers and
their respective off payroll dates.  
 
In Unity,
Gail Evans
CWA District 2

If you are a non-surplus volunteer for the EISP and need to know your off-payroll date please call the Union Hall as the list will not be posted on the web site.


Tune into WBAL channel 11 to see the report done on Verizon service quality tonight at 11:00 pm.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics recently announced the National Consumer
Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W). The May
2009 CPI-W was 208.77 while the May 2010 CPI-W was 214.12.  This
resulted in a difference of 2.56% which fell below the 3.75% in the
CPI-W as outlined in the 2008 MOU. Therefore, eligible associates in the
New England, New York and Mid-Atlantic areas covered by East Collective
Bargaining Agreements will not receive a cost of living adjustment
(COLA) in 2010. 

The General Wage Increase (GWI) of 3.75% will be  effective  Aug. 1,
2010.

Good Afternoon All,
This is an update regarding the non-surplus volunteers.
There were 292 non-surplus volunteers from 28 different
 director groups.  As of today these directors have not 
released all of the non- surplus volunteers.  Discussions 
will continue regarding this issue. The MOA allows for a 
30 day period to determine whether these non surplus 
volunteers will be accepted.  We will update you as soon 
as a decision is reached.
In Unity,

Gail Evans
CWA District 2

6/15/2010

The Fate of Thousands of CWA Members Jobs Hinge on Congressional Votes This Week:

• H.R. 4213: The Promoting American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act of 2010
  • This week, the House of Representatives will be voting on the "Tax Extenders" bill, formerly titled the American Workers, State, and Businesses Relief Act of 2010- H.R. 4213. This bill was originally drafted to extend several popular tax cut provisions, but has grown to include very important benefits and reforms that stimulate economic expansion, support Americans in crisis, and save hundreds of CWA jobs. While the bill includes important COBRA subsidies, vital extensions of Unemployment Insurance, and important tax credits for business research and development, the most important provision for CWA is the inclusion of our long sought goal to close the Reverse Morris Trust (RMT) corporate tax loophole. This loophole, which was created by Wall Street tax lawyers, has been used to the detriment of CWA members through Verizon's sale of landline assets first in New England through the sale to Fairpoint and now in 14 states through the sale to Frontier. It's been bad for our members and consumers, but good for Verizon as they walked away with $3.3 billion in tax free profits. CWA members need to contact their Representatives to urge them to support H.R. 4213.

CWA Reaches Agreement on Enhanced Offer  (Summary)

CWA District 2 has reached agreement with Verizon regarding an enhanced offer to all CWA 
members in Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia. Previously, Verizon had reported 
as a Good Friday message that talks with the Union had been unsuccessful and further indicated 
they did not foresee negotiating any future enhancements. Discussions resumed and an 
agreement was finally reached as a result of CWA’s persistence. CWA demanded Vz 
provide expanded employment security to post ’03 employees, the removal of contract workers 
and that the enhanced offer be made to all members not just those declared surplus.

The agreement contains a one time enhancement to the Voluntary Termination Bonus of $40,000. 
for a total VTB of $50,000, raises the caps on EISP payments from 30 years to 40 years, 
accelerates the effective date of the October pension band increases of 3.75%, waives aged-based 
pension reductions for certain early retirements, and provides for a protected interest rate for 
converting the single life annuity to a lump sum amount.

The agreement also stipulates, if 12,000 employees from the entire footprint accept the EISP, no 

employee hired after August 2, 2003 will be laid off prior to May 1, 2011.  Regardless of reaching the 
12,000 employee threshold no Consultant, Fiber Customer Service Analyst or Fiber Network Technician 
will be laid off prior to May 1, 2011.

In addition, by July 1, 2010, union employees, not contractors, will place copper cable 
inside conduit, place and transfer aerial copper cable, strand and poles provided the work 
can be performed with existing vehicles and equipment.  This work does not include work 
required by government entities.  The company will eliminate contractors performing 
maintenance administrator EVRC work in the company by July 1, 2010.  The company 
will not increase the number of contractors who perform bargaining unit work during 
the period of June 1, 2010 through May 31, 2011.

Ron Collins
CWA District 2