IBEW 2222 News
Next Step Program Registration
The online registration process for the incoming Next Step class for the Fall 2008 Semester is ongoing and will continue until January 18, 2008. Also, you may register by telephone beginning on January 7, 2008 and continue until January 18, 2008.
Please Note - If you have registered for the NE Next Step program in the past you still have to register during this registration period for Fall 2008. Contract Ratification Voting Completed
Voting ended Friday, August 29, 2008. Results will be announced next week. Again, thank you to the many members who took the time to vote. »
A Message From Business Manager Myles Calvey
Membership involvement critical to success of negotiations and future of Verizon IBEW and CWA union leaders will return to the bargaining table on May 27. The importance of our next contract cannot be understated. It's all about moving from an old company – based in copper technology – to a new company, based on fiber optic technology (FiOS). Of course we will disagree on many issues. But what's important is how well we resolve our differences.I'm convinced that it will determine Verizon's success – or failure – in the future. It's great to see more members realizing just how important their involvement is to the process of winning a good agreement. Any negotiation is a difficult process. It never takes place in a vacuum. The resumption of talks with Verizon management is a direct result of our sustained membership mobilization. FOR THE 1st TIME IN HIS LIFE - JOE BUCCIARELLI WAS RIGHT
You read the headline correctly, for the 1st time in his life Joe Bucciarelli was correct. You see, Joe has been spouting off to anyone who would listen that he didn't believe the Sale of the Northern States would go through, and TODAY THE VERMONT P.U.C. HAS REJECTED FAIRPOINT'S PROPOSAL. Benefit Renewal - Some Major Changes
The 2008 Benefits Renewal process begins on October 17, 2007 and continues through October 30, 2007. There are some major changes. EMPLOYEES MUST RE-CERTIFY THEIR DEPENDANTS FULL TIME STUDENT STATUS DURING THIS BENEFITS RENEWAL PERIOD FOR STUDENTS TO RECEIVE COVERAGE FOR 2008. Also, you will not receive the traditional renewal packet in the mail. To request the packet on Health Care Benefits:
You have a right to receive any and all information on the health care plans. If you have any problems please notify your steward or the Union office. Steward's Army Visits Braintree
Senator Hillary Clinton Backs VZB Techs & Employee Free Choice Act
Last week, Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton spoke about VZB techs and how she is pressing the company to recognize the union using card check. Hear Clinton discuss how appalled she is at the anti union campaign being conducted by Verizon against VZB techs.
Her speech addressing hundreds of CWA members in New York about the Employee Free Choice Act and about Verizon Business can be heard in this video. VZB Techs Gain Benefits of New Contract & Voice on the Job
Former MCI technicians at Verizon Business (VZB) who had been seeking representation for nearly two years finally are united in a new labor agreement that went into effect on December 28.
During the month of January many of the techs will be initiated as members at local union meetings throughout the Verizon East footprint. Local 2222 welcomed VZB Techs into the local at our January 7 monthly meeting.
The VZB techs gained union recognition last August in a breakthrough contract agreement reached between Verizon management and the CWA and IBEW. Since then, Verizon and the two unions have been meeting regularly to work out a smooth integration of the VZB workers into a union environment. The new VZB contract covers about 600 technicians from Virginia to Maine.
The VZB techs received strong support from CWA and IBEW members in a campaign to "tear down the wall" between union and non-union sectors at Verizon. The technicians' victory takes place amid the intensifying national political debate about enacting the Employee Free Choice Act. If enacted, workers at companies like VZB could organize simply by demonstrating majority support on union authorization cards.
 Our Priorities For The 111th Congress
Members of the 111th Congress were sworn in on January 6, 2009, and thanks to your hard work, we have a strong pro-working family majority in both the Senate and House. With our economy in a severe downturn due to catastrophic mismanagement by President Bush and his allies in Congress, we are fortunate to have strong congressional advocates for a true economic recovery package that works for all of America's workers, not just the wealthy few. The economic mess that Bush is leaving behind needs immediate attention, and Congress must act fast to rebuild our economy and create new jobs by investing in our crumbling infrastructure and providing much-needed aid to states working to balance their budgets. President-elect Barack Obama has outlined a two-year approximately $800 billion investment and recovery package that accomplishes these goals. We are supportive of the magnitude of this plan, and we expect Congress to turn his outline into legislation. Conservatives in Washington and their Big Business allies are going to voice their standard complaints about these financial expenditures. But rescuing our economy depends on taking big steps, and frankly the Republicans in Congress have little credibility on these issues right now. After eight years of Republican rule in Washington, our federal debt has almost doubled to more than $10.5 trillion. The ongoing financial crisis is a direct result of their policies and lack of oversight of the financial services industry. As Congress begins developing a final economic recovery package, we will be in touch. One thing is certain—even with friends in Congress we will need your help to ensure that this bill is the beginning of a reinvestment in the American people, not just another corporate handout. Thanks for your support, a happy new year to you and your family, and to keep up with important news for working families, please visit the AFL-CIO Working Families blog today and every day. »
Union Family Needs Our Help
ELIZABETH TAYLOR KULIKOWSKI is 2 1/2 years old. In September 2007 she was diagnosed with an inoperable brain stem tumor ( diffused pontine glioma). She was treated at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston and received the most aggressive and progressive form of treatment currently available. The treatment she received was a new combination of radiation and radioactive chemotherapy, she showed great progress, and passed the 1 YEAR mark with a great outlook. In October 2008 her regular MRI showed the tumor was still stable!!! Unfortunately, a mere 3 weeks later in November, an MRI showed that the tumor had rapidly re-grown. Needless to say Elizabeth’s family and doctors at Dana Farber were very discouraged, as the treatment she received was the best available. Her doctors at Dana Farber gave Elizabeth 3 months to live. Through aggressive research Elizabeth’s family found the Burzynski Clinic in Houston, TX. Dr. S. Burzynski has been using low-toxic gene therapy to treat cancer for the past 30 years. The Burzynksi clinic has had SUCCESS against tumors just like Elizabeth’s!!! Unfortunately, since the treatment is still undergoing FDA trials Elizabeth’s treatment is NOT COVERED by insurance. Elizabeth and her family have relocated to Houston to begin treatment; the initial cost to begin treatment is $18,000! To maintain her treatments for a year it will cost her family $7,600 a month!!! Donations will assist with the cost of Elizabeth’s treatments as well as temporary accommodations in Houston for Elizabeth and her family. An account has been set up at Sovereign Bank in Randolph, MA. Assistance of any kind is GREATLY APPRECIATED.
SEND TO: SOVEREIGN BANK |
