In addition to Thursday's meeting, there will be a meeting on Friday, March 12th at 9 am at the Local.  Please make arrangements to attend one of the two meetings.  Thanks.

Potomac Surplus List 

 Brothers and Sisters:

We have been able to break down some of the data to reflect the impact on our local. We have included a PDF with this information. As you can see this includes all of the job titles within our foot print. Do not look at this and think that you have 10 people below you and thus you are safe. Remember a true surplus has not been declared and the company can change this at any time.

Please remember to be at the meeting on Thursday, March 11 from 6-8pm at the Comfort Inn on 3200 W. Broad St., Richmond. We will continue to provide info as we get it but this meeting will be the place to discuss.

In Solidarity
Chris Lane, Richard Hatch and Robbie Johnson

CWA, LOCAL 2201
INFORMATIONAL MEETING 

THURSDAY, MARCH 11, 2010
6PM—8PM

COMFORT INN
3200 W BROAD STREET
Learn the recent communications from Verizon, discuss surplus and meet with your fellow union members.

We wanted to provide an update to the surplus situation as we understand it to date. There have been many rumors floating around about the company targeting people back to 1996. It is important to understand that these are rumors.

It is evident that the company wants to reduce headcount but one thing to remember is if we were to go back to 1996 we would lose around 80% of the entire workforce. The company could not survive with that.

To date we have found that the company notified the national Union that it intends to declare a surplus. It appears that the company has done this universally for all titles. They have not declared a start date or a date to be off payroll. So, according to the contract, nothing has been declared. It is basically a general statement. We do not know if the company intends to eventually declare a surplus with dates or is just looking to offer incentives for people to voluntarilly leave payroll.

Chris Lane will be attending a bargaining meeting with the company and national Union next week. At this meeting we hope to be able to provide more information to all of you. In preparation for this we have scheduled a Verizon membership meeting on Thursday, March 11th.

Meeting Location:

Comfort Inn

3200 W Broad St.

Richmond, VA

Date and Time:

Thursday, March 11

6 pm - 8 pm

We would encourage all members to attend. We would like to go over any new information that comes out next week at this meeting and talk about what we, as a local, can do together to fight the company and support each other.

In Solidarity.

Chris Lane
Richard Hatch
Robbie Johnson

On Friday Verizon announced that they were declaring a surplus of 12,000 employees in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and Potomac areas. They notified the union late on Friday. We are in the process of going through the data. There is not a start date for the current surplus that Verizon is declaring.

Once the district goes through the information we will send out the details to all locals.

We have also been informed that they want to meet with the unions to discuss the surplus. While we are open to discussions we will also resist the continuing efforts to unnecessarily cut-back operations that negatively impact service quality and the quality of our members and their families.

I will let all locals know the results of the meeting. We are trying to schedule a committee of 8 meeting next week. I am again encouraging all the locals to work on their ideas for mobilization efforts. We are in the fight of our lives. We know this is another round in the current battle that may well climax in our August 2011 negotiations.

Keep Fighting!

Solidarity Forever,

Ron Collins
CWA District 2

Verizon announces force reduction

Brothers and Sisters:

    Recently Verizon has announced additional layoffs
throughout the company. This started a few weeks ago when Ivan
Siedenberg stated on an investor call that Verizon intended to
lose an equal number as last year. On Friday evening, Verizon
sent out an email that they notified the Union that they were
declaring a surplus. As of right now this local has received no
communication from Verizon or CWA Headquarters that this has
occurred. We are in the process to find out how and if this will
affect us. Remember just because Verizon declares surplus does
not mean that it will lead to a layoff. Any EISP package that
any of you have ever received was a declaration of surplus. The
text of the email is attached below.

    The only information that the local received was last week
and was a speculative spreadsheet affecting only Technicians in
the Potomac region for the entire year. This information was
shared with the affected outside plant VP's but was not
distributed immediately because we were asked not to by
Headquarters for legal reasons. This information is now
widespread by management and we have included the information
along with this message.

    As soon as we receive any new information we will
distribute on the website and email. If you know of anyone that
did not get the info have them call the local to verify we have
their email information. Thank you and stay strong.

YOUR CWA BARGAINED-FOR 
CPS 2009 AWARD 
WILL BE PAID ON MARCH 5TH!

$770.00

THANKS CWA!!!!

CSSC 6-month trial Marketing Campaign

Verizon 2008-2011 electronic contract is available for your viewing.  Click on the link below.  

VERIZON GENERAL AGREEMENT 2008-2011
VERIZON COMMON ISSUES - MOU

The Idearc contract was ratified with 100% voting for approval. It is a 3 year contract with expiration on October 12, 2112.  I'd like to thank the District 2 bargaining team which included Steve Holland, Les Evans and Travis Carpenter.