sundance-communications.com/forum Forums General Telecom News VZ and the Union

This is the article on MSN News.

It's always good to see they are still talking.

Looks like it is just about all settled. Verizon averted a strike !!!!!!!!! can't wait to see how it all panned out for us.

That's always good to hear. Here\'s a new article

Sure wish I could afford give my employees 10.5% increases over three years. I'm lucky to be able to collect half of those kinds of increases from my customers. In today's economy, I can barely afford to give them a pay raise at all. I guess that I am lucky that they understand that times are tight and that I'll help them when I can.

Why do people seem to feel that this involves Verizon Wireless? Even in this linked article, the reporters took a picture of a VZW sign. I guess that comes from a company operating multiple entities with private legal identities, yet capitalizing upon the brand name to gain market share.

My guess would be that the 10.5 also is to help offset increases in co pay for health care and other benefits . At least that's been the industry norm for some time now.

As far as Wireless goes, I also doubt they were part of this agreement. Most of the big name wireless arms of companies are either non union or have separate contracts. Maybe someone else knows for sure.

At any rate I'm happy for both sides that a strike was averted. at&t is next this coming spring.

I wonder what percentage increase I'll get in my pension COLA...oh wait...I won't get any, that's right. I haven't gotten one in 9 years, so why hold my breath.

Arthur -

Before I came into the IBEW I did 11 years in the industry, 4 years non-union for small shops and 7 years in the CWA.

CWA, but not Bell.

Originally we were Local 1272 and then they merged us into 1109 which was the NY Tel Brooklyn Local with offices on Emmons Avenue in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn.

When I left the CWA to come into Local 3 (1978) I knew I didn't qualify for a pension, but we had some sort of Annuity fund. The contractor was supposed to put so many cents per hour into a fund for us. (BTW, we never got any statements from this fund).

In the IBEW we had several Annuity funds and I decided to inquire about the status of my CWA fund. I called 1109 and got the run-around. "What garage do you work out of?"
"No garage, Interconnect."

"You have to talk to Smith or Malazewski. They're not in right now."

They were never in when I called. So I went down. Several times. It was easy. I lived in Sheepshead Bay then.

The 3rd time I made so much noise they threatened to call the cops. I thought that was fine. And the papers too. Where was my money?

Someone came out from the back office to talk to me (Not Smith or Malazewski).

"You see", he said "We had a fire......"

I gave up and never tried to recover the money. I thought I would certainly land in jail before I ever got a nickel. I put the CWA behind me 30 years ago. My IBEW annuity plans now are doing very well, thank you. No complaints.

At least you got something. No one does anything for retirees anymore.

Sam