Qwest bargaining will start July 8th. Updates will be provided via the recorder 509-328-1577. As I have stated in the past I do not know if we are going on strike or not. What I do know is that I have been told to get ready. I have been given the responsibilities of coordinating all mobilization activities in Utah , Idaho and Eastern Washington . Starting the week of the 14^th I will be spending a lot of time in these locations.  

 Also Starting on the 14^th I will be visiting our garages. Shortly after that local leaders will be trained and will be coordinating every aspect of what we will be doing in order to support our bargaining team. Many will be taking time off of work to support these efforts, please support them.

 We need everyone all in, marching in lock step.

 Our big issues are protecting healthcare for actives and retirees.

 If any one has any special concerns please contact me at the union hall (509)328-4183

 Sean

 

I have been asked many time are we going on strike this summer? The short answer is I do not know. What I do know is that we are not going to be caught off guard. Over the next couple of weeks we will be having our strike coordinators meetings and will have strike schedules out by the first of August.

 CWA has said that unless we are within hours of reasonable contract there will be NO EXTENSIONS.

 Once the contract expires the no strike article expires. That means strikes can come and strikes can go.  Management will just have to guess what we are doing. The democratic convention in Denver will have no bearing as to whether or not we go on strike. The company knew full well that the contract would be up just prior to bidding on the thing.

  Many are telling me that they want to go on strike for many of reasons. Many are valid, however to strike to strike simply because we can and in some way we can back at management accomplishes nothing, it only costs our members wages.

 Our goal is to protect benefits, increase pay, and gain on contract language, and if we can do this without striking GREAT! We will be asking you to take part in many activities. We need 100% buy in. Remember this is our union and our future that is riding on this contract. BE A PART OF IT!

 

The Qwest Bargaining committee for 2008 has been selected:

They are:

Ken Saether: Eugene Oregon, Net Tech

Kent Anderson: Salt Lake City , retired Net Tech

Malachy Shreenan: Seattle, Credit Dept’

Suzie Miller: Denver : Consumer

 

 They will be:

Local Bargaining coordinator:  Corbin Lemon - Job will be to collect feed back from members and identify concerns that need to be brought the bargaining table, as well as communicate to members what is happening in bargaining. They also will be required to attend the District 7 meeting and Contract interpretation meetings in Denver in the spring and summer of 2008 (pending budget approval). Job will require some time away from work that will be reimbursed by the union, as well as some unpaid time outside of normal hours.

 Strike Coordinator:   Mark Troyer - Will require individuals to work during both during and after work hours (normal work time will be reimbursed by the union). Term will start in March and end when a contract is ratified. Duties include building a team of strike captains in Eastern Washington , creating schedules of strike duties and coming up with effective ways to picket the struck work.

 In 2005 we were not as prepared as we could have been, and I vow 2008 we will be highly organized. Through communication and training I hope to have a highly functioning organization in place early next year.

 The LRAC has been a source of concern. Remember you are only required to work 8 hours of mandatory OT. Mangers may manage to the 9^th hour but we manage to the 8^th.

 The difference between mandatory and incidental overtime is this, if you dispatch on a job at 4:29 they have you for 1 hour of incidental before OTM takes effect. If you dispatch at 4:31 it is mandatory OT. Common sense would dictate that this does not apply if volunteer for the additional work. At the same time mandatory would apply if your manager orders you to work OT prior to end of your shift (ie. A page that saying no one will come in until the load is cleaned up).

 Please plan on coming to the August 7^th membership meeting. Our location is 2708 E. Sprague, meeting time is 5:30p. 

Remember wear red on Thursdays.  

 Some items we need to address:

 COPE: we are still meeting quota good but since our meeting in May we (I) have only signed up 2 people, with people’s general dissatisfaction with the government it should be easier. We have shirts for those who sign up. The Quota is $2 a pay period. Please work on signing up your members.

 Stewards Army: This is a new program that CWA has implemented. The goal is not sign up people to do grievances its goal is to sign up people who will receive information and become a union activist. It cost no money and requires little if any time. Our goal is to sign up 10% of our members. We will get the forms to the chief stewards.

 For those stewards who have not attended a General membership meeting this year you will be dropped as a steward if you do not attend August 7th. Local by-laws require that you attend 3 meetings a year. For those stewards who were trained earlier this year you have two more meetings.

 

Local News

Bargaining Unit Reports  

All Members- Please take time to know your contract. If a manager is violating it please call them on it, most time they will back off. If not contact a steward ASAP.  

AT&T Mobility: Michele Manning has signed up Hayden Lake and Moscow, ID.

  Teknon: 

Qwest: It might be a good time to start saving a $100 a pay check, or holding off on that big ticket purchase. We are going to be negotiating with an employer that we do not know.  Qwest’s bargaining team has never been to the table before and as of now we do not know who the new CEO will be.

We need to put petty differences aside and fight for what we deserve, and that is a fare share of the fruits of our labor. 50% effort will get us 50% of a contract.

The issue with the LRAC will be talked about after the general membership meeting.

Qwest Kiosks:  The numbers have been brought to my attention and I will be meeting with management on them shortly.

Mailers:   I think it is possible, between the Yakima Herald and the Spokesman we have over 40 people who are eligible to join the union. The more people that belong the louder your voice is at the work place and the union, by September I will schedule a meeting with the stewards of the respective units to form a plan.

 Please work safely!  

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