CWA Local 9510's News Blog

Making the Most of Every Minute Between Now and Election Day

With so much at stake for working families on Nov. 2, CWAers aren’t wasting a minute in the final days leading to Election 2010.

Here’s some of what’s happening around the country:

* In Texas, CWA members are leafleting, making phone calls and knocking on doors to support pro-worker congressional candidates and working to send extreme anti-worker Gov. Rick Perry packing after 10 years. His opponent Bill White is a pro-labor businessman and the popular former mayor of Houston. “I think we’ve got a good chance, we’re getting really good feedback,” said Jake Taffola, CWA’s political coordinator in Texas. Among the key congressional races, San Antonio members are working hard to re-elect Rep. Ciro Rodriguez, and five CWAers are among the workers who appear in one of his campaign commercials.

* In Pennsylvania, CWA activists have leafleted at 138 worksites since September. They’ve circulated more than 17,500 flyers so far, with another big push and 5,000 more set for Monday. Phone banks are up and running in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia and volunteers are turning out statewide for labor walks. Members have also turned out in force for rallies and events around the state to support Senate candidate Joe Sestak and Dan Onorato, candidate for governor.

* In Missouri, members are working the phones and leafleting worksites to elect Robin Carnahan to the U.S. Senate and re-elect her brother, Russ Carnahan, to Congress, among other key races. CWA Local 6300 and others will continue phone banking right up until the polls close Nov. 2.

* In New Mexico, members have been leafleting at worksites around the state every week and are rallying, phoning and knocking on doors for Lt. Gov. Diane Denish, who is running for governor. Thursdays are phone bank nights for CWAers, who also join regular labor walks on Saturdays.

Check your local’s bulletin board or website or ask your steward how you can help Get Out the Vote this weekend and through Election Day.

Members of CWA Local 6215 were out in force in Dallas as early voting opened. CWA District 13 Vice President Ed Mooney and President Larry Cohen, with Dan Onorato, Democratic candidate for governor in Pennsylvania.

Members of CWA Local 9510 walked precincts for Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-Calif.), center. CWA members in New Mexico rally behind Lt. Governor Diane Denish, Democratic candidate for governor.
At AT&T headquarters in St. Louis, Mo., Local 6300 Vice President Sonja Gholston-Byrd, right, and Chief Steward Dawn Jennewein leaflet to get out the vote on Nov. 2.

Always remember,

You have the right to Union representation.

You have the right to consultation with representation prior to meeting with management.

You have the right to remain silent until your Union representative is present.

You have the right to know the topic of the meeting/investigation.

Make sure you let them know and make sure you express these rights whenever something is brought or asked of you that could result in discipline.

You are not being insubordinate in practicing these rights.

Union united we will stand strong.

JJ Hewitt VP Verizon Unit CWA9510

AT&T recently said it supports the Google-Verizon net neutrality plan that would prevent wireless networks from being subject to neutrality regulations.

Ralph de la Vega, CEO of AT&T Mobility, recently called the plan a "reasonable framework." Later, Joan Marsh, AT&T's Vice President of Federal Regulatory, wrote about the proposal and the need for unregulated wireless networks on the company's public policy blog. "Wireless carriers must to [sic] be able to dynamically manage traffic and operate their networks in an environment free from burdensome, arbitrary and unnecessary regulations," Marsh said.

The Google-Verizon plan, which has drawn critics as well, calls for making the Internet we know today completely neutral for lawful content. This means carriers could not discriminate against or restrict different types of (lawful) data from running through its broadband network. However, the plan would leave wireless networks out of the debate, and allow broadband providers to offer non-neutral specialized broadband services such as medical health monitoring and entertainment content.

AT&T has long been an opponent of net neutrality, arguing there is little evidence that broadband providers needs to be regulated. The company has considered using filtering tools to detect pirated material on its network. AT&T has also urged employees to send personal letters to the Federal Communications Commission arguing against net neutrality.

Despite previous actions, it isn't that surprising the company would approve of the Google-Verizon framework. That's because by the end of 2009, AT&T changed its position on net neutrality. In fact, it had adopted at least one view similar to those found in the Google-Verizon proposal.

In a letter to FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski, AT&T said, "preserving the open character of the Internet is critically important." However, unlike Google and Verizon, AT&T wanted the FCC to address complaints of anticompetitive or discriminatory behavior on a case-by-case basis instead of applying a "strict nondiscrimination standard." Broad net neutrality rules, AT&T argued, could "ban voluntary commercial agreements for...certain value-added broadband services." You can read the entire letter here (PDF)

AT&T's reference to "value-added broadband services" is similar to Google and Verizon's call to have a non-neutral broadband network for "additional, differentiated online services." As mentioned earlier, such services could include health care monitoring, educational tools, gaming, and other forms of entertainment content.That means they could charge you more for accessing the net for those functions.

Considering AT&T's previous calls against regulating private broadband services (not to mention it's clear interest in having an unregulated wireless network) it's no surprise that AT&T likes what the Google-Verizon plan offers. But the company hasn't signed on entirely; its support is preliminary, not a Verizon-Google-AT&T net neutrality proposal.

Ian Paul, PC World

Aug 16, 2010 9:09 am

Don’t fall prey to the Company’s attempt to take away GOOD Union jobs and replace you with contractors.

The Company and the Union are currently negotiating ISP Enhancements.

The Company is holding the negotiations HOSTAGE by DEMANDING that they can replace any job of any person or persons that take ISP with a contractor.

They also want language that we can’t grieve or arbitrate.

CWA will NOT sell YOU out on this issue, so just say NO to this obvious effort to destroy the VERIZON Bargaining Unit.

More details to come….President, Kenny Williams

Important Information: Effect of Frontier Transaction on Verizon Savings Plans

The Frontier transaction is expected to close July 1, 2010, and will result in Verizon share owners, including the savings plans, receiving shares of Frontier common stock.

If you have a balance in the Verizon Stock Fund in the Savings Plan, your account will receive units in a new Frontier Stock Fund. Since it is not intended to be a long-term investment option in the Savings Plan, the value of the Frontier Stock Fund will be automatically transferred to other investment options as the Fund is liquidated over time. You can also choose to transfer your remaining account value in the Frontier Stock Fund to other Savings Plan investment options at any time. There will be restrictions on certain Savings Plan transactions on July 2, 2010, in order to establish the Frontier Stock Fund and complete related actions.

This document contains important information about the Savings Plan, and should be kept with your Summary Plan Description. Your plan benefits will be determined by the terms of the official plan document. If there is a discrepancy between the SPD as supplemented by this document and the official plan document, the official plan document will govern. Copies of the plan document are available upon written request to the plan administrator at the address provided in the SPD.