CWA Districts 1, 2, and 13 are currently in early bargaining with Verizon East. The only issues Verizon has placed on the bargaining table involve benefits.
Unfortunately, all of these proposals are extremely regressive proposals. They are demanding premiums for active employees as well as retired employees. Their proposals also seek tremendous increases in deductibles and co-payments for medical services and prescription drugs. They are also proposing that employees hired after the expiration of the current contract would not have post-retirement medical benefits. This is one extremely important reason why we must elect a Congress and a President who support a National Health Care Plan and the passage of the Employee Free Choice Act.
The percentage of Union-represented employees in the private sector has currently fallen to 7%. Every time we go to the bargaining table, we compete with the inferior salaries and benefits of these non-represented employees. The passage of EFCA would provide us an opportunity to greatly increase the percentage of Union-represented employees.
Health care costs, especially the cost of prescription drugs, are increasing at about 13 -15% per year. The Companies that employ our members no longer want to continue to pay these costs. The passage of a National Health Care bill that would cover all Americans and require all employers to share in the cost of health care would get this issue off of the bargaining table.
CWA recently conducted a vote among our members asking if the Union should endorse a presidential candidate at this time and who the member would support as the best candidate for President. The members who participated in the vote were split approximately 50/50 concerning the endorsement issue. Given this fact, CWA has decided that we will not endorse a candidate at this time. We will wait until the major primaries have been conducted to again re-evaluate this issue.
The three top candidates in the voting are: Senator Hillary Clinton, Senator Barack Obama, and former Senator John Edwards. The votes were split fairly close among these candidates. Surprisingly, over 20% of our members selected a Republican as their first choice for president.
In order to have a great impact on the elections in 2008, we must increase Union membership. I would ask each of you to start with this District.
We currently have almost 13,000 non-members in District 3. These are people who are represented by a contract, but are not paying their fair share. I am asking the Locals to work with your state CWA Representative to formulate a plan to sign these non-members into the Union. Many of the Locals have done a great job in organizing and I congratulate those Locals.
Our COPE contributions from the Locals again are falling far short of the requests we are receiving for COPE contributions. Please make an effort to sign up members on payroll deduction at a minimum of $4.00 per pay day. Every Local officer, Executive Board member, and steward should be contributing to COPE.
I want to thank each of you for what you continue to do to represent our members and keep CWA strong. I want to wish all of you a very safe and happy holiday season.
Noah V. Savant
Vice President
CWA District 3
