http://www.cwa-union.org The latest CWA Union News. {weblog_language} Copyright {gmt_date format="%Y"} {gmt_date format="%Y-%m-%dT%H:%i:%s%Q"} http://www.cwa-union.org/news/entry/new_project_builds_enthusiasm_among_cwa_retirees/ http://www.cwa-union.org/news/entry/new_project_builds_enthusiasm_among_cwa_retirees/ A new project to encourage more CWA retirees to become active and effective voices for our union got off to a great start with a series of three telephone town hall meetings. Democracy, Retired Members Council 2012-04-26T13:32:32+00:00 http://www.cwa-union.org/news/entry/maryland_cwaers_protest_verizon_power_grab/ http://www.cwa-union.org/news/entry/maryland_cwaers_protest_verizon_power_grab/ More than 40 CWA and RMC members from seven CWA locals filled the hearing room of the Maryland Senate Finance Committee with a sea of red shirts this week. Their mission: to spotlight a bill that would allow Verizon to sell its landline assets without any review by the Public Service Commission. Democracy, Retired Members Council 2012-03-29T13:53:18+00:00 http://www.cwa-union.org/news/entry/cwa_loses_two_retiree_activists/ http://www.cwa-union.org/news/entry/cwa_loses_two_retiree_activists/ This past week, CWA lost two committed members, two men who spent their working lives and their retirement years building CWA and supporting the rights of working people. Both died as they lived, as CWA activists. Retired Members Council 2012-03-22T14:13:29+00:00 http://www.cwa-union.org/news/entry/new_book_exposes_the_worst_of_employer_pension_schemes/ http://www.cwa-union.org/news/entry/new_book_exposes_the_worst_of_employer_pension_schemes/ "Retirement Heist" is a new book by Ellen Schultz, a former investigative reporter for the Wall Street Journal. She carefully describes how companies plunder and wring profits from the defined benefit pension plans of American workers. It's required reading for union leaders engaged in bargaining with the country's biggest corporations. Retired Members Council, Retirement Security 2012-03-08T16:13:16+00:00 http://www.cwa-union.org/news/entry/cwaers_deliver_valentine_message_to_verizon_verizon_wireless/ http://www.cwa-union.org/news/entry/cwaers_deliver_valentine_message_to_verizon_verizon_wireless/ In District 2-13, CWAers leafleted more than 50 Verizon Wireless retail stores with the message: "We've given you so much, but now you're breaking our hearts. If you want to 'be ours,' focus more on good jobs and less on corporate greed." Retired Members Council, Retirement Security, 2011 Verizon Bargaining, Unity@Verizon 2012-02-17T17:13:19+00:00 http://www.cwa-union.org/news/entry/new_senior_group_to_educate_mobilize_retirees_in_key_2012_battleground_stat/ http://www.cwa-union.org/news/entry/new_senior_group_to_educate_mobilize_retirees_in_key_2012_battleground_stat/ This Tuesday, 43 delegates and 8 guests convened to found the Virginia Alliance for Retired Americans. The Virginia Alliance will be an active part of the four million member national organization that works to mobilize retirees, senior and community activists into a nationwide grassroots movement to advocate a progressive political and social agenda - one that respects work and strengthens families. Members of the state and national Alliance come from a variety of trades and backgrounds. Retired Members Council 2012-02-02T18:14:10+00:00 http://www.cwa-union.org/news/entry/denver_post_centurylink_will_let_union_review_books/ http://www.cwa-union.org/news/entry/denver_post_centurylink_will_let_union_review_books/ On December 2, 2011, The Denver Post reports "CenturyLink will let union review books after retirees bemoan skyrocketing health premiums." Retired Members Council 2011-12-08T23:02:13+00:00 http://www.cwa-union.org/news/entry/2012_qwest_retiree_premiums/ http://www.cwa-union.org/news/entry/2012_qwest_retiree_premiums/ Letter to all Legacy Qwest represented CWA Locals and Retiree Chapters.CenturyLink (Qwest Retirees): Clarification of Opt In/Opt Out for Health Care PlanOccupational retirees CAN elect to opt in or opt out of the health care plan each Open Enrollment period. Some callers to the Service Center were given misinformation about this. Retired Members Council 2011-11-18T20:10:18+00:00 http://www.cwa-union.org/news/entry/social_security_administration_fact_sheet_-_october_24_2011/ http://www.cwa-union.org/news/entry/social_security_administration_fact_sheet_-_october_24_2011/ Included are the new maximum taxable earnings, earnings limits for Social Security recipients, and SSI data. Retired Members Council 2011-10-24T17:37:16+00:00 http://www.cwa-union.org/news/entry/the_guild_reporter_paul_lacaillade_a_guild_charter_member_--_twice_over/ http://www.cwa-union.org/news/entry/the_guild_reporter_paul_lacaillade_a_guild_charter_member_--_twice_over/ Paul Lacaillade organizes TNG Local in 1942, then RMC Chapter in 2011 Retired Members Council 2011-10-13T17:02:26+00:00 http://www.cwa-union.org/news/entry/working_together_its_all_about_movement_building/ http://www.cwa-union.org/news/entry/working_together_its_all_about_movement_building/ It’s all about movement building It will take all of us, union members, progressive activists, the civil rights community, environmentalists, people of faith, students and others to restore the rights and standard of living of working families. Holding Elected Officials Accountable, Bargaining/Companies, Unity@Verizon, Collective Bargaining Rights and Organizing, Democracy, Legislative Issues, Secure, Sustainable Jobs, Retired Members Council 2011-10-01T19:19:19+00:00 http://www.cwa-union.org/news/entry/top_10_reasons_to_take_action/ http://www.cwa-union.org/news/entry/top_10_reasons_to_take_action/ 10) To show our children we really can change the world, or at least our part of it. 9) To remind corporations and elected officials that ordinary people do make a difference. Collective Bargaining Rights and Organizing, Human Rights, International Solidarity, Legislative Issues, Secure, Sustainable Jobs, Retired Members Council, Health Care, Legislation and Politics, Telecommunications 2011-10-01T19:17:21+00:00 http://www.cwa-union.org/news/entry/im_mad_and_im_not_going_to_take_it_anymore/ http://www.cwa-union.org/news/entry/im_mad_and_im_not_going_to_take_it_anymore/ Jeanette Spoor could be living a life of leisure in retirement. Instead she’s at rallies, on picket lines, meeting with allies to build coalitions of activists and, most recently, helping lead protests against a New York congresswoman who wants to kill Medicare. “I just don’t think I could go to sleep at night without giving it my best shot,” says Spoor, the president of CWA Local 1103’s Retired Members’ Chapter. “I have stamina and energy and I’m going to fight for what I believe in.” Holding Elected Officials Accountable, Legislative Issues, Retired Members Council, Legislation and Politics 2011-10-01T19:10:55+00:00 http://www.cwa-union.org/news/entry/i_cant_think_about_pain._i_think_about_helping_people/ http://www.cwa-union.org/news/entry/i_cant_think_about_pain._i_think_about_helping_people/ Trading lazy summer days for the chance to make a difference, CWA activists turned up the heat on lawmakers at “August Accountability” events from coast to coast. Together with allies, they packed town hall meetings, protested outside politicians’ district offices, leafleted at airports, wrote letters and made phone calls throughout August and early September. And now they’re ready for more. Holding Elected Officials Accountable, Legislative Issues, Secure, Sustainable Jobs, Retired Members Council, Legislation and Politics 2011-10-01T19:09:15+00:00 http://www.cwa-union.org/news/entry/attention_alcatel-lucent_medicare-eligible_plan_participants/ http://www.cwa-union.org/news/entry/attention_alcatel-lucent_medicare-eligible_plan_participants/ Important information about your health care benefits. Retired Members Council 2011-08-18T13:02:06+00:00 http://www.cwa-union.org/news/entry/cwa_virtual_town_hall_with_pelosi_to_kick_off_action-filled_august/ http://www.cwa-union.org/news/entry/cwa_virtual_town_hall_with_pelosi_to_kick_off_action-filled_august/ Kicking off an action-packed month in the battles to protect workers and retirees, House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi will join CWA by phone for a virtual town hall meeting next Thursday, Aug. 4. Holding Elected Officials Accountable, Collective Bargaining Rights and Organizing, Democracy, International Solidarity, Legislative Issues, Secure, Sustainable Jobs, Retired Members Council, Health Care, Legislation and Politics 2011-07-28T13:26:10+00:00 http://www.cwa-union.org/news/entry/ny_retirees_protest_congresswomans_medicare_social_security_votes/ http://www.cwa-union.org/news/entry/ny_retirees_protest_congresswomans_medicare_social_security_votes/ Several CWA retirees got a jump start on August Accountability Month, joining a coalition of activists last week at the office of a New York congresswoman who voted for the Paul Ryan budget and its attacks on Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. Democracy, Human Rights, Retired Members Council, Health Care, Legislation and Politics, Retirement Security 2011-07-28T13:13:38+00:00 http://www.cwa-union.org/news/entry/gop_medicare_scheme_backfires_as_ny_dem_wins_race_for_congress/ http://www.cwa-union.org/news/entry/gop_medicare_scheme_backfires_as_ny_dem_wins_race_for_congress/ The Republican agenda to kill Medicare, trample workers' rights and cut millionaires' taxes at the expense of everyone else took a well-earned beating in upstate New York on Tuesday, as a Democrat comfortably won the special election for a U.S. House seat the GOP has held for generations. Collective Bargaining Rights and Organizing, Democracy, Retired Members Council, Health Care, Legislation and Politics, Retirement Security 2011-05-26T13:49:34+00:00 http://www.cwa-union.org/news/entry/fortune_magazine_editor_dont_gamble_social_security_in_the_stock_market/ http://www.cwa-union.org/news/entry/fortune_magazine_editor_dont_gamble_social_security_in_the_stock_market/ As talk of privatizing Social Security heats up again, a Fortune magazine editor and Washington Post business columnist is warning that it’s a foolish idea that would threaten the financial security of future retirees. Retired Members Council, Legislation and Politics, Retirement Security 2010-12-02T15:17:22+00:00 http://www.cwa-union.org/news/entry/corporate-owned_st._louis_paper_pulls_plug_again_--_on_retiree_health_care/ http://www.cwa-union.org/news/entry/corporate-owned_st._louis_paper_pulls_plug_again_--_on_retiree_health_care/ Just in time for the holidays, the corporate owner of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch is yanking union- negotiated medical coverage from scores of retirees, telling retirees they’ll have to cough up 100 percent of the premium cost. Retired Members Council, Health Care 2010-12-02T15:09:35+00:00