Bargaining Update

Verizon

Early this week, under the auspices of the Department of Labor, CWA President Chris Shelton, IBEW President Lonnie Stephenson, Verizon CEO Lowell McAdam and Secretary of Labor Tom Perez met to discuss a way to move forward on resolving disputed bargaining issues.

Bargaining is continuing with negotiators from CWA, IBEW and Verizon, with the participation of the Labor Department.

"I'm encouraged by the parties' continued commitment to remain at the bargaining table and work toward a resolution," Secretary Perez said. "We will continue to facilitate conversations to help the unions and the company reach an agreement."

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Today in New York, more than 500 CWAers protested outside a financial media and communications summit, where Executive Vice President Bob Varettoni and Chief Financial Officer Fran Shammo spoke. Shammo said the company has basically stopped doing new installations of FiOS as a result of the strike by 39,000 workers, now in its sixth week.

In Washington, D.C., hundreds of CWAers and allies were set to picket outside a Verizon Wireless store today, then march in front of the White House and rally across the street in Lafayette Park. Several workers will tell their stories of staying strong during the strike.

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This Saturday, May 21, Verizon workers and allies from Virginia to Massachusetts will hold family and community events, part of a national Family and Kids' Day of Action.

Get more information here.

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CWAers from Telecommunications and Technologies joined the picket line at the Verizon Wireless store in Washington, D.C. Independent Telecom mobilizers, including Darren Donovan, Local 7471; Jon Douglass, Joel Gallegos, Jr. and Travis Pirotte, Local 6171, and Melanie Lester Butler, Local 3680, joined T&T Vice President Lisa Bolton; Lew Ellingson, assistant to the VP, and Staff Rep. Isa Shabazz.

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United Mine Workers President Cecil Roberts and Secretary-Treasurer Danny Kane joined CWA Verizon strikers, members of Local 2201, outside a Verizon Wireless store in Stafford, Va.,

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AT&T West

CWA District 9 Vice President Tom Runnion, AT&T local presidents, District 9 staff and the Union Bargaining Committee met on May 11 to discuss the status of negotiations and AT&T's giveback demands. The mobilization team reported on current and future actions planned, and locals reported that members are united, standing strong and ready for fight for a fair contract.

CWA members in California and Nevada have been working without a contract since April 9.

CWA Local 9505 demonstrates in Pasadena, Calif.

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United  Airlines

The AFA-CWA Joint Negotiating Committee continues to meet with United Airlines management, working with a federal mediator to bargain a new contract covering 24,000 Flight Attendants at the merged airline.

Flight Attendants at United, Continental and Continental Micronesia, the pre-merger airlines, all made sacrifices to help create the success the airline now enjoys. The merger is only working for executives and shareholders. It needs to work for all United Flight Attendants and passengers, too.

Flight Attendants rally in Guam for a fair contract.

Today, Flight Attendants held a Day of Action at 14 airports around the world to send a powerful message to management. "Time is up. Management needs to complete this merger with an industry-leading Flight Attendant contract," said AFA presidents Randy Hatfield (pre-merger Continental), Kathleen Domondon (pre-merger Continental Micronesia) and Ken Diaz (pre-merger United).

For more information visit ourcontract.org.

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Hawaii Tribune-Herald

Employees at the Hawaii Tribune-Herald are pushing back against regressive sick leave policies that Oahu Publications Inc. (OPI) is trying to spread to newspapers throughout the state.

The Pacific Media Workers Guild, the News Guild local representing workers at the East Hawaii daily newspaper, filed an unfair labor practice charge last week with the National Labor Relations Board challenging OPI's practice of forcing employees to forfeit vacation days when they use sick leave and requiring a doctor's note for each illness.

The Black Press-owned company started enforcing those policies after it bought the newspaper in December 2014, despite never putting them in writing. OPI, which laid off nearly half the staff at the profitable publication and forced employees to reapply for their jobs, insists this is standard practice at its non-union newspapers.

The practice of docking vacation time for illnesses has occurred even when an employee has earned sick leave.

"Employees should be encouraged to take care of their health rather than be penalized," said Tom Callis, Hilo unit chair and the local's Hawaii vice president. "These policies do not help create a healthy and productive workplace."

Read more here.

Hilo, Hawaii, Guild members show support for the #NewsMatters campaign.

While fighting their own battle, Hilo Guild members took time to show their support for the #NewsMatters campaign at Digital First and for CWA Canada (Guild) strikers in Halifax. Hilo's Thomas Callis explains that "I mua" means "forward" in Hawaiian and was famously used by King Kamehameha in a battle cry that translates to: "Forward my young brothers and drink of the bitter waters of battle for there is no turning back until we are victorious."