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Fight for Laid Off Verizon Workers Expands to Job Training
Responding to last December's layoff of 2,400 members at Verizon, CWA District 1 is continuing to press for contract arbitration, while mobilizing, lobbying and launching a three-pronged initiative to help laid-off workers with high-tech training and new, union jobs.
"We fought like hell to stop the layoffs, and we continue to fight to get our affected members back to work," District 1 Vice President Larry Mancino said. "But we also have an obligation to prepare our members to find jobs in the high-tech world we live in."
CWA filed suit in federal court in March asking a judge to compel Verizon to submit to arbitration on the "external event" clause it used to justify violating the contract's no-layoff provision.
"An economic downturn and increased competition from alternative carriers and wireless technology do not qualify as 'external events' as defined by our contract," Mancino said.
The union has also introduced two bills in Albany to protect consumers from service quality issues arising from the layoffs. One would raise penalties on the company for submitting false service quality data to the Public Service Commission and would protect whistleblowers. The other would establish new, more stringent service standards on measures ranging from directory assistance answer time to missed repair appointments.
District 1 locals handed out fliers urging consumers to report poor service and to send postcards to legislators about the problem. Several locals participated in a "Service Quality Lobby Day" in March to build further support among lawmakers.
CWA is working with the New York Central Labor Council and its Consortium on Worker Education to help laid-off members find new jobs. Also, District 1 has a commitment for 20 new scholarships per month so members can take the 16-week A+ computer upgrade and repair course or the more advanced Cisco Certified Network Associate program through the CWA/NETT Academy.
Through the efforts of Mancino, the CWA has hired two laid-off Verizon technicians, Jim Morrow of Local 1108 and Sue McClennan of 1106, as liaisons to help members. They do interviews, steer members to union companies that are hiring, and direct them to one of several "one-stop centers" for help with resumes and job interview skills, job referral and other sources of assistance.
"When I speak with our members, I let them know I'm also a laid off worker, so I know what the feeling is," McClennan said. "Also, I'm familiar with their needs, like health insurance to take care of their children. These are important things that go along with having a job."
Morrow said he and McClennan have taken calls from at least 100 members and saw a hundred more when they ran a CWA booth at a job fair. One employer at the fair, Con Edison, hired 30 members to be trained as general utility workers and for communications titles.
"Their last class was actually filled with our people, and they're very interested in doing the same the next time they have openings," Morrow said.
The help centers, located in each of New York City's five boroughs and upstate, are run by the state Department of Labor in conjunction with the AFL-CIO.
Mancino also appointed Sean Crimmins of Local 14170 as CWA community services liaison to the state AFL-CIO. He further assesses members' needs and helps them with training grants through the central labor council and state DOL.
"Long Island Fed President Jack Caffey came forward and offered us 48 vouchers for training, worth as much as $5,000 apiece," Crimmins said. The vouchers can be used for any training that the DOL deems likely to lead to employment. Crimmins steers members to high-tech training, such as CWA/NETT Academy offers.
The academy courses are open to working members and to laid-off members for the duration of their recall rights - at Verizon, two years.
CWA Executive Vice President Larry Cohen said this is the first time CWA/NETT has provided a block of scholarships to a particular group of laid-off workers. "I know the hardship our members are going through and am pleased we can offer scholarships and training assistance," he said.
For more information on CWA/NETT Academy, visit www.cwanett.org.
"We fought like hell to stop the layoffs, and we continue to fight to get our affected members back to work," District 1 Vice President Larry Mancino said. "But we also have an obligation to prepare our members to find jobs in the high-tech world we live in."
CWA filed suit in federal court in March asking a judge to compel Verizon to submit to arbitration on the "external event" clause it used to justify violating the contract's no-layoff provision.
"An economic downturn and increased competition from alternative carriers and wireless technology do not qualify as 'external events' as defined by our contract," Mancino said.
The union has also introduced two bills in Albany to protect consumers from service quality issues arising from the layoffs. One would raise penalties on the company for submitting false service quality data to the Public Service Commission and would protect whistleblowers. The other would establish new, more stringent service standards on measures ranging from directory assistance answer time to missed repair appointments.
District 1 locals handed out fliers urging consumers to report poor service and to send postcards to legislators about the problem. Several locals participated in a "Service Quality Lobby Day" in March to build further support among lawmakers.
CWA is working with the New York Central Labor Council and its Consortium on Worker Education to help laid-off members find new jobs. Also, District 1 has a commitment for 20 new scholarships per month so members can take the 16-week A+ computer upgrade and repair course or the more advanced Cisco Certified Network Associate program through the CWA/NETT Academy.
Through the efforts of Mancino, the CWA has hired two laid-off Verizon technicians, Jim Morrow of Local 1108 and Sue McClennan of 1106, as liaisons to help members. They do interviews, steer members to union companies that are hiring, and direct them to one of several "one-stop centers" for help with resumes and job interview skills, job referral and other sources of assistance.
"When I speak with our members, I let them know I'm also a laid off worker, so I know what the feeling is," McClennan said. "Also, I'm familiar with their needs, like health insurance to take care of their children. These are important things that go along with having a job."
Morrow said he and McClennan have taken calls from at least 100 members and saw a hundred more when they ran a CWA booth at a job fair. One employer at the fair, Con Edison, hired 30 members to be trained as general utility workers and for communications titles.
"Their last class was actually filled with our people, and they're very interested in doing the same the next time they have openings," Morrow said.
The help centers, located in each of New York City's five boroughs and upstate, are run by the state Department of Labor in conjunction with the AFL-CIO.
Mancino also appointed Sean Crimmins of Local 14170 as CWA community services liaison to the state AFL-CIO. He further assesses members' needs and helps them with training grants through the central labor council and state DOL.
"Long Island Fed President Jack Caffey came forward and offered us 48 vouchers for training, worth as much as $5,000 apiece," Crimmins said. The vouchers can be used for any training that the DOL deems likely to lead to employment. Crimmins steers members to high-tech training, such as CWA/NETT Academy offers.
The academy courses are open to working members and to laid-off members for the duration of their recall rights - at Verizon, two years.
CWA Executive Vice President Larry Cohen said this is the first time CWA/NETT has provided a block of scholarships to a particular group of laid-off workers. "I know the hardship our members are going through and am pleased we can offer scholarships and training assistance," he said.
For more information on CWA/NETT Academy, visit www.cwanett.org.