Frontier West Virginia (former Verizon), Bargaining Report #5

                                            Wednesday, June 26, 2013, 5:30 p.m.

CWA BARGAINING REPORT #5

The Union and the Company met today.  The Company gave presentations on their proposals for Medical, Dental, Vision, and Retiree Benefits including Pensions.  The Bargaining Committee will be reviewing these proposals and we will meet tomorrow. 

It appears the Company’s entire agenda is full of cuts, give backs and take backs. The Company has forgotten the commitments they made to the PSC.  The Company stood in front of the Media and the PSC and said, “We will honor the Collective Bargaining agreement.”   What they didn’t say is it would only be until the current agreement ends.  The benefits they agreed to continue are now burdensome and too costly.  The Company now believes we are liabilities not assets. 

The Company ignores the history of how these benefits were obtained over the years. They are trying to take back many benefits for which we have fought and worked for over a half century.  The Union continues to remind the Company of our commitment to maintain our members’ standard of living. 

Every member should understand what is at stake.  We need to send the Company a message that lets them know we are united.  All members must wear their bracelet every day and Red on Thursdays. 

The Bargaining Committee wants to recognize Local 2011 and their members at the Anmore Garage for their show of solidarity during their gate rally this morning.

UNITY FOREVER!