April 14, 2010
Not much to report since the last letter. As most of the techs have seen there were changes in the uniform
policy. Our contract language was not specific enough to combat the changes. We now have $200 per year for uniforms
and the only thing that is required to be logo-ed is the shirts and hats. Pants and outerwear are not provided by the
company. If you dont need all of your $200 for shirts you can order from a limited selection of other items. The
original information that came out said that new hires get $335. This is now being changed to be the same as the rest
of us at $200. Through talks with HR they are also having discussions about the lack of shirt selection. They
are not making any promises but it is being looked at. The cross jurisdictional issues are still on the table.
The company wants to see it and frankly we do to, we just need to make sure the proper language is in place to make it fair.
If we make any headway on that anytime soon we will get the word out. We now have an electronic copy of the contract.
It will be available on this site and by request it can be sent to your email. The assignment center is reporting some
minor issues and some of the reps are having a hard time transferring from the old job function to the new. Assignment
is much more difficult and technical that what the repair center was. We are trying to work with management through
monthly Union/Management meetings to try and make sure that this transition goes as smoothly as it can. Most of the
reps are reporting a much better atmosphere and job satisfaction. Just so everyone knows, the new company has again
changed the grievance numbering system. The new system actually makes good sense, it is the full year-the grievance
number for that year-and the local number. Example: 2010-001-7970. Well thats it for this month. Just remember,
this merger will take a couple of years to shake everything out. It will be a slow process and for all practical purpose
we are still two companies in many respects with two very different lines of thinking. Take care all.
In solidarity,
Bill
March 11,2010
The
meeting in Las Vegas for the independent telephone companies within CWA was very productive, especially the break out sessions
with CenturyLink locals only. There is a ton of talk about cross jurisdictional work and reciprocal language in the
contracts to cover bidding or transferring between CWA units. This is something we will have to bargain in and we are
trying to work out language that would help everyone. Currently our contract allows for seniority to transfer in from
anywhere within the company but many contracts do not. There was a review and discussion on the National bargaining
proposals. Those will not be posted on the site for strategic purposes but we will be happy to discuss those at membership
meetings. The CRC's (Cooperative Recourse Committees) that were formed under Embarq are going to continue in the new
organization. The committees were formed to work on issues between management and the Union and to help with strategic
planning to help both the company and the Union to grow. There is a National committee made up of top company executives
and National Union leaders from CWA and IBEW. This forum is to work on National issues or address regional issues that
can't be solved by the regional CRC. The regional CRC groups are made up of a representative from each local in the
region as well as top regional management and the Union Staff rep. These CRC teams will work on regional and local issues
to try and avoid grievances and problems. Our region, which was just our local before and fairly ineffective will now
be made up of three CWA Locals from Washington and Oregon as well as three IBEW locals from Washington, Oregon and possibly
Montana. From the company they will have Tim Greiger as well as other regional management. This make up should
prove to be much more effective and will allow us to work on some real issues. It is also positive that we will be working
in conjunction with the IBEW. These groups are to meet quarterly at a minimum. The company has approached the
Union about cross jurisdictional work. We will be sitting down with the company soon to discuss how that would look.
We are not opposed but language needs to be drafted to make sure it is fair for all parties. There are many things to
consider and it needs to be thought through. We will update everyone as this process proceeds.
We talked to Ohio folks at the meeting. They have cut to the new dispatch
and assignment system that we will all be going to in the future. Dispatch is called Advantix and Assignment is called
Martins. They felt like the Advantix system works very much like WFM and for those work groups that have not been using
the supervisor sign-ons it is going to allow everyone to see total workload and who is where. The assignment is very
different and will take getting used to. The terminology is all different and according to these techs there are many
more Field and Work orders and not allot of DCOP or cut-through type orders. I guess we will have to wait and see on
that. This is not really a Union issue but it was interesting to hear about.
There were some good connections made between us and the other CWA locals from the Northwest within
CenturyLink. I think we will be able to work with them to give us more strength with the company. This is something
we have never had in the Northwest, we have always been out here all by ourselves. This unity can only make us stronger.
We need to be having meetings in each district very soon to start talking about
bargaining this fall and to keep everyone up to date on merger issues. We have a meeting on March 24th in the Yakima Valley
and will be working with the VP's in each district to get meetings there soon.
In Solidarity,
Bill
Feb. 9, 2010
Well, there been a ton of changes coming our way with the merger.
Repair is now Assignment and for the most part we are hearing positive things. There is debate around the numbers of
tasks they are required to make and how long it should take them to get to this performance level. There has been a
dress code imposed which many don't agree with. It is business casual which rules out jeans. They are allowing
casual Fridays which does allow for nice jeans. The uniform program for the outside is being changed to shirts and hats
only. The company's announcement stipulates they will choose colors of outer garments and pants. We are in talks
right now because the members feel if they have to purchase them they should not be able to stipulate these items. It
is also our belief that this is a direct violation of specific contract language around uniforms. Will update everyone
when we have this worked out. There are big changes in medical that everyone is working through. White City is
a non-contracted area for UHC so they have some issues going on down there about paying up front. Other locations are
working next to Centurylink employees from the old Century which are paying less for the same coverage. They were much
less then us and they are bringing them up to be the same over a couple of enrollment periods. We are just seeing tons
of change right now and will likely continue to for a year or more as the company, the Union and everyone involved figure
out the new policy, processes and procedures. 2010 is a bargaining year, contract expires Oct. 31 at midnight.
This will be a big contract because for the first time in many years the direction is coming from a whole new company.
All of the Legacy Century contracts in the Northwest look very similar so it is our guess the company will want ours to look
something like the others for ease of administration. this is speculation and we have not heard anything yet from the
company on this. Jim and Bill are going to a National meeting in March to discuss the up-coming round of bargaining
with all the CWA/Centurylink Local Presidents and Vice Presidents. We will be formulating bargaining strategies and
should have alot of information to share after that meeting. Once the National strategy is in place we will be working
with the members in our local to decide which issues they feel need addressed. There will be meetings in each district
over the next several months and surveys will go out to all members. Hang in there through all this change. Just
remember that some of it is for the good. Change is hard for everyone so try not to let it get you to wound
up. We are hearing positive things about the way Century has worked with the Unions in the past so lets hope
they continue to do so. It would be a welcome change from the days of Sprint and Embarq (Just another name for Sprint). As
I have heard Jimmy Gurganus say on many occasions, you can put lipstick on a pig, but it is still a pig. If anyone has
questions or concerns please contact your Union reps. If you want on the email list let Bill Ward know so he can get
you added. there are frequent emails going out on it about CWA on a National, District and Local level. This list
will also be used for bargaining updates in the fall. Everyone take care and we will be seeing you soon. It is
always important to get our membership up. this year, more than any I can remember it will be important to go to the
bargaining table as strong and unified as possible. Talk to the folks that are not members and let them know how much
we need them so we can get a strong contract that is good for all of us, members and non-members alike. Take care and
we will be seeing you all soon.
SOLIDARITY IS
THE KEY
July 2, 2009
As I am sure you all know, the merger was approved by the FCC and July 1 is the official date of merger. The next year
and a half will be a wild ride to say the least. This does not mean it will all be bad but there will be a ton of change
and mass confusion as many systems, policies and benefits will be changing.
Please keep in mind that rumors are already
spreading like wild fire and they will continue to do so. We have a contract; they can not change our contract
without opening it and negotiating it. The properties covered in our contract are our area of coverage. Supervisor
responsibilities may change in areas but regardless of the supervisors responsibilities we work our exchanges and the Century
techs work theirs. In order for that to change the local Unions would have to be involved in re-negotiating jurisdictional
boundaries. If this were to happen, it would not happen fast and we would have lots of discussion with all effected.
Neither the company nor the other local Unions have had any contact with us to this point on the subject and Linda Rasmussen
has heard nothing either. She is our staff rep and is also responsible for the majority of current Century employees
in Oregon and has bargained with Century for years.
I guess what I am saying is please don't panic. Don't believe
all the rumors and make sure that as you hear them from other bargaining employees that you continue to reinforce that we
have a contract and that changes in that contract will have to be negotiated and voted on by the members. This is also
a good time to bring up the fact that only members will have a vote in these changes and that the more members we have the
better chance we will have of negotiating successfully. We are not the lone little Northwest anymore. We
now have many more brothers and sisters in CWA and IBEW working together to keep decent benefits and wages for us in Washington
and Oregon. We now have more clout in District 7. There are many Century locals in District 7 and we were the
only Embarq local.
Any rumors, any questions, any concerns please contact me or have your members contact me. We
will put out any info we get as soon as we get it. We will substantiate or discredit rumors as soon as we
can and pass that info on. An open line of communication will be more important than ever over the next 24 months.
There will be updates sent out via email often so if you have members that want those updates please get me their email addresses
so I can add them to the distribution list.
In Solidarity,
Bill
