Public Access Solutions Leaves Qwest
Do the terms Kiosk, Directory Binder, Booth, Credit Card Call,
Totalizer, Coin Chute Mechanism, Full Box sound familiar?
As the August 23d resolution date approaches, our members at Qwest
are lamenting the sale of the Public Access Solutions, or “Coin
Department”. As of this writing, we have yet to hear from the new owner as
to whether he will retain any of our members or not. It is for certain, Qwest
is in the downsizing spiral, and, unfortunately, our members in the coin group
are victims.
I would like to recognize and thank those members who have worked
in this group for so many years. They have persevered through many changes over
the years. The dime pay phone call is gone forever. We now see all types of
instruments out there, including those which have competed unfortunately for
this service.
Please congratulate those people in this group before they leave
and wish them the best, they certainly deserve our appreciation.
Coin techs Elaine Allison 35 years, Don Johnson 27 years, Judd
Clarambeau 3 years. Coin Collectors John Wood 26 years, Rich Hazen 24 years,
and Tom Jaycox 23 years. |
Stories in this issue:
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Qwest Bargaining 2005
Deadline 11:59 p.m. MDT August 13, 2003
Time to cinch up the belt, go without some of the frills for the
next year and sock some money away for next year’s contract at Qwest. We
always send out this alert, this year more than any, you should be prepared.
True we ratified the last deal without a pay raise knowing the company was in
financial trouble. The tune has not changed much, however, I for one will walk
for pay increases and other items.
Hate to say it, but try to have at least a month’s wages or
more buried in a coffee can in the backyard or somewhere else. The defense fund
will be as it was in ‘98 when we were out nearly 3 weeks. Don’t know
what shape we will be in a year from now.
Be prepared!
What is FMLA?
Answer:
The Family and Medical Leave Act ("FMLA") provides certain
employees with up to 12 workweeks of unpaid, job-protected leave a year, and
requires group health benefits to be maintained during the leave as if
employees continued to work instead of taking leave. This Compliance Guide
summarizes the FMLA provisions and regulations, and provides answers to the
most frequently asked questions. More detail on the FMLA may be found in the
regulations (see Links Page on Local’s website)
Summary
The FMLA became effective August 5, 1993, for most
employers and employees. (For those covered by a collective bargaining
agreement (CBA) in effect on that date, the FMLA became effective on the
expiration of the CBA or February 5, 1994, whichever was earlier.)
This law covers only certain employers; affects only those
employees eligible for the protections of the law; involves entitlement to
leave, maintenance of health benefits during leave, and job restoration after
leave; sets requirements for notice and certification of the need for FMLA
leave; and protects employees who request or take FMLA leave. The law also
includes certain employer record keeping requirements.
National Education and Training Trust
CWA/NETT, is a non-profit trust affiliated with the
Communications Workers of America, responsible for procuring and coordinating
the delivery of High Tech training and job referral programs. Whether you want
to learn valuable IT skills or update the your existing knowledge, CWA/NETT can
provide the necessary learning for life in the Internet Economy.
National Advisory Coalition for Telecommunications Education
and Learning (NACTEL)
Recognizing their common goals, representatives from Bell
Atlantic, The Communications Workers of America (CWA), GTE, The International
Brotherhood of Electrical workers (IBEW), SBC and U S West formed NACTEL, an
industry coalition dedicated to telecommunications education and learning. The
program offers an asynchronous Associate's Degree in Telecommunications.
PATHWAYS
PATHWAYS is the education and training benefit program for
eligible U S WEST employees. It has been collectively bargained by U S WEST and
the Communications Workers of America. A voluntary program, PATHWAYS enables
employees to take courses, workshops and seminars in subject areas of their
choice on their own time
Tacoma Telephone Pioneers Museum
Exhibits of telephone equipment, phones, old phone books,
switchboards, teletypes, and more, are displayed at the Tacoma Telephone
Pioneers Museum. It is located at 757 Fawcett Ave., downtown Tacoma. Hours are
8:00 AM-noon, every Thursday, or by appointment. Telephone number is
253-627-2996.
The Tacoma Pioneer Telephone Museum consists of items being
collected over the past 55 years. Many of these items, such as test equipment,
tools, telephone sets, and a wire chiefs desk are now on display.
The museum, started in the fall of 1991 when AT&T provided
about 1100 sq. ft. of floor space on the first floor of its office building at
757 Fawcett Ave., now contains a variety of exhibits:
- Vintage telephones, many crank type old sets both foreign and
domestic.
- The first cordless telephone from the Seattle Worlds Fair held
in 1961.
- A wire chiefs desk from the 1920's.
- A working 701A step by step PBX . It was donated by AT&T at
The Dalles Ore. It was dismantled and brought to the museum and now is in good
working condition.
- Several old teletype machines and related equipment, all in
working condition.
- A multitude of old pictures of employee groups, telephone
buildings, old time construction projects.
- Many old type manual switchboards, a long distance operators
board from the old Tacoma office, several old manual PBX boards including two
local battery drop signal models.
- Toll test boards, a Morse board, and a primary board. They are
equipped with a working Morse telegraph key and sounder.
- Old telephone and pioneer records, old telephone directories,
some from the turn of the century.
- A sound power telephone display from the cable laying
barge.
- A working crossbar dial system. Outside plant cables, tools,
equipment.
- Two phone booths equipped with lights and telephone sets.
- A display of electronic tubes that were manufactured by the
Western Electric Co. and much much more. A visit to this museum will long be
remembered and enjoyed.
Good and Welfare
Anniversaries; July, Matt Cook 15 yrs. August; Ron
(“Ronnie the J”) Jorgenson 30 years, Alisha McFadden 5 years, Eric
Grace 5 years.
Special acknowledgement: “Coin Department”,
Elaine Allison 35 years (3-6-1969), Don Johnson 27 years (8-10-1977), John Wood
25 years (9-20-1978), Rich Hazen 24 years (4-7-1980), Tom Jaycox 22 years
(9-30-1981), Judd Clarambeau 3 years (8-13-2001).
Retiring: Taking V.S.P.P. as of this writing; CW Wood,
Suzie Schenck, Jaunita Wright
The National Legal and Policy Center Seeks
Congressional Review of CWA/SBC Contract
The Future of CWA Members is Under Attack
An Ultra Conservative, Anti-Union Public Policy Organization
called The National Legal and Policy Center (NLPC), is complaining to Congress
and asking for an investigation because SBC settled its recent contract
negotiations without major concessions in retirement, healthcare, and job
security.
The NLPC accused SBC of “complete capitulation to the
(CWA)” and claim “SBC’s unconscionable concessions will hurt
consumers and shareholders alike.” They said CWA uses “guerilla
tactics”. Their complaint does not recognize the ‘tactics” used
by CWA were in accordance with established laws designed to govern unions and
the collective bargaining process. CWA and its members were forced to use their
most powerful tool, a strike, to influence SBC to act as a good corporate
citizen by maintaining a decent standard of living, providing fully funded
health care benefits, and guaranteeing current employees job security by
providing access to jobs in the newer technology markets of wireless and
internet.
What does this mean to You? Our Future Ability to Negotiate
Wage Increases, Job Security, Healthcare and Retirement are all in the balance.
We must counter the Ultra Conservative, Anti-Union lobbying
efforts By Electing Our Friends in the November 2004 Election.
How can we do it? All CWA members must get involved if we
expect to defend ourselves. Our great history shows when we work together we
can accomplish a lot. Through CWA we can work with the rest of the 16 million
union members in the AFL/CIO to accomplish our goals. |