Dear Member,
In the past month I have attended two meetings in Denver, Colorado. The first was the Qwest/CWA Presidents’ meeting. Ian Ziskin, who has replaced Tom Mathews as Executive Vice President for Human Resources, was on hand to give his view on the direction the company is taking and how it will affect the occupational employees at Qwest. He reiterated that the company intends to meet its commitment to Wall Street on downsizing. This means that some 4,500 employees will be leaving the payroll. The new plan includes eliminating 1,500 contractors as part of the layoff. That’s the good news; the bad news is that they would like to expedite the downsizing. A target goal is early spring. They say this while admitting that the titles and locations are as yet to be decided upon. It seems that as usual we have the cart in front of the horse. .
Mr. Ziskin introduced Auggie Cruciotti. Cruciotti is the replacement for John Kelly (who left to pursue other opportunities) as Executive Vice President for Local Networks. He came to Qwest from Pacific Telephone in California. He claims to understand the issues that we face on a regular basis and wants to work for the resolution of the ongoing problems. The trouble, as I see it, is that the only problems that they recognize are the ones that deal with the bottom line and not the ones that are people-oriented. I still think that the two are related.
Qwest will not be asking for our help as a union in seeking government approval for their entry into the long distance market (commonly referred to as 271). The reason for this is CWA District #7 Vice President John Thompson's request for neutrality in our coming attempts to organize their non-union work force at Qwest. If we organize the classic Qwest it would allow movement between the work groups when impending force reductions are announced, or if new high-tech opportunities were opened at the old Qwest. At this time we don’t have the ability to move between the organization and carry TOE with us. You may have been visited by your director level recently so that he could inform you of the 271 issue. This is an attempt to get your support for the company position. As usual they attempting to circumvent the union. It is funny how they tell us publicly that they can get what they need without us and then try to coerce our support anyway. The Washington State CWA Council will determine what support we shall give in Olympia concerning the companies attempted return to the long distance market.
The second meeting I attended, along with vice-president Garrett and E-board member Jake Williams, was the CWA District 7 meeting. As usual the three-day conference was educational, with speakers, work shops, and bargaining unit meetings. The most important decision to come from the conference was the approval by the locals in the Qwest bargaining unit of a proposed settlement between CWA and Qwest Communications on the permanent restraining order issued in Colorado by US District Count Judge Kane. Although the proposal is not everything we wanted it does allow us freedom in the traditional protected concerted activities used around bargaining. Simply put we can engage in some but not all activities and if the Company and Union disagree on the matter there is an expedited arbitration process to be used in resolving the matter. This is a long and complicated issue so if you have further questions contact Dennis, Jake or myself or come to the regular meeting (fourth Tuesday of each month).
Next year the district meeting will be in Spokane. Our Local, as part of the Washington State Council, will participate as host for the meeting. Local 7812 of Spokane will be the host Local. The exact dates have not yet been set. This will be the first district meeting in Washington in about nine years. It was the intention of Vice President Thompson to bring the meeting here and he also wanted to involve a smaller community so that we would remember that CWA represents the rural areas not just the metro regions.
A large portion of the meeting involve politics and last falls election. The warning about what would happen to labor if George Bush was elected are now starting to come true. Mr. Bush has signed several executive orders that seem to be retribution for labors’ support of Al Gore. As recently as Sunday Mr. Bush signed an order requiring a sixty day cooling off period at Northwest Airlines before the Union could Strike. This gives the company no incentive to bargain with the Union and every reason to believe that Mr. Bush will intervene on their behalf again.
A large portion of the meeting involved politics and last fall’s election. The warnings about what would happen to labor if George Bush was elected are now starting to come true. Mr. Bush has signed several executive orders that seem to be retribution for labor’s support of Al Gore. As recently as Sunday Mr. Bush signed an order requiring a sixty-day cooling-off period at Northwest Airlines before the Union could strike. This gives the company no incentive to bargain with the Union and every reason to believe that Mr. Bush will intervene on their behalf again. The conservative-controlled House and Senate are on the band wagon with actions such as the ergonomics repeal that went down last week. Every study shows that repetitive motion injuries are on the rise and not just for people who work at computer stations. Yes, rather than requiring corporate America to take action to prevent these type of injuries we are going to allow business to pass on their responsibility. It will then be a matter for you and your insurance company to fight about it; that is, if you have health coverage. If you do, God forbid that it is provided for by one of the corporations that fought so hard against the ergonomics bill that would have prevented the injury to begin with.
Although State politics were not discussed as a general topic, I can tell you that it is not much better in Olympia than it is in Washington DC. Because of the even split in the House and the defection of some Democrats who were supported by labor, not much, if any, meaningful legislation sponsored by labor will even reach the floor. Co-Speaker of the House, Clyde Ballard, is holding all bills hostage to the State ergo bill passed last year that they wish to put a two year moratorium on, knowing full well that it will kill the plan forever. I would urge you to go to the Washington State Labor Council web page at www.wslc.org for more information on the efforts of our state government. Find out who is really working for your best interest.
As always I will close by requesting your support for this Local by coming to the regular meeting. It is the best way to find out what issues are hot and to let us know if we are missing some. I would also like to encourage you to become involved actively in the Local either as a steward of as a committee member. Come find out what we are doing for the good of the Local and it members.
Once again it is time to remind our membership of what you are to do if you are reporting out sick from work. This is intended only as a reminder of what the expectations of the company are, and our ability to represent you should you not meet the requirement involved.
If you are sick, you must report out to your supervisor each day, or, if required by your workgroup, the appropriate LRM, CORAC, et cetera. For incidental sickness under the attendance guidelines, four (4) occurrences and a total of seven (7) days per year are the tolerance for being ok. Anything over that amount without becoming a short-term disability absence may put your attendance in jeopardy.
If you are sick with an illness or injury supported by objective medical documentation that prevents you from performing your regular job or any other job to which you may be assigned with or without modification, then you may qualify for short-term disability benefits. “Objective medical documentation” is written documentation of observable and measurable finding of symptoms. In other words, you should see your doctor within the first three days so he can document your illness, because Health Services is going to request it.
Other requirements for Short Term Disability: Contact your supervisor each day to report out. Contact Health Services on or before the 4th calendar day of absence or relapse at 1-800-729-7526. If the absence is due to an on-the-job injury or illness call Risk Management at Unicall 1-800-654-2525.
Approved providers for the purposes of this plan include physicians of medicine or osteopathy licensed to prescribe drugs and perform surgery; nurse/ midwife practitioner; dentist; podiatrist ;ophthalmologist or optometrist; chiropractor; licensed psychologist; licensed social worker. These guidelines are available in your benefit book or on line at www.yourinfo.uswest.com/benefits/handbook/welcome.htm Should you have any questions, contact an officer of this Local.
An investigatory interview occurs when a supervisor questions an employee to obtain information, which could be used as a basis for discipline or asks an employee to defend his or her conduct.
If your supervisor asks you to attend a meeting with him, and there are people in the room you don’t recognize (ie, security), you have a right to request union representation. If an employee has a reasonable belief that discipline or other adverse consequence may result from what he says the employee has a right to request union representation.
At the beginning of an investigatory interview, inform management that: “if this discussion could in any way lead to my being disciplined or affect my personal working conditions, I respectfully request that my union representative be present at the meeting. Without representation, I choose not to answer any questions.”
Things to remember: after the employee makes the request, the employer must choose from among three options. 1) The employer must grant the request and delay questioning until the union representative arrives and has a chance to consult privately with the employee; or 2) deny the request and end the interview immediately, or 3) give the employee a choice of (a) having the interview without representation or (b) ending the interview.
If the employer denies the request for Union representation, and continues to ask questions, it commits an unfair labor practice and the employee has a right to refuse to answer.
The employer may not discipline the employee for such a refusal. Also, the Union representative can serve as a witness to prevent supervisors from giving a false account of the conversations.
Since the beginning of the new year, we have experience several payroll problems. If we don’t hear from you, we cannot help you get them resolved. The standard answer from management, “the correction will be on the next check,” is not acceptable.
Also, be aware that the Qwest matching contribution to your 401k, did not take place on the February 9, 2001 cycle. I have been told by the Payroll Office and the Service Center that it will be corrected but may take up to three pay cycles before it is fixed. I encourage each of you to check your 401k records either on line or at the 1-800# to see if you have been shorted as well. That is $.81 on the dollar for the first 6% of your basic rate for two weeks! The website ishttps://online.MetLife.com/401k/WES. You will need to register if you haven’t already. The service center number is 1-800-729-7526. You will also need your PIN code.
The Editor of The Communicator is looking for stories, funny, sad, inspiring, to be collected over a period of time, edited, and then released in a format yet to be decided upon. So please send (or e-mail) any anecdote, story, or “I remember” pieces relating to your job to the Local’s office in care of The Editor. More at a later date. Ed.
Yes, it’s, March but it is time to mark your calendar for July29th. As in the past it will be held at the Sportsman's’ Club on Canyon Road. More in the next issue of the Communicator.
Anniversaries: Anthony Allen, 5 years; Elaine Allison, 32; Thomas Alsup, 21; James Belcher, 31; John Best, 34; Paul Brown, 5; Brian Browne, 18; Marsha Christian, 33; Victor Cissell, 25; Judy Eagle, 25; William Elzner, 35; Johnny Farber, 32; Richard Godwin, 33; Carey Grant, 5; James Griess, 21; Richard Hazen, 21; Julie Hoff; 24; Walter Hyatt, 24; Robert Jerke, 30; Kelly Kemp, 24; Lynn Larson, 34; Steven Lee, 24; Harold Lumley, 29; Jan Meeks, 29; Walter Miller, 5; David Mills, 22; Linda Noble, 5; Mike Nord, 22; Robert Nordin, 29; Wendi Patterson, 22; Robert Pine, 22; Tanara Reynolds, 20; Donald Rich, 34; Mark Rickey, 32; Karla Rothermel, 30; Daniel Sievers, 22; Lee Smith, 33; William Spina, 5; Kenneth Stiltner, 23; Frank Swilley, 23; Phyllis Taylor, 21; Delila Tomlinson, 22; Ronald Walsh, 5; William Waters, 24; Yvonne Wiggins, 21; Jacob Williams, 10; “CW” Wood, 22.
Retirees: Joe Freer; Daniel Wiemer; Gary Beymer; John Barry; Susan Bellante; Phyllis Taylor; Richard W. Johnson; Robert W. Nordin; Peter L. Fischer; Marsha G. Christian
New or Resigned Members: Rick Gibson; Jason Pringle: Denice Jacobsen; Donald O. Davis; John J. Geraimczk Jr.; Beverly J. Wilson.
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