Business Manager’s Report

                                                                                             August 2008

After a grueling process that began in November 2007, intensified in May and June of 2008 and came to a boiling point in July and August, negotiations between the IBEW, CWA and Verizon have resulted in a tentative agreement on a new 3 year contract. The specific details of the contract will be the subject of ratification meetings in Local 2323 on Tuesday August 19^th at the Westin Hotel in Providence and Wednesday August 20^th at the Knights of Columbus hall in Cranston.

The Union was able to protect fully paid health care for both active and retired members. When other unions have buckled under to corporate America’s strategy to pass the burden of health care to working men and women, the IBEW and CWA have stood firm. While retired Americans continue to be burdened with higher health care costs, retired IBEW and CWA members will continue to enjoy fully paid health care through 2011. This Union will not turn our backs on or forget those who have sacrificed and paved the way for the many benefits we now enjoy.

The Union was also successful during this round of bargaining in ensuring that Local 2323 members will have access to the jobs of the future at Verizon. This Union has worked very hard making sure that the FIOS initiative in Rhode Island will be successful. The Union has supported Verizon in the political, regulatory and public arena in Rhode Island to grow jobs and increase opportunities for Local 2323 members for years to come. Over 350 new jobs have been added in Local 2323 and this new agreement will add even more jobs in the future.

The agreement to add Verizon Business to the bargaining unit will bring additional work and jobs into Local 2323.

All in all, I am very proud of what was accomplished at the bargaining table during these negotiations. None of it would have been possible without the support of officers, stewards and members of Local 2323. Our mobilization efforts, our rallies, our level of preparedness were the reason for our success.

We must continue to stay vigilant and active during the next three years. We cannot and should not ever get complacent. We must ensure that Verizon lives up to this historic agreement.

Finally, I want to thank Assistant Business Managers Kevin Desmond, Craig Duffy and Steve Murphy for their time and effort that they put in representing the membership at the bargaining table. Many days, nights and weekends were spent working on issues for their members. I appreciate their work and hopefully you do to. I would be remiss if I did not express a debt of gratitude to the System Council T-6 Chairperson Myles Calvey of Local 2222 of Boston. For the last seventeen years, I have witnessed Myles in action on behalf of the membership and this agreement would not have been possible without his great leadership and experience.

As Labor Day approached, a day dedicated to working Americans, take the time to reflect on our great union movement and the benefits derived from all of us working together as one.

I am firmly convinced that the Labor movement and Unions form the backbone of America and we all should be proud to be a member of the greatest organization in the world.