VCSI Tentative Agreement

posted Aug 14,2008

  Please click on attachment to view the tentative agreement

VCSI_MOA.PDF 

CWA/IBEW/VCSI Bargaining Updates
August 10, 2008

8:30pm

Attached are the highlights for the VCS Agreement.

VCSI_Tentative_Agreement.doc

CWA/IBEW/VCSI Bargaining Updates
August 10, 2008

12:30pm

Negotiations are continuing and we’ve made significant progress toward
our goal of a settlement that meets our members’ critical goals and
issues.

We will update you throughout the course of the day.  At the present
time we still have some remaining issues to work through.  The District
2 team is still working issues on the VCS, GNI and Vz Communications
tables.

CWA/IBEW/VCSI Bargaining Updates
August 9, 2008

The Unions and the Company continue marathon bargaining in an attempt to bring the contract in before the bargaining deadline of 12:01 am, Monday, Aug. 11.

CWA/IBEW/VCSI Bargaining Updates
August 8, 2008

The CWA/IBEW Unified Bargaining Committees have set a bargaining deadline for completing contract negotiations with Verizon. That deadline is Monday, Aug. 11, 12:01 am. At that time, the existing contract that was extended last weekend will expire. Strike action then becomes possible if a fair settlement is not reached.

The strike date will be set by the two union presidents in consultation with the bargaining committees.

Negotiations are continuing at this time. Among the critical issues: permanent, quality jobs at Verizon and other job issues, health care and retirement security, a fair wage settlement and others.

CWA/IBEW/VCSI Bargaining Updates
August 7, 2008

11:00 pm

The unions and the Company met this afternoon and the Union restated its demand for a fair wage increase. There are also many non-economic issues still unresolved. Many of these are "quality of work life" issues that cost the Company nothing to fix, but would make life better for our members.  In the view of your bargaining committee, while there has been some movement, we still have important issues remaining. As long as our members are solid in their support of mobilization activities the Company will know that our agenda is being supported by whatever actions are deemed necessary to bring home a good contract. To not do so simply conveys the opposite- that we will take whatever the Company will give us.
VCS should know by now that the moment progress stops, so can we.......
 Stay Unit
Your VCS Bargaining Committee

CWA/IBEW/VCSI Bargaining Updates
August 7, 2008

The Unions and the company are scheduled to meet later today to continue
talks on the VCS contract. Another update will follow that meeting
today. In the interim, CWA has been advised the company intends to
again offer home garaging to technicians today. It appears the
congestion and confusion at the work centers in the morning has caused
the company to move in this direction. The Union’s suggest that
technicians should not volunteer to take on the responsibility for the
safety and care of the company’s vehicle until a contract is reached.
We know it is an inconvenience for those with limited transportation,
however the company, including the first and second level supervisors,
needs to understand our intention is to get a fair and reasonable
agreement for the labor we provide. They are feeling some of the
pressure of undesired forced overtime themselves as they have to come in
early and stay late to secure those company vehicles. Keep the pressure
on.

CWA/IBEW/VCSI Bargaining Updates
August 4, 2008

The Unions and the Company have met throughout the day and into the evening and will be working throughout the night in an attempt to reach an agreement.  Slow but significant progress is being made and the clock remains stopped at 11:59 pm August 2^nd.

What is clear to the bargaining committee is that it is the unity in the field that is forcing the Company to move.  Our members are the most important part of this bargaining effort and we realize the issues around maintaining a highly charged mobilization and readiness when members have so little specifics about the table.  We also appreciate the patience it takes when so many of these reports seem almost the same.

This bargaining has been like no other in anyone’s memory.  There have been fewer issues and yet never have the issues been more important.  While we would like to give details, we hope everyone understands why we can’t report specifics on a situation that is in motion and changing every hour.  We also cannot let the Company try to bargain past the bargaining committee to our members in an attempt to weaken or divide us.

Our issues are the same every day.  We want a fair contract that protects jobs, secures the future, and provides good wages.  So sometimes these reports will be to say we know you are there, we appreciate everything you are doing and we will stay in this together until this job is finished.

Members should report to work for their regular scheduled tour on Tuesday August 5.  Should it become necessary to start the clock causing our current agreement to expire, a strike could still be authorized.  We will keep you posted.

CWA/IBEW/VCSI Bargaining Updates
August 1, 2008

The unions and the Company met today in another fruitless session. We are no closer to an agreement, and in fact have gone backwards. We have no agreement on pathway to the core, no agreement on work jurisdiction, no agreement on wages, benefits, or anything that even comes close to an acceptable contract. The union expressed anger over the state of negotiations after all these months. Since rejecting nearly all of our proposals the company has yet to come forward with anything of their own to address key demands. The union has resubmitted our agenda once again and warned the Company that our members are ready to strike if we if we do not see more progress in the next day than we have in all of our previous meetings combined.
There is a big difference between being "in the union" and 'BEING UNION". Now is the time that defines us. Get ready, and thank you for all of your hard work and solidarity.
24 hours to go!

CWA/IBEW/VCSI

Greetings Brothers and Sisters,
Today we find ourselves in the final day and hours of what for all good
intention was to be “early bargaining.” Your bargaining committee
has been working long hours at several levels and on several tables to
bring in a fair contract. We also know you all have been working
overtime at your CWA jobs to mobilize the members around the issues. We
have seen the pictures, read the newsletters and emails and are very
proud of the job you are doing.

The decision whether to strike will not be made until the final hours
and that is why we must continue our preparation to walk off the job
when the decision is made and communicated. Over the next day and
through to contract expiration all of our patience is bound to be tested
regardless of what hat we are wearing. Locals should schedule coverage
at your local halls so that when information becomes available you can
update your tapes and websites. We will have a bargaining update later
this evening for both VCS and Verizon. We do not anticipate putting out
a bargaining report on Saturday until early evening. This should not
stop locals from changing your own taped message periodically. It may
cut down on some of the direct calls into the local office.

The District office will be manned on Saturday from 5pm on. The
Virginia state office and the West Virginia state office will not be
manned. The CWA Staff assigned to those offices will be on hand at a
local office in their respective areas and can be reached on their cell
phones.

The Bargaining Committees want to thank you all for your support during
these negotiations. Working together we can bring home a contract that
will protect our members’ futures.

CWA/IBEW/VCSI Bargaining Updates
July 31, 2008

The Unions and the Company had off table talks and did not meet formally today. The Company is preparing a response to the union's issues concerning jurisdiction of work and transfers to core. The current response from the Company on the many other substantial subjects remaining including wages, benefits, healthcare, forced overtime etc is simply no where near where we need to be. We can get a lot done in a short time, but we will not give in to a Company that ignores its employees contributions. The union committee knows you have our back. This is the time to get in the game- negotiations are not a spectator sport. We are ready to fight!

CWA/IBEW/VCSI Bargaining Updates
July 30, 2008

The unions and the Co met today with the union responding to Co proposals. A great deal of discussion took place on "pathway to the core". To date there is still no substantial progress to report and the clock is ticking down to Saturday midnight. Your bargaining committee stands ready to work to the wire to hammer out an agreement that will be reflective of the work you do every day. We will accept nothing less. As soon as there are details of significance to convey we will update the report. Shake the ground till it rocks the chairs at the bargaining table! This is not the time for business as usual. MOBILIZE!!!!

CWA/IBEW/VCSI Bargaining Updates
July 29, 2008

The unions and the Co. met today and the union made counter proposals to
Company responses received on Monday. The parties recessed and will meet
again on Wednesday. We are still far apart and time is running out. The
message from the field should be loud and clear- it is time for VCS to
get serious about the many issues yet to be addressed. With 4 days to go
very little progress has been made. Mobilize like never before!

Now, following up from our mobilization call last Friday regarding VCS
technicians returning their “home garaged vehicle.” You may recall
in 2000, Verizon core was already on strike when the VCS technicians
returned their vehicles causing the management of VCS to scramble when
they realized they had no place to park all those trucks. Now that both
contracts expire at the same time technicians should plan on returning
the vehicle at the end of their tour on Friday or if scheduled on
Saturday. This will only work if everyone home garaging participates.
Locals should make plans to shuttle technicians in the event the company
refuses to provide any transportation home for the technician.
Technicians should let the company know they have safety concerns
regarding the vehicle and are taking this approach to insure no theft or
vandalism occurs while it is in their possession in the event of a
strike.

CWA/IBEW/VCSI Bargaining Updates
July 28, 2008

The unions and the Co met today and exchanged proposals. To date there has still been no substantive issue resolved, and the numerous economic proposals brought forward by the Union have either been rejected or not addressed at all by the Co. The parties recessed and will meet again on Tuesday. SPECIAL MESSAGE TO ALL COORDINATORS- Let the cows out of the barn at the appointed time in your area and await further instructions via the link.

CWA/IBEW/VCSI Bargaining Updates
July 24, 2008

The Unions and The Co. met today and the union presented an economic proposal to the Co. The Co was advised that negotiating as we know it has yet to occur. We reminded them that bargaining is not defined by one party putting forth its agenda in good faith only to be ignored by the other. The Union stands ready to move forward. If the Co's inaction is a test of our resolve it is a test that only our members can answer.... It is a test that we and those before us have "aced " many times in the past to build our union and our contracts. This time will be no different. It is time to stand together once again. Mobilize and be prepared to strike.
Bargaining will resume on 7/28.

CWA/IBEW/VCSI Bargaining Updates
July 22, 2008

The Unions and the Co met today and the Co responded to several information requests submitted by the Union. The Union expressed its assessment of negotiations at this point as falling far short of expectations. The Co has been presented with all of our demands and has yet to get serious. No package has been put forth by the Co after hearing numerous times that there will be no agreement until the many serious economic and workplace issues facing our members are resolved.
The union has made proposals on all of our demands including:
move VCS to Core- rejected
pathway to "core"- rejected
senior multi-media tech- rejected
wage improvement- no response
improved benefits- rejected
improved OT language- rejected
sick day improvements- rejected
short term disablity improvement- rejected
long term disabilty plan- rejected
light duty- rejected
seniority language- rejected
vacation improvement- rejected
safety committee- rejected
holiday improvements- rejected
and on and on......
The hour is late and there is a long way to go. Until the Co hears from our members they will not listen. Your bargaining team is confident that the volume will be turned up. The parties will meet again on 7/24. Mobilize!

CWA/IBEW/VCSI Bargaining Updates

July 19, 2008

As you know the Union Bargaining team and VCSI are scheduled to meet again on Monday July 21st. The results of the strike authorization vote by VCSI members in District 2 are overwhelming. Our VCSI members voted 98% to authorize a strike against Vz. should the leadership deem a strike neccessary to achieve a fair contract. These results demonstrate our VCSI members are willing to "walk the talk" to secure a decent contract.

CWA/IBEW/VCSI Bargaining Updates

July 17, 2008

The CWA/IBEW bargaining team met formally in Washington, DC on July 8th. 
The Union placed their demands back across the table demanding VCSI 
members be compensated fairly for the work they perform. There were 
open discussions on all of the issues our members have submitted to the 
bargaining committee. The parties recessed and agreed to meet again on 
July 21st when the company will respond to our members’ demands. 
 
Your support in the field and your message to management is greatly 
appreciated by your bargaining team. Results of the Strike 
Authorization vote will be announced shortly. Mobilization activities 
continue to be scheduled. Plans are being finalized for a multi CWA 
District and Union rally on Saturday, July 26th in New York City. 
Contact your Local for details. 
Mobilize!

CWA/IBEW/VCSI Bargaining Updates

July 8, 2008 

The unions and the co met yesterday and the Co responded to several information requests submitted by the union. A great deal of discussion took place surrounding "quality of work life" issues. Topics included sick time, flexibility in scheduling time off, safety, Union - Co relations, forced overtime requirements, and contracting of work. The CWA committee submitted a proposal that mirrors the Core tables demand to move the Potomac VCS members into the Core Company. The table then recessed until the Co can review the Unions concerns and form a response.