Wednesday, June 22nd was a great SUCCESS!  We held several informational pickets to show the Company on the 1ST DAY OF BARGAINING that CWA is UNITED.  NO GIVEBACKS!

 June 21, 2011

Brothers and Sisters:

From today we have 46 days until the expiration of our contract. Tomorrow bargaining begins. At the onset of barganing we must send a message to Verizon that we are united. At the membership meeting last Thursday we talked about Verizon wanting to go after everythig we have already fought for. As we fight to maintain and increase our benefits, Verizon is fighting to take them away. As we fight for Job Securty for All, Verizon wants to take away job security for everyone. Even though Verizon makes BILLIONS of dollars in PROFIT annually they want to use the excuse of a bad economy and a perceived apathy in all of us to push for givebacks. We must not let that happen.

Tomorrow, in most major locations, we will be joining in with our union brothers and sisters from Virginia to Massachusetts to picket and send a message to Verizon on this first day of Bargaining. We will send the message that we are united and that we will fight to make sure that the contract we receive will be fair. In most of these locations we are asking all of you to arrive 30 min prior to your shift and walk an informational picket line before reporting to work. Flyers have gone out at the locations where we will walk. We are also asking everyone to wear red in all locations! IF you have a question about this then please call the local at (804) 266-2201.

This past week we also finished up our picket sign-ups and had a very successful membership meeting. The following are pictures from last week and a couple of videos.

Executive Vice President Richard Hatch conducting the General Membership Meeting	Look at the RED!
Chris Brown is not camera shy!  Smile Chris Smile!!!!
Mobilization Training was offered for our active retirees.  What a great class seen here posing with Richard Hatch, Executive Vice President, Robbie Johnson, Sec-Treas, Cameron Hunt, Mob Chair.