Bullies in Congress are threatening to tank the U.S. economy unless they get their way—again. They are threatening to let across-the-board budget cuts take effect in March unless Democrats agree to cut Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare benefits and protect the lavish tax breaks enjoyed by Wall Street and the richest 2% of Americans.
We’re not going to let them bully the 98% until they get their way. We’re putting the pressure on them right now to make sure we’re able to protect every working family.
Republicans in Congress could close tax loopholes for Wall Street, drug companies and the richest 2% of Americans. Savings from closing those loopholes would save trillions of dollars—money that could be invested back into our economy.
These extreme legislators are holding the economy hostage because they want to push through a wildly unpopular economic agenda that voters overwhelmingly rejected in the last election—benefit cuts for Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare and tax breaks for Wall Street and the richest 2%.
Once again, they are ignoring the real problems Americans are facing—like unemployment, underemployment and flat wages—so the people getting the short end of the stick are working families. They’re throwing a temper tantrum to get their way, and apparently tanking the U.S. economy and putting us back to work isn’t a concern for them.
Some members of Congress have been a little hard of hearing lately, so we’re going to keep raising our voices.
We’re getting as many signatures from working families as we can—families who want to make clear our priorities are fixing the economy first and restoring economic security. Please sign the petition today:
Call 1-888-516-5820 Stop Cuts to Social Security & Medicare
Gary Hoert a CWA 1103 retiree knows how important Social Security is for his family. “Even though I have a pension, it’s my Social Security benefit that allows me to continue to live a decent retirement in New York” says Gary.
Gary retired from Verizon as a Lineman from the Brewster NY garage. Like all CWA Verizon Retirees, Gary has what FDR called the three legged stool of retirement: a pension, personal savings plan (401k) and his earned and paid for Social Security benefits.
On March 1, 2013, due to the automatic sequestration cuts, Social Security and Medicare benefits are in danger for future and present retirees. Don't let congress kick out one of the legs of retirement.
Call today and each day till March 1st at the CWA Congressional Hotline 1-888-516-5820 and tell your member of congress “Vote No to any cuts to Social Security and Medicare and stop sequestration cuts to our middle-class safety net”
Need to know who your member of congress is, either go to cwa1103.org and enter your zip code next to the picture of Gerry Horgan or text CD, your address and zipcode to 69866
Yesterday, Cablevision illegally locked out 23 workers and permanently replaced them with Scab workers. Among the 23 workers were 10 of the 12 shop stewards for CWA Local 1109.
The workers asked for a meeting with their Boss to speak about the lack of progress at the Bargaining Table. The Company brought all the workers into the conference room and made them wait there. They came back later and told them they were permanently replaced and called the cops to escort them out.
The Bosses prevented Executive Vice President Chris Calabrese from entering the building to represent them. Today a broad based coalition of Labor, Community Leaders, and religious leader led by City Council Members Christine Quinn, Public Advocate Bill DiBlasio, Senator Eric Adams and many others, marched with the workers to Cablevision's door. They demanded that Cablevision hire the 23 workers back and demanded a meeting with upper management.
As you can see from the video Cablevision was very disrespectful to the City Council and the workers. Unfortunately this is another stark example of how diificult it is to join a union. This is America; this is NYC and this is what goes on. We are calling on all our members and allies to help support in this struggle. This is an attack on all of Labor and it cannot be tolerated.
Results
CWA’s :LPAT Filibuster Action - Bring Back the Talking Filibuster
CWA Members and Coalition partners generated 6388 calls nationwide to Senators across the country. 1,090 calls were made in NYS alone. In the 914 & 845 area codes, CWA locals and coalition partners logged in 413 calls demanding Senator Schumer co-sponsor a talking Filibuster.
In June 2012, large parts of the Midwest and Middle Atlantic were, without warning, hit by a destructive rain and windstorm called a derecho. It left in its wake 22 dead, hundreds of injuries and millions of people without power or communications.
Today, the FCC released a lengthy report prepared by its Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau that looks at the communications outages that followed from the derecho, and made recommendations to avoid or reduce future failures.
According to the report, "The Bureau found that above and beyond any physical destruction by the derecho, 9-1-1 communications were disrupted in large part because of avoidable planning and system failures, including the lack of functional backup power, notably in central offices." The Bureau said categorically that failures of emergency communications could have been prevented "if providers had followed industry best practices and available guidance."
As a result of these findings, the FCC is considering recommendations to wired and wireless carriers, especially those which harden 911 systems during disasters. According to PC Magazine, "The changes would require these firms to maintain adequate central office backup power, have reliable network monitoring systems, conduct periodic audits of 911 circuits, and notify 911 call centers of any problems they discover."
FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel issued a statement reinforcing the findings and recommendations, and commenting on the service breakdowns:
"Tragically, many of these were avoidable interruptions involving a lack of back-up power to central offices or failures of the service providers' monitoring systems... Carriers should test their networks and ensure that plans are in place in case of an emergency. It is time for an honest accounting of the resiliency of our nation's network infrastructure in the wireless and digital age."
2013 DEPENDENT CARE REIMBURSEMENT FUND (DCRF) - As a result of the newly negotiated contract with verizon the Joint Union/Management Regional Work and Family Committee will re-open the DCRF effective January 1, 2013.
Please go to the Downloads section of this website click the titles below to read important information regarding the Re-Enrollment process and to download the enrollment and the monthly reimbursement forms.
Vz Dependent Care Reimbursement Fund - Application 2013
Vz Dependent Care Reimbursement Fund -Request for Monthly Reimbursement 2013
If you have any questions regarding the Dependent Care Reimbursement Fund contact Beverly Steele @ 1-516-797-3872 or Local Union Representative Fran Gottron @ 1-914-939-8203. Please note - You must be an employee of Verizon to participate in this fund.
There will be no reimbursements for the time period the fund was suspended.
Hundreds of our members have suffered serious damage to their homes and cars. Some have lost everything. CWA is stepping up to help, but we need your help. Please help our sisters and brothers who we work along side every day recover and rebuild their lives: make a contribution to the special CWA Disaster Relief Fund by sending your check, made out the CWA Disaster Relief Fund - Hurricane Sandy Fund to:
On behalf of CWA Local 1103's Membership, it is with profound sadness that our hearts, thoughts, and prayers go out to the Newtown, CT community. In the aftermath of the senseless tragedy at the Sandy Hook elementary school, where so much innocence was lost, there is no expression of words that can really comfort those who have lost loved ones.
To our CWA Local 1103 Brothers and Sisters who live in Newtown, if this Local Union or Exective Board can be of any assistance to you, please do not hesitate to call us.
