IBEW New England and CWA District 1/IBEW Local 2213 Regional Bargaining Team met with the Company this past week in separate sub-committees. The committee had separate meetings on Healthcare, absence, call sharing and work rules. These sub-committees were established to open dialogue in a smaller forum. The goal is to focus our discussions in each individual topic to get a better idea of what needs to be addressed in each area. There is also a separate committee to discuss at length the Union’s job proposals. We will return to the table in Rye N.Y. next week and continue these same meetings.

 

The IBEW and CWA are committed to bargain a new agreement for as long as it takes. We are addressing every issue brought forward and have worked extensively on bringing our agenda to the table. We will not allow this to be one sided and will make sure that our concerns are discussed.

 

This corporation seems hell bent on lowering the level of benefits that the IBEW and CWA have bargained for over the last 50 years. We have obviously struck a nerve with this corporation when we say that “they are destroying the middle class”. They have addressed this statement in their last round of propaganda.

 

The Company has put up flyers on their bulletin boards highlighting some of their proposals. Remember when reading the flyers that these are their proposals and their wish list. They whine that other corporations don’t offer the benefits that we have. They then try to make it sound like they are not asking for a lot. Do not let them lull you into a coma. They are trying to set us back 50 years. Using the excuse that nobody else pays these benefits is weak. The truth is that not many other corporations have profit margins like theirs. When you see the data put out by the Company that says the average worker pays $4237 a year in healthcare and we pay $0…..smile and say “thank god I am in a Union.”  Do not be fooled….The answer is not to the lower the benefits of the middle class. The answer is to treat the people who don’t have these benefits with respect and increase theirs…Corporate America wants it all and there is no way in hell we are gonna let them get it.