Communications Workers of America Local 1102

Communications Workers of America Local 1102

GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
MARCH 21, 2012 5:00 PM
HS CHICHON POST
100 INNIS ST

Verizon strike spills into Staten Island streets as non-union employees are called to action

Regional Bargaining Report # 52
Tuesday, January 10, 2012

CWA District 1/IBEW Local 2213 and IBEW New England Regional Committees and the CWA District 2-13/ IBEW Mid Atlantic Regional Committees have been meeting at the RyeTown Hilton in Rye, NY. The meetings are back “on the record”. For the last couple of months, we have been meeting in “off the record” discussions in Sub Committees focusing on several major areas of our collective bargaining agreements.

Today, Vice President Chris Shelton had a District 1 Local Presidents and Regional Bargaining Committee Meeting at the Ryetown Hilton to discuss the status of contract negotiations. The Local Presidents were given an update and asked to go back to their locals and update their Executive Boards and their membership.

Starting tomorrow and continuing into next week, every CWA Local Executive Board Member in District 1 will be visiting work locations and they will also be in the field to talk to every CWA member to tell them exactly what the company’s proposals would mean to their future. Every Executive Board member will be explaining what must be done to fight this Company. We are asking every member to give four (4) hours a week to your local to do what is needed to win a fair contract. We need every member to tell your Executive Board Member that you are ready to do whatever it takes and to pledge your 4 hours and your support in this struggle.

It is more important than ever that our members continue to mobilize and that EVERY member commit to spending 4 hours per week participating in mobilization activities.

Remember to wear RED!!!

Now more than ever we need to mobilize!

Mobilize! – Mobilize! – Mobilize!

CLICK HERE TO READ RETURN TO WORK AGREEMENT

Open Enrollment Update

The Company advised us last week that since we are still in the process of negotiating a new labor agreement, the current plans will remain unchanged with the exception of the mental health parity, which is being implemented effective 1/1/2012 in compliance with the federal Mental health Parity and Addiction

Equity Act of 2008 (“MHPAEA”).

MHPAEA is a federal law that establishes requirements to make insurance coverage of mental health conditions and substance use disorders comparable to coverage of other medical conditions.

The 2012 benefit renewal will run from 11/1/2011 through 11/11/2011 for our active members and 11/15/2011 through 12/1/2011 for our retired members. Our members have been advised of these dates and they can make changes to their benefit plans, covered dependents, change or enroll in the Healthcare or Dependent Care Spending Account or change their current contributions. We still have “Anytime Enrollment” which means that our members do not have to do anything at this time if they are satisfied with their benefit plan. Our members should take the time during this annual enrollment to check the status of their dependents and to determine if they want to enroll or make changes to the Healthcare or Dependent Care Spending Account.

If our members want to enroll in a Health Care or Dependent Care Spending Care Account or change their current contributions, they must contact Verizon Benefits at 1-877-4 VZBENS (1-877-489-2367) or go on line at www.verizon.com/benefits.

The Company also notified our members that they will be conducting a dependent verification in 2012 to ensure that only qualified dependents are provided with coverage. The company will be requiring our members to provide documentation to support eligibility for each of your covered dependents.

The company has agreed with the Union that they will not be looking back on any of the changes our members make at this time with regards to dependents or the spousal surcharge eligibility. We are encouraging every member to take the time to review their covered dependents to confirm that they continue to meet the qualifications for coverage.

Also, they should take the time to update their spousal surcharge eligibility. If our members want to change a dependent or drop a dependent or make a change to the spousal surcharge, they must contact Verizon Benefits at 1-877-4 VZBENS (1-877-489-2367) or go on line at www.verizon.com/benefits. We suggest that they do this by calling and talking to someone live to get confirmation of the change.

*** VERIZON DEPENDENT VERIFICATION INFORMATION***
***AND IMPORTANT DATES CLICK HERE TO VIEW INFORMATION***
THERE WILL BE NO AMNESTY IF DEADLINES NOT MET
BENEFITS WILL BE LOST!!!!

**CLICK BELOW TO RECEIVE INFO ON NEW FIOS SERVICE DISCOUNT**

FIOS EMPLOYEE DISCOUNT

HEALTH CARE ISSUES
ANYONE RECEIVING BILLS FROM YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER OR ISSUES WITH YOUR HEALTHCARE BENEFITS IN GENERAL PLEASE CONTACT THE LOCAL TO DISCUSS THIS. MAKE A COPY OF YOUR EXPLANATION OF BENEFITS (EOB) WHICH USUALLY COMES IN THE MAIL FOLLOWING YOUR MEDICAL VISIT. WE WILL NEED THIS IN ORDER TO ASSIST YOU FURTHER.

Contact Information
You can e-mail us at:
webmaster@cwa-1102.org

Telephone 718-420-1102 * FAX 718-447-4200 * Tape 718-482-3349

CWA LOCAL 1102 * 1110 South Ave * Staten Island, NY 10314