President - Matthew Carroll, Vice President - Richard Murray, Treasurer - Shelley Hines, Recording Secretary - Teresa Zoellick, Executive Board Members; Ryan Colvin- Verizon, Open- Outside Construction, Donnie Lozier- CenturyTel and Bill Yeazel - Frontier.
Clerical Staff: Theresa Duncan, Jeanene Court
LOCATION: 14309 SMOKEY POINT BLVD. MARYSVILLE, WASHINGTON, 98271
MAIL ADDRESS PO BOX 3219 ARLINGTON, WASHINGTON 98223 Main Number 360-657-1423 toll Free 877-221-4239 Fax 360-657-7216
Oregon Office: (503)359-1755
ATTENTION ALL MEMBERS PLEASE SEND E-MAIL TO IBEW89@frontier.com TO BE ADDED TO GROUP LIST FOR CENTURY LINK FRONTIER, OR VERIZON UPDATES.
WHO DOES LOCAL 89 REPRESENT!
Local 89 is not just affiliated with the Telephone Electrical Industry. We also carry contracts for Manufacturing, Clerical, Tree Trimming, CATV and Mechanics.
We are a full referral Local for our Outside Construction Telephone Industry.
Outside Construction Work
If you are interested in working in the Outside Telephone Construction Industry, please contact the Union Hall to register on our out-of-work books or to save time - download, open and print the out-of-work card and work experience form below and mail or fax them to the Union Hall.
The work picture for outside remains bleak for the rest of 2009 and the first half of 2010, most companies are not doing major capitol improvements at this time.
June 14, 2010 Century Link has notified Local 89 that they will be conducting a dependent audit (medical, dental) to verify eligibility. CENTURY LINK: With Century Link announcement of the purchase of Qwest properties, if approved, would take Century Link to 18 million access lines. The purchase of Embarq is not complete yet, so this will involve more change to come. Meetings with other century Link IBEW locals were held the week of April 26, 2010. issues discussed were the continuing transition of Embarq properties and the up-coming negotiations of locals in 2010. As more information on the purchase of Qwest becomes available, it will be posted here or in an e-mail to members. Issues with the new prices for insurance, the merging of Embarq and Century Tel. insurance together are ongoing. These and issues involving co-location of former Embarq and Century Tel. employees have been discussed with management, at the present there will not be any co-location. We are now a part of TCC-3,( telephone coordination Council for Century Link IBEW Locals) the first meeting was held in October, issues of working towards common contracts were discussed.
Ray Egelhoff Business Manager IBEW Local 89
VERIZON ISSUES
June 30, 2010 A tentative agreement has been reached with Verizon on June 30th, 2010, information on the contract and ballot will be in the mail by July 11, 2010 To All, Negotiation update for week of May 14-18; Items tentatively agreed to: 1)Article 26 Contracting, after many discussions we have agreed to the following changes of 13% total number of contractors year round, within local 89’s jurisdiction, this change eliminates 11% contracting and keeps 13%., rearrange existing language (no changes, just make it read better) change reporting from monthly to quarterly, it will be up to us (membership) to keep track of contractors, we also have agreed to meet to find better way to track lump sum contractors. 2)On going discussions on non-consecutive days off 3)Open items are wages, retiree medical benefits (VEBA), upgrades, moving existing Consumer Sales Associates to commission, business attire. Health Insurance update: Last week I talked about Verizon wanting to cancel medical option 517 and our ability to keep it through the end of this year, other developments are as follows: 1)Plan 564 Anthem Blue Cross EPO of Texas, 1 employee impacted, will default to national indemnity west plan, you will receive a letter in the mail explaining what you can do if you wish to opt for another medical plan. 2)Plan 521 Healthnet HMO CA, 1 employee default to National indemnity west plan, you will receive a letter in the mail explaining what you can do if you wish to opt for another medical plan. 3)62 employees on the 740B National indemnity West Plan will change to Anthem Bluecard Traditional network, medco will continue to offer the free generic drug program through the end of this year. You will receive a letter in the mail with information on how to access Anthem’s web site to check on Doctor Availability and to print out a temporary ID card on or after July 1, 2010. 4)If you subscribe to Flexible reimbursement account their will be a black out date from June 18, 2010 through June 30, 2010 whereby no claims will processed so that the balances in the health care and/or dependant care accounts can transfer to Frontier. Associates who have a “your spending account card” will not be able to use their card effective June 18, 2010. They will receive a new card with their balances transferred in mid July. Should an associate have a health care claim or dependant care claim in the interim they will be advised to submit their claims beginning 7/01/2010 through Frontier’s Your Benefits Resources website or submit a paper reimbursement form on or after July 1. Please remember if you are in one of the medical plans that is changing you will have until August 1, 2010 to change to another available plan by calling the newbenefits on or after July 1, 2010 1-877-387-2770, or before July 1, 1-877-489-2367. Hewitt will continue to be the benefit center for those transferring to Frontier they will have a new number. If you have any questions about any of the above please send me an e-mail, and I will get the answers. The results of the local’s elections are as follows: President, Matt Carroll delegate to International Convention, delegate to TCC-2, TCC-4, TCC-3: Vice President: Richard Murray Recording Secretary: Teresa Zoellick Treasure: Shelly Hines Business Manager/ Financial Secretary: Ray Egelhoff Delegate to TCC-2, TCC-3, TCC-4, TCC-8 and International Convention: E-board Member: Verizon: Ryan Colvin Century Link: Donnie Lozier Frontier (existing): Bill Yeazel Outside Construction: no candidate International convention Delegates: 1) Shelley Hines 2) Teresa Zoellick 3) Richard Murray 4) Fawn Porter Alt 1. Al Brune Alt. 2 Stacey Bosman Alt. 3 Josh Duval Alt. 4 Donnie Lozier Alt. 5 Gray Peterson I wish to thank all those that showed an interest in running for office and for delegate to International Convention, Ray Egelhoff Business Manager IBEW Local 89
June 11, 2010
To All:
Good news, We were able to stop Verizon from canceling insurance plan 517, Blue shield PPO of California, and allow those on this plan to stay through the end of this year, will continue discussions to keep available for next year. Update on other issues: More discussion on contracting language, medical premium co-pays, business attire, finalizing on vacation and banking language, more next week.
Ray Egelhoff
Business Manager
IBEW Local 89
6-04-2010 negotiation update, Items discussed; Company Proposals; Work schedules, 4/10s Change in Vacation banking and how vacation is earned Contracting, Company wants ability to contract at any time for any amount. Retiree medical premiums, cancel coverage for new hires Active employee medical premium co-pays On a conference call on Tuesday with Verizon officials Company stated that active members that have Blue Cross/Blue Shield PPO of CA, WA. And Ore., Plan 517 will not be available to employees who stay with Frontier as of July 1, 2010. Their proposal is to move 184 employees to the National indemnity plan, and allow them an open enrollment period until August 1, 2010 to choose the Blue Cross Blue shield National EPO plan. We are demanding that Verizon pay for the difference in coverage’s, up until January 1, 2011. More to come on this issue after discussions next week.
May 28, 2010 Negotiation update:
To All, Negotiations update for May 28, 2010 Contract has been extended until agreement is reached or either side gives the other written notice that they are invoking 96 hour cancellation. Many items were discussed this week: Vacation banking Layoff and severance pay Work schedules (days and hours worked) Medical Insurance (co-pays) Business attire We will break for the holiday and resume on Tuesday, June 1, 2010
NEGOTIATION UPDATE:
MAY 21,2010 CONTRACT EXTENDED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE TO ALLOW FOR MORE DISCUSSION ON ISSUES SUCH AS WAGES, RETIREE MEDICAL, INSURANCE COPAYS, CONTRACTING AND SCHEDULING.
Ray Egelhoff Business Manager IBEW Local 89
Meetings were held the week of April 26, 2010 with Frontier to discuss issues described below. Negotiations started Monday 3rd., 2010, there will be updates every Friday. MARCH 2010 Most states have approved the sale of verizon properties to frontier The only state that has not approved the sale is West Virginia, once this is done the next step is at the FCC for approval. I am attending meetings with Frontier to discuss and clairify what will take place with 401k plan, assurance from frontier that all contractual items will be adheared to once Frontier takes over. Answers to our questions will be comming in the next few weeks. meetings with Verizon for effects bargaining will take place in the next few days, these discussions will be centered around what happens to the 87 members that stay with Verizon, and other issues that need to be addressed.
OCTOBER 2009 Fall meeting with all Verizon and Frontier locals was held, topics included the sale to Frontier, Washington, Oregon, Ohio, West Virginia utility comissions staff recomendations that the sale not be approved. AS MORE MEETINGS TAKE PLACE, I WILL UPDATE THE RESULTS. July 17, 2009 Verizon Pension Plan funded at 218% of current liaibility. June 25, 2009 See Fact sheet on Sell to Frontier Meeting was held on June 15, 2009 with all Business Managers for Frontier and Verizon to discuss Verizons proposed sell of properties. Specifics to be discussed at unit meetings.
MAY 13, 2009 VERIZON ANNOUNCES SELL OF NORTHWEST AREAS: MORE INFORMATION WILL BE PROVIDED AS SOON AS WE GET IT. PLEASE SEND AN E-MAIL TO IBEW89@Verizon.net SO WE WE CAN ADD YOU TO OUR LIST AND PROVIDE YOU WITH UP TO DATE INFORMATION/MOBILIZATION INFORMATION.
Survivor's Pension Benefits The Pension protection act has brought many changes, shoring up of the Pension benefit guaranty, allowing employees to move Company Match of Stocks to a selection of the employees choice, to the latest, Survivors pension benefits that has increased from 65% to 75%.
LEGISLATIVE ISSUES AND POLITICAL EDUCATION
The Washington State Labor Councils political endorsement convention meets this Saturday, May 15th Labor endorsed candidates will be posted here next week. Please go to www.wslc.org for voting records of legislators in Washington
For a list of Oregon labor endorsed candidates www.oraflcio.org Don't forget to vote May 18th, 2010
To find out more about legislative issues or to educate yourself and get more involved in issues that have an impact on you and your families future - please use one of the links below.Please check on these web sites to find issues and answers to the upcomming presidential elections. Labor to Neighbor campaigns will be starting in your area, please look on links below for information.
Oregon AFL-CIO - www.oraflcio.org To find your Oregon State Legislator- http://www.leg.state.or.us/ California Labor Federation AFL-CIO - www.calaborfed.org Another site is www.trcp.org this is the Teddy Roosevelt conservation partnership, and the Union Sportsman alliance
