The Union and the Company met multiple times this week to continue the discussions on the oversubscriptions and non surplus volunteers. We are discussing the process for releasing these members and a procedure for backfilling many of them. We are working to ensure that jobs are left in tact. Departments cannot have a mass exodus of members without caring for who will continue to do the work. Our goal is ti backfill the positions needed without further adding to another surplus. Going forward we are looking to get to a position where we are sized right and facing another large surplus. We are closer to an agreement and when we have more information we will update this membership.                                                                                                 

          The current discussions and meetings also include the status of the SST's & OPT's hired after 2003. We are working to reduce and potentially stop the layoff of these members. In Mass & R. I. there are currently 81 SST's & OPT's hired after 2003. The company has not notified us yet what their intention is on these members. The Union has made it clear that layoffs will not be acceptable.

         There will be a one year before contract rally on Thursday August 5th starting at 6pm in front of  185 Franklin St. Boston. Our current collective Bargaining  Agreement expires at midnight August 6th 2011. I guarantee that once again we will be in a fight. This Company has shown us time and time again that they don't want us here. They want cheap labor. We will once again mobilize and stand up to a corporation that wants to cut corners. This membership has built this Company and made it the telecom giant that it is. We deserve the good wages and benefits we have and will stop at nothing to keep them. Let's show this company that we are UNITED IN OUR FIGHT. 

A reminder to all members. It is more important than ever to perform your work and only your work. By doing the work of another title, you help the company justify surplus in that title. The central office groups are one of the groups who got hit the hardest. ALL SST's must stay on their side of the frame. The CO techs are covering more offices and are spread thin around the local. DO NOT  perform CO work if you are not a CO tech. If you need to get something done and the office is not manned, NOTIFY your manager that you need coverage A.S.A.P

The work continues between the Union and the Company on an agreement to release the oversubscriptions and non surplus volunteers. There are many parts to an agreement like this and the union and company have many issues to address. It is not as simple as a release date. There are approximately 300 jobs to care for and a lot of work at stake. We know this is a stressful time for the members who volunteered to leave. We want to thank you for your patience as we continue the process to reach an agreement on a release for the remaining volunteers. When we have more information we will notify the membership. 

This Thursday Aug 5th at 6pm in front of Verizon  185 franklin St. Boston there will be a one year before contract expiration rally. Our current collective bargaining agreement expires midnight Aug 6th 2011. We will begin the process to mobilize and unite, to send a clear message to this company, that we are ready. We are ready, to once again, stand together to protect our wages and benefits. Wages and benefits that we have earned building this company and placing them at the forefront of the telecom industry. Let's not let them forget how they got there. So join your brothers and sisters from the T6 council as well as many other labor organizations this Thursday at 6pm in front of 185 Franklin St. Boston for the one year away rally.