There is still a little time left for Toys For Tots!!  Please locate the collection box at your location to donate a new, unwrapped toy or you can donate funds through your steward, tha hall, or scan that Helping Hands QR code below and we will take care of the shopping for you. Collections end 12/10 so we can get those toys on their way to a Tot for the holiday.

Our informational tape system here at the Hall has encountered significant issues. This past Saturday, the Hall experienced a power surge that appears to have damaged the motherboard. The device that operates the tape is extremely old, and as we work to either repair it or identify a reasonable replacement, we will provide regular updates via email to ensure the membership remains informed.

As the season of giving continues, toy collection boxes have been placed in all work locations. Donated toys will support the Planting the Seed Foundation, now in its 52nd year of helping struggling families throughout Central Massachusetts. Collection boxes will remain in place until December 10th.
For members who prefer to donate financially, contributions may be given to a steward. Members working from home may donate via Venmo at IBEW 2325 Helping Hands.

The Massachusetts AFL-CIO Scholarship Award Program is now open. Key details include:

Registration deadline: December 19, 2025

Testing window: February 2–6, 2026 (administered at the student’s school)

Eligibility: Graduating seniors or students eligible to participate in training

Application: massaflcio.org/scholarships

Study resources: learnlaborhistory.com

Number of scholarships: Three

Please encourage all eligible students to apply—last year, we had only two applicants.

As many of you are aware, Verizon has laid off nearly 15,000 Verizon Wireless employees and managers, leading to organizational changes that will directly affect our local. The updated leadership assignments are as follows:

VP of the Northeast and Metro: Gene Behrens

Third-Level Director, Ader and Lunenburg: Marc Durocher

Second-Level: Scott Wilson

Third-Level, Remaining Local: Paul McManus

Second-Level, Remaining Local: Peter Birch

Unity T-Shirts will be distributed during the second week of December. Members are encouraged to wear them every Thursday. If you do not receive one, please contact the union hall so we can ensure you are provided with a shirt.

Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave Deductions for 2026
Effective January 1, 2026, your contributions toward Massachusetts Paid Family Leave will remain unchanged at 0.18% of your wages, up to a maximum annual contribution of $332.10, which is equivalent to the contribution required of employees participating in the state plan. Verizon will continue to cover the full cost of the medical leave portion.

A comparison between 2025 and 2026 is shown below:

Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave (MA PFML)
Effective: January 1, 2026

Benefit Year 2025 2026
Tax Percentage 0.18% 0.18%
Max. Annual Contribution $316.98 $332.10
Where applicable, contributions to MA PFML will be subject to taxes and withholdings.

For more information regarding MA PFML, including the effective 2026 rates, please visit the State Notices page on Inside Verizon.

Fraternally,

Jamie

There is still time to participate or donate.

S.1319 and H.2168 will help level the playing field for workers and hold irresponsible employers accountable.

This legislation allows employees forced to strike to be eligible for unemployment benefits after 30 days of being on the picket line, standardizing the benefits eligibility of workers engaged in labor disputes.

Passing UI for striking workers will result in working people keeping money in their pockets during a prolonged strike and will hold companies accountable for using financial stress and strain as a weapon against their workers during a strike, ultimately averting more strikes without major costs increases to our UI fund.

Ask your legislators support S.1319 & H.2168 today!  

Join IBEW 2325 and the Veteran's committee for breakfast and parade; as participant or spectator

Another opportunity to volunteer your time to put together Thanksgiving Care Packages on Saturday November 15th.  

Letter from our Business Manager Jamie Gniadek emailed out on 10/31

Good afternoon, and Happy Halloween,

Earlier today, I sent the letter below to all of our legislators in Central Massachusetts in response to the message mailed out by Eric Dickson, CEO of UMass Memorial Health. Within minutes, State Representative David LeBoeuf reached out to explain what is actually going on.

It appears that BCBS and UMass are currently in the middle of their annual contract negotiations over rates. Unfortunately, Mr. Dickson decided to make the situation public, which has caused a great deal of confusion. Representative LeBoeuf, along with other legislators from the Worcester area, is aware of the letter and has already contacted both parties to encourage them to return to the table and stop airing this dispute publicly.

I have also notified the company of the issue and am awaiting a response should the worst-case scenario occur. Representative LeBoeuf believes the matter will ultimately be resolved.

Below is the letter I sent earlier today for your reference:

Dear [Recipient],

My name is Jamie Gniadek, and I am the Business Manager of IBEW Local 2325 in Worcester, Massachusetts.

Attached is a letter written by Eric Dickson, President and CEO of UMASS Memorial Health. I strongly urge you to review this letter, as it outlines an issue that will significantly impact not only our members but also the citizens of Worcester County and beyond.

At a time when our nation faces an ongoing healthcare crisis, it is deeply troubling that major players in this situation feel the need to “warn” us of potential actions such as dropping our coverage, increasing costs, or limiting benefits. Preliminary estimates suggest that nearly a quarter of a million residents in Central Massachusetts could be affected.

For our membership—whose open enrollment conveniently ended before this letter was distributed—this situation is both unacceptable and deeply concerning. We are gravely worried about what will happen to our coverage if these two entities cannot reach an agreement.

I urge you, as our elected representatives, to contact Mr. Dickson and work to bring both sides together to prevent this outcome. The well-being of countless working families depends on swift and cooperative action.

Thank you for your attention to this critical matter.

Sincerely,
Jamie Gniadek
Business Manager, IBEW Local 2325

I hope everyone has a safe and Happy Halloween,

Fraternally,

Jamie

                                         Volunteers needed for IBEW 2325's Annual Thanksgiving event

We support our Brothers and Sisters at Movement Labs

Negoitations are ongoing!

UNITED WE BARGAIN - DIVIDED WE BEG

GET READY for contract expiration now

Our contract expires on August 1, 2026

Thursdays are for RED

The hall is providing one RED t-shirt for each member, extra t-shirts can be ordered at $20 each.

Please follow the link or click the QR code

CLICK HERE TO ORDER

Please look deeper than the headline & see what No Tax on OT means to you. 

Brothers and Sisters, 

Obviously, we are disappointed in the company's unwillingness to bargain in a serious manor.  

Jamie

In late May, IBEW, CWA, and Verizon began negotiations to determine whether an agreement could be reached to extend the current collective bargaining agreements. By late June, significant differences remained between the parties’ proposals, and the Unions informed the Company of our intention to conclude negotiations. At the Company’s request, a high-level meeting was held, during which the Unions agreed to continue discussions, with the understanding that the Company was prepared to more fully address the Unions’ concerns. Despite these continued efforts, the Company has not adequately responded to the needs and priorities of our members. Instead, the Company has chosen to end the bargaining process.

Thanks

System Council T-6

William Gallagher

CWA Assistant to the Vice President

District 1

Shoot your shot

at the IBEW Local 2325 Kevin Boyce Memorial Golf Tournament

Teeboxes are limited - scan the QR code to sign up

#KevinBoyce