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Communications Workers of America Local 2001 | |||
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News
December 2009 Newsletter
PSC Approves
Verizon/Frontier Deal in
Split Decision; Union
Weighing Options
The Communications Workers
of America said today they
are weighing their options
after yesterday’s approval
by the West Virginia Public
Service Commission of the
sale of the Verizon’s phone
lines in the state to
Frontier Communications.
“We’re in the process of
evaluating the order,” said
CWA District 2
Vice-President Ron Collins.
“After full review we’ll
look at what we can do that
will best serve West
Virginia consumers and CWA
members.”
The union has 10 days to
file a motion for
reconsideration. It can also
appeal directly to the state
Supreme Court.
“Of course, we’re
disappointed but we’re
heartened by the fact that
at least one person on the
three-member commission
agreed with us and more than
80 legislators, several
county commissions and a
broad coalition of consumer,
union and first responder
organizations that this deal
is too risky and not in the
public’s interest,” Collins
said.
“The split decision shows
our arguments about the deal
had validity.”
Collins also pointed out the
commission’s ruling earlier
this week requiring Verizon
to put $72 million into an
escrow account to improve
the company’s aging copper
network shows the commission
agrees with the union on the
issue of Verizon’s quality
of service.
“The ink was barely dry on
the first ruling which, in
essence, says Verizon hasn’t
done its job in taking care
of its operations,” Collins
said. “To give them a pass
to leave the state and turn
over these problem-riddled
lines to a smaller company
doesn’t make a lot of sense
to us.
“The $72 million ruling also
shows Frontier didn’t know
what it was buying when it
entered into this deal. Had
they known the true
conditions of the operations
and that the PSC would
require $72 million of
improvements, would they
have committed billions to
this deal?”
CWA, which has opposed the
deal since it was first
announced one year ago,
maintains Verizon shouldn’t
be allowed to leave West
Virginia without first
fixing its problems. As a
public utility, the PSC has
the power to take action and
Collins said the $72 million
isn’t enough. Today is the
deadline for Verizon to put
the $72 million into an
escrow account.
The PSC ruling also set out
conditions that must be met
by Frontier. CWA is
reviewing those conditions,
too.
 
Washington State Approves Frontier Takeover Of Verizon Landline APRIL 16, 2010, 6:57 P.M. ET, DOW JONES NEWSWIRES
http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20100416-714530.html?mod=WSJ_latestheadlines
February 19, 2010
Verizon Sale in a Nutshell and more articles
Click Here to read the (304) 411 Special Edition
of Testimony (11-09)
_____________________ Click to Read: Governor Wants Some Guarantees In Landline Deal Click to Read: Frontier to lay off 3 percent of state work force Click Here to Listen to the Ad Running in West VA to Stop the Sale.
01/11/2010 http://www.wvmetronews.com/index.cfm?func=displayfullstory&storyid=34581 The state Public Service Commission is expecting a lot of interest in Tuesday's evidentiary hearing on the proposed sale of Verizon's landline phone service to Frontier Communications. Because the case involves two large companies and hundreds of telecommunications workers here in West Virginia, it's garnered a lot of media attention. Sarah Robertson with the PSC says they're planning for a big turnout. "We fully expect this will be a very well attended hearing and we're doing everything we can to try and accommodate for that," she told MetroNews. The PSC hearing room can seat 56 Twenty additional folding chairs can be set up along the wall, bringing the total occupancy of the room to 76. If that isn't enough space, the PSC has a second hearing room where people can watch the hearing on closed circuit TV.Robertson says they haven't finalized anything yet. "It's just something we're going to have to look at tomorrow (Tuesday) and see how many people do show up." The first part of the hearing will be for public comments. The PSC has already received dozens of written comments from those for and against the project. "They [the PSC] do kind of have a gauge as to what a lot of public comment is: the good, the bad, the ugly, etc..." If you want to speak at the hearing, you'll need to sign up before the hearing starts. Robertson says depending on how many people want to voice opinions, the PSC may have to limit comment. If you can't attend the hearing but want to follow it, you can log on to the PSC website at www.psc.state.wv.us and watch the proceedings. The hearing gets underway at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday. It's expected to last through Thursday. Gov. Manchin Joins Public Rally Against Sale of Verizon Charleston, WV -- Just days before the first hearing at the Public Service Commission, Governor Joe Manchin made a surprise appearance at a large rally of labor and community groups opposed to the proposed sale of Verizon's telephone lines to much smaller Frontier Communications. Gov. Manchin joined CWA President Larry Cohen, CWA District 2 VP Ron Collins, United Mineworkers President Cecil Roberts and many other labor and community leaders on the stage to say that he would do everything in his power to make the proposed deal work for the working families of West Virginia -- not just for the Wall Street bankers. Other rally speakers included Sen. Jack Yost, Del. Mike Caputo, state AFL-CIO President Kenny Perdue, and representatives from the firefighters, nurses and senior citizens. Pictures from the rally may be viewed on a photo sharing website at:http://picasaweb.google.com/randwilson.aflcio/WestVirginiaRallyToStopTheSale Over 800 people attended the rally that was one of the last opportunities for the public to voice opposition to the proposed deal before the West Virginia Public Service Commission begins its hearings on the matter on Tuesday, January 12. "We need to bring high speed broadband to West Virginia and communities across the country, to foster economic growth," Cohen said. "Instead, Verizon is using a tax loopholes to do a tax free deal that will leave West Virginia with without a platform for achieving the speeds that are necessary for economic development. This deal is good for only good for Wall Street, not Main Street." Matt Vinci, a firefighter from Vermont, warned West Virginian's about the impact a similar Verizon landline sale to now bankrupt FairPoint had on 911 service in Northern New England. The rally took place in the Culture Center. Live music was provided by the Carpenter Ants. The PSC can deny the deal if the three-person panel determines the sale isn't in the public's best interest. In November the expert analysts at the PSC and consumer advocate submitted testimony in opposition to the deal due to the risks CWA and others have pointed out. Ivan Seidenburg speaks: Verizon Boss Hangs Up on Landline Phone Business Read: Ron Collins' Reply
VERIZON'S NEW
"FRONTIER" WHAT'S NEXT??? CWA will fight to insure that our members and customers will not be "SOLD OUT".
STOP VERIZON'S NEW FRONTIER ___________________________ Verizon is Abandoning Rural America The Proposed Frontier Purchase of Verizon's Properties Would Place Consumers, Workers and Communities at Risk
Here are examples of letters we need everyone to write to our elected officials to let them know how we feel about Frontier's proposed purchase of Verizon. Please complete handwritten letters (they are much more effective), get family and friends involved and return them to your steward or mobilizer. Sample One: For non-Verizon, non Frontier workers. Sample Two: CWA West Virginia Verizon and Frontier workers.
Click Here for the Verizon Sale to Frontier Fact Sheet Share this with your co-workers, family and friends! ______________________________ Click Here to Get the Facts About Verizon Frontier Sale. Read about Outside Help Needed For Fairpoint
The Verizon Sale ___________________________________________ Verizon's Announcement
to Sell Off WV Access Lines
CWA Mourns Death of Senator Edward Kennedy, A Hero to America’s Working FamiliesAugust 26, 2009 Washington, D.C. -- The Communications Workers of America and all working families have lost a great champion. Throughout a lifetime of public service, Senator Kennedy made improving the lives of working men and women his cause. Health care for all, an end to discrimination, fairness and respect for workers, these were Senator Kennedy's passions, CWA President Larry Cohen said. "He has a special place in the hearts of CWA members," Cohen said. "We met the day before President Obama's inauguration and he said he would complete two goals -- passage of the Employee Free Choice Act and real health care reform. Paraphrasing his own words, that dream will go on, and we will do so in his name." Every major advance, every step forward for working families came about because of his efforts. Medicare and Medicaid, family and medical leave, workers rights, retirement security, equal rights and fair treatment for women, civil rights for people of color, the list goes on and on, Cohen said. Because of Senator Kennedy, millions of American families have been able to achieve the American Dream, afford an education for their children, are safer on their jobs and have a secure retirement, Cohen said. We will extend that legacy when we achieve one of Senator Kennedy's greatest passions, health care for all, he said.
CWA Vice President Catucci Passes Away
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