AT&T has challenged the language that was intended to protect workers  FMLA rights since October 1, 2003.  That is  when FMLA was amended to read "to prohibit employers from denying employees the right to use up to two weeks of accumulated sick leave for family Medical leave purposes".  AT&T in their desperation to not pay their employees for sick days here in Connecticut has challenged this ruling all the way to the Supreme Court.  It is now Finally over!  When a member is approved for FMLA - they can use sick time as pay replacement when caring for a family member.  For more information on this ruling see Southern New England Telephone Company v. Cashman .

The Office of Consumer Counsel Petitions the DPUC to enforce existing Repair Service Standards and order Call Center Service Improvement.  The Docket lists Telco Quality Failures:

• For the eighth year in a row the company has failed to meet key service standards
• Call Standard Statistics in the Average Speed of Answer (ASA) are the poorest of all reporting companies in 2006 and 2007
• Calls abandoned by customers and calls answered within 60 seconds are the worst of the companies reporting for 2006 and 2007
• In addition AT&T's Bills do not include on its bills the number of the consumer unit

Click here for a copy of the complete docket

Service Quality Plan

THE OFFICE OF CONSUMER COUNSELS RESPONSE TO CWA LOCAL 1298'S CONCERNS ABOUT POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE

Petition from Office of Consumer Counsel Service Quality Plan

Petition from Attorney General Blumenthal to Intervene

Petition from CWA Local 1298 President to Intervene

Intervenor Status for CWA Local 1298 Granted

84+ Months of Excuses

Excuses from AT&T addressing DPUC Docket 99-07-28

October 21, 2008 Attorney Scott Rubin Appearance on Behalf of CWA

Notice of Hearing November 18, 2008

New Haven Register Article

Hartford Courant Article

New FMLA Regulations Summary: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

The Good
The DOL included many of our specific recommendations for how to expand FMLA coverage for military families, adding needed clarity to the law passed by Congress.  And, DOL limited some of its anti-worker recommendations because of all the comments it received from workers and their advocates.

The Bad
However, despite strong opposition by workers, advocates for women and families, and members of Congress and a complete lack of data to support the need for any changes the DOL has effectively made it harder for employees to take FMLA leave. 

Under the new regulations:

• Employers will have more direct access to the health care providers and health information of workers and their family members—jeopardizing workers’ medical privacy.

• Workers will have less time to give notice of their need for leave while employers get more time to let them know whether the request for leave has been approved—making it harder for workers to access FMLA leave.

• Workers will have more requirements regarding fitness for duty policies and more procedures for requesting FMLA leave—which again will make it easer for employers to delay or deny FMLA leave.

• It will be more difficult for workers to use their paid leave (such as paid vacation) while on FMLA leave—making it impossible for some workers to take FMLA leave at all.

The Ugly
As it prepares to leave office, the Bush Administration is issuing regulation after regulation catering to the requests of big business groups. The Bush Administration knows these changes are not supported by data, workers or voters but it’s giving the big business lobby what it wants anyway. 

The truth is that workers have used the FMLA more than 100 million times to take the leave they needed without putting their jobs at risk.  Especially in the current economic crisis, the Bush Administration should be acting to protect workers and their jobs, not making it more difficult to take the leave we need. 

We will look to our new leaders to undo the damage caused by these harmful regulations, as well as to expand the FMLA.

If you would like to send an action alert to your members, telling them to contact their elected officials and urging them to make FMLA expansion a top priority next year, feel free to use The following link:

 This Message is from the National Partnership for Women

Next Months Critical for Employee Free Choice

January 30, 2009

In every district, CWA and other unions are arranging congressional meetings with members over the President's Day recess in mid-February and are building a program of member education and mobilization.

CWA is making a big difference in the fight to win Employee Free Choice. "We're just inches away from making this happen," CWA President Larry Cohen said.

As corporations announced another 90,000 job cuts, devastating tens of thousands of working families, only the Employee Free Choice Act can restore the bargaining rights and worker purchasing power that are essential to economic recovery.

We need letters, telephone calls and e-mails to Senators' offices, setting up meetings with members of Congress and their staffs, having members and locals write letters to the editors and op-eds to local newspapers to counter the Chamber of Commerce.

For more information, go to http://www.freechoiceact.org/cwaresources.

For the Employee Free Choice you have the choice of a powerpoint or PDF version.   
http://files.cwa-union.org/efca/20090126_EFCA_Powerpoint_Public.ppt (PowerPoint version) or http://files.cwa-union.org/efca/20090126_EFCA_Powerpoint_Public.pdf (PDF version)

The U.S. Department of Labor issued revisions to FMLA regulations earlier this year. AT&T has notified  the union that they will adopt regulatory changes May 17:  Below are the bullets that were in the companies advisory  the Unions response  is in red. 

• In states other than California, employees must take FMLA leave for a minimum of one hour, unless the need for leave occurs within the last hour of a work shift. 

The CFMLA permits such an interpretation and CT DOL will conform its enforcement practice to reflect this provision.

• The AT&T Certification of Healthcare Provider Form (FMLA4) will be revised to request medical facts such as symptoms and diagnosis for employees in states that do not have state leave laws that preclude employers from requesting this information.  Additionally, employers may request the healthcare provider indicate which essential job functions an employee is unable to perform. 

The CFMLA  does allow for the request of symptoms, but does not include the request for diagnosis in its medical certification and CTDOL cannot conform to this provision without formally amending the current regulation. 

• Employers may contact healthcare providers to clarify or authenticate the FMLA medical certification form.   Under internal policy, only FMLA Operations will have authority to conduct clarification and authentication.   Under the revised regulations, employees who do not authorize FMLA Operations to clarify their certification may be denied FMLA leave.   Additionally, permission by an employee to contact a healthcare provider will not be required for purposes of authenticating a certification form.  This provision may not apply to employees in states with existing leave laws that prohibit this practice.

 Upon Clarification with Attorney Heidi Lane from the DOL only an employer’s health care provider can contact an employee’s healthcare provider with the employee permission to seek clarification and authentication.  In our case the Independent Med Examiner or Physician Assistant hired by AT&T’s can contact the HCP.

•  The federal FMLA definition of a serious health condition has also changed with respect to incapacity and treatment for conditions categorized as absence plus treatment.  For absences consisting of incapacity of more than three full consecutive calendar days and two treatments, the 1st treatment must occur within 7 days of the first date of incapacity and the 2nd treatment must occur within 30 days of the first date of incapacity.  For absences consisting of one treatment visit and a regimen of treatment (e.g.  antibiotics), the one visit must occur within 7 days of the first date of incapacity.  

Although there are no specific time frames in the CT  FMLA law, The CT DOL believes that the time frames in the new regulations are reasonable and will conform its enforcement practice to reflect this provision

•  Under the revised regulations, employees referred to a 2nd opinion who fail to release all relevant medical information pertaining to a serious health condition may be denied FMLA leave.  This provision may not apply to employees in states with existing leave laws that prohibit this practice.

Again there is no CFMLA provision, but the CT DOL finds this provision reasonable and  will conform its enforcement practice to reflect this provision

Click Here for a copy of the presentation from the Dept of Labor

Connecticut could become the first state to guarantee paid sick days. Help make it happen today!

Please Call Numbers Below Or Click Here to Contact Your Senator and ask them to vote Yes on  H.B. 6187 (SICK DAY BILL)

Senator Ed Meyer

860-240-0455, or toll free1-800-842-1420

Senator Joe Crisco

860-240-0189, or toll-free1-800-842-1420

Senator Gary LeBeau

860-240-0511 or toll free1-800-842-1420

Senator Andrew McDonald

1-800-842-1420

Senator Sam Caligiuri

(800) 842-1421 or (860)240-8800

Senator John McKinney

(800) 842-1421 or (860) 240-8805

Senator Bob Duff

860-240-0414 or toll-free 1-800-842-1420

Senator Gayle Slossberg

860-240-0482, or toll-free 1-800-842-1420

Senator Paul Doyle

860-240-0498 or toll-free 1-800-842-1420

CWA Local 1298 Members take a long and arduous bus ride from Connecticut to Washington to participate in a Rally to Support Universal Health Care.
CWA Local 1298 Members Join Rally for Healthcare in Washington

click Here for more Photos

AT&T: Case study of how the unreformed health system hurts us

 If most CWA members have good health coverage, why is the union working so hard to reform the system?

Well, for one thing, it's the right thing to do.  But it's also in our own interest.

The current bargaining at AT&T shows why we need health reform even if we've got good benefits.  AT&T members currently enjoy good coverage at reasonable cost, but the company has made it a top bargaining priority to shift more costs to the workers.  The result is stalled bargaining, with little progress in talks that began in February to replace a contract which expired in early April.

The contract covers about 85,000 active workers and 100,000 retirees.  With dependents, the health care for up to half a million people is on the line.

The two sides have agreed not to discuss detailed proposals, but CWA has indicated that management proposals call for workers and retirees to pay a share of the premium, for the first time, and for increased out-of-pocket charges as well.  For example, workers could, under management's proposals, pay three to four times as much as they do now for brand name prescriptions.

While the bargaining is stuck on health care, it's been impossible to address other important issues, such as the impact of changing technology on our jobs.

Today President Henderson,  District 1 Vice President Chris Shelton,  Asst. to the Vice President Dennis Trainor and District 1's Legislative and Political Director Bob Masters met with Attorney General Richard Blumenthal to discuss Jobs in Connecticut.  Discussions touched on the poor Service provided to Connecticut Customers and the need for more employees in this state to handle this states communications problems.

In their decision dated June 24, 2009 page 12 shows where the DPUC will initiate a proceeding to impose civil penalties against AT&T. 

See Attached Decision

Following is a sample letter that can be used as a guideline to write to your Mayor, Town Manager and or First Selectman or other elected officials. Please DO NOT COPY the letter exactly as written. Remember that your letter will be much more effective if you personalize it in your own words. This sample is only meant to give you a place to start.

(Your Name)

(Your Address)

(City, State Zip Code)

(Current Date)

Mayor or First Selectman (or other)

Address

(City or Town)

Dear (Mayor or First Selectman, Town Manager, Councilman)

I’m writing to you as an employee of AT&T and a proud Union member of the Communications Workers of America Local 1298. I reside, pay taxes and spend a good part of my disposable income in our community.

In case you are not aware, we have been working without a contract since April 4^th 2009. We have been at the bargaining table since February 24^th 2009. Today we are no closer to an agreement than we were in February. Most of the issues deal with job security.

I am asking you to write to AT&T’s CEO Randall Stevenson at 208 South Akard St. Dallas, Texas 75202 and tell him to Keep Middle Class Jobs in Connecticut, good middle class jobs that help members of your community raise a family and realize all the components of the American dream. You can contact me at xxx-xxxx (your phone number) to tell me Randall’s response. I thank you in advance for your help in KEEPING JOBS in CT.

Sincerely;

(Your name)

This letter can be handwritten or typed. Be creative use your own words and send it to as many elected local leaders (town council board of selectman etc)

Urgent action item!!!

Now, more than ever, your help is needed in the fight for health care reform.  Our health care is under attack not only by AT&T, but also by a few in Washington DC.

The entire nation is looking to us here in Connecticut to persuade Senator Lieberman to allow a vote on health care reform.

We cannot let one senator, whether it is Senator Lieberman, or any other Senator stand in the way of the historic reform of our health care system. It’s up to us… so make that call …take 3 minutes of your time to tell Joe to back off and to allow a vote!!!!

 Call 877-323-5246 to tell Senator Lieberman to back off!

And Write a Lettter

Write to Congress about why health care reform that includes :

• A public health insurance option to break the stranglehold of insurance companies and bring down costs.(Read  what Wendell Potter, a former vice president for corporate communications at CIGNA has to say about insurance reform)
• Not tax our health plans
• Guarantee that employers pay their fair share
  

HEALTH CARE REFORM

November 9, 2009

HOUSE HEALTH CARE BILL GETS IT RIGHT

Soon Congress will merge separate healthcare bills fromt he House and the Senate.  CWA strongly supports the House bill. It would:

Finance reform by making the wealthy pay their fair share---

NOT BY TAXING OUR HEALTH BENEFITS!

Let us keep the health plan we have --and strengthen it

Require most employers to provide coverage

The Senate bill will tax our health care benefits.  It also does not require employers to provide coverage. 

We need to be sure the House bill --NOT THE SENATE BILL --becomes our FINAL BILL.

Please call your Representatives not your Senators now at  888-580-0792

Tell them:

1.  You Support the House health care bill

2.  You OPPOSE taxing health care benefits

3.   All employers should provide coverage

Thousands More Workers to Benefit from COBRA Subsidy Extension

Laid-off workers will be able to keep their group health insurance from former employers at a subsidized rate under a new law signed by President Obama. Last year, the Obama administration's job stimulus program included a COBRA subsidy of 65 percent of the health care premium costs for laid-off workers for up to nine months. That program was set to expire Dec. 31, but has been extended and improved.

Before last year's subsidy was passed, laid off workers who wanted to keep their group health insurance had to pay the full employer and employee cost, plus a 2 percent administrative fee. Without the subsidy, extending benefits under COBRA cost working families as much as $1,500 a month, nearly impossible to pay without a job. 

The newest COBRA extension allows workers to receive the subsidy for 15 months, instead of nine and extends the eligibility period to Feb. 28, so newly laid off workers also can take advantage of the program. The program covers workers who have been involuntarily laid off between Sept. 1, 2008 and Feb. 28, 2010 from an employer with 20 or more employees.

For   more info

Click Here

CWA leadership, locals and our members have led the opposition to the excise tax.  From the start, CWA leaders made it clear that a tax on workers' health care was the wrong way to finance health care reform.  We fought against this plan in the Senate and supported our friends in the House of Representatives who outlined better ways to finance health care reform.  We supported Connecticut House Representative Joe Courtney in obtaining 190 signatures on a letter opposing the excise tax.

Because of this work, organized labor has been "at the table" and President Cohen and other labor union leaders have spent many hours talking with President Obama and White House officials to work out ways to ease the negative impact of this tax on our members.  At the same time these discussions were taking place, you were keeping the pressure on:  first the House, then the Senate, and then back to the House. 

All of this work set the stage for several days of continuous tri‑party bargaining and through these negotiations we made significant strides, not only in protecting our members, but in protecting all middle-class families who have health insurance coverage. 

CWA members will be protected through 2017.  That gives us at least one and in some cases more than one round of bargaining to address the impact on our members' plans from the changes.

This is not the plan we would have written if we were the sole author, but just like contract negotiations there is another side at the table.  And, in this case there are three other sides:  the House, the Senate and the White House.  We are proud that the improvements we negotiated protect both union members and members of the public.   Labor unions have a long history of protecting all workers and this is another great example.

Following is the list of improvements we made:

1. Delays Effect of Tax Until 2018:  Provides a five‑year transition window for all plans negotiated through collective bargaining and for state and local employee plans before they are potentially subject to the tax.  This is what is typically done under federal laws to allow parties to collective bargaining agreements time to renegotiate the plans.
2. Raises Thresholds for Active Workers:  Raises the threshold at which family plans are taxed from $23,000 to $24,000 in 2013 for all working families and from $8,500 to $8,900 for singles.  Annual increases are tied to the Consumer Price Index plus one percentage point. 
3. Increases Thresholds for Excessive Inflation:  Raises the thresholds higher if health care costs grow faster than expected from 2010‑2013. 
4. Exempts Dental and Vision Plans from Threshold Calculations:  This will begin in 2015, which could raise the thresholds as much as $1,500 for families. 
5. Adds Demographic Factors to Determine Plan Thresholds:  Thresholds for plans that have a higher average of older workers and female workers will be modified to reflect the higher plan costs for those workers. 
6. Maintains Protections for Pre‑Medicare Retirees and for High‑risk Workers:  Preserves the original Senate proposal that would raise the thresholds for plans covering pre‑Medicare retirees and for plans that include workers in high‑risk professions (affecting more than nine million workers).  The thresholds are $26,000/family and $9,850/single. 
7. Blending of Pre‑Medicare and Medicare Premiums is Maintained:  This averaging significantly reduces the affect of the tax on plans. 
8. Maintains Thresholds for High‑cost States:  Preserves the original Senate proposal that would raise the threshold for high‑cost states, affecting more than 38 million workers. 
9. Health Plans Get Access to the Insurance Exchange:  Allows any collective bargaining unit into the health insurance exchange in 2017, subject to collective bargaining. 
10. Significantly Reduces Taxes on the Middle Class:  These changes are estimated to reduce the amount of revenue raised by $60 billion, decreasing the hit from the excise tax to $90 billion, from the original $150 billion over 10 years.

In addition, in the final bill there will be many other protections for our sons and daughters who do not have insurance today.  For instance, pre‑existing conditions cannot be used to exclude coverage.

President Cohen and CWA have been leading the fight against the proposed excise tax on health care plans, working with Members of Congress, employers, organizations, coalitions, and other groups that understand that the proposed tax would increase costs and cut benefits for working and middle‑income Americans. 

More than any other union, CWA's leadership has really pushed this issue in the mainstream and online media, on Capitol Hill, and in building coalitions. Tens of thousands of phone calls and personal letters from CWA members, plus visits with their Members of Congress and staff in both Washington, D.C., and District Offices have made our message heard loud and clear.  This work was made possible through the Health Care Strategic Industry Fund, which enabled CWA to train field activists who carried out our critical mobilization program. This week alone, more than 2,000 calls were made to Members of Congress by CWA members urging them to stand strong for fair health care reform.

As tough as these negotiations were, this was just one of the many tough issues the House, Senate and  White House leadership are working to resolve.  So, while this has the support of the leadership, it now has to be sold to both the House and the Senate and all of the other differences have to be resolved.

Once the leadership has worked through their differences, we expect they will submit a package to the Congressional Budget Office for scoring.  That will likely take 10 days to two weeks.  Then a bill will be provided to the House where a majority of 218 votes are needed to pass it and to the Senate where a supermajority of 60 votes will be necessary. 

So, let us savor the success of these efforts, but recognize we still have work to do in the fight to protect our members' interests in this historic debate.  With our unity and solidarity, we will turn the debate into a reality.

Middle class families and seniors are struggling with high taxes. In fact, Connecticut has some of the most regressive taxes in the country -- the more you make the less you pay.

But here's the dirty little secret big business lobbyists don't want you to know: some of the biggest corporations in our state pay almost nothing.

The poster child for tax dodging schemes is AT&T. Despite making $13 billion in profits last year, AT&T will pay virtually no taxes in Connecticut this year.

Tell your state legislators it's time to close corporate tax loopholes.

You can also help by sharing this action on Facebook.

Some of the creative accounting schemes huge businesses have come up with are really incredible. AT&T shifted over $144 million in profits out of state to avoid paying taxes.¹ How'd they do it? By paying a subsidiary of the company located in Nevada - where there is no corporate tax - for use of their own logo.

Sounds fishy, right? In fact, last year Attorney General Richard Blumenthal launched an investigation into AT&T's sneaky shell game² - and it turns out that what they do is perfectly legal.

There ought to be a law - but there isn't.

Large profitable companies like AT&T, who earn millions from our state's consumers, benefit from our state's well-educated workforce, our infrastructure and our high standard of living. But when they shift those profits out of state, we all pay for it. It means higher taxes for the rest of us - or else deep cuts to vital public services we all count on.

Tell your state legislators that we need to close corporate tax loopholes first.

Then please help us spread the word by sharing on Facebook or just forwarding this email to friends and family.
 

1) "SBC avoided paying taxes to state on $144.5M", New Haven Register. http://www.nhregister.com/articles/2009/06/16/news/a1_--_att.txt
2) "Blumenthal Launches AT&T Probe", New Haven Register. http://www.nhregister.com/articles/2009/06/17/news/a3-ctattfollo.txt

Washington, DC— Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-3) announced the specific benefits that health care reform will bring to the citizens of Connecticut’s 3rd District today.
The health reform legislation pending in Congress will ensure that quality, affordable health care is available to every American, and will hold insurance companies accountable and end the unfair practices of denying coverage because of a pre-existing condition, raising premiums, and imposing lifetime coverage limits. This plan will put Americans and small businesses back in control of their health care choices, and help reduce the sky-rocketing cost of health costs. Ultimately, this bill will fix our broken health care system and expand coverage to more 30 million Americans who currently cannot afford it.  
Here are just some of the benefits the citizens of Connecticut’s 3rd District will see from this reform:
·       467,000 residents will see improvements in their current health care coverage.
·       Up to 136,000 families will get tax credits to help make health insurance more affordable.
·       7,700 residents with pre-existing conditions will be able to obtain coverage.
·       Up to 15,400 small businesses will get tax credits to help make health insurance more affordable for their employees.
·       58,000 young adults will be able to stay on their parents’ health insurance policy until their 26th birthday.
·       19,500 currently uninsured citizens will have access to health care coverage.
·       1,000 families won’t have to file for bankruptcy due to unaffordable health care costs.
·       47 community health centers will receive millions of dollars in new funding to see thousands of new patients.
Congresswoman DeLauro said, “With this legislation, we have begun to wrest power away from insurance company bureaucrats and give it back to people and their doctors. The Republicans have shown where they stand by voting in the Budget Committee to allow the insurance companies to continue to discriminate against those with pre-existing conditions, to drop your coverage because you get sick, or to arbitrarily raise your premiums. They stand with the insurance companies, when they should be voting to hold these insurance companies accountable and ensure that every family has access to quality, affordable health insurance.
“Our health reforms will do a lot of good for a lot of people, all the while working to reduce the costs of health insurance for all American families. This bill will put health care decisions where it belongs—back in the hands of American people, not the government or the insurance companies. Thousands of my constituents and millions across the country will see the benefits of this bill, and I am proud to have fought for it and I look forward to it seeing it become law.”

SB 417 the CALL CENTER Bill is awaiting Fiscal Analysis. CWA 1298 held a very successful LOBBY DAY at the Capital on April 8^th. CWA 1298 had an army of red shirt constituents speaking to legislators and legislative aides seeking co-sponsorship of the CALL CENTER BILL. We must work hard to get the bill to the SENATE Floor and pass the bill there. 

The concept of SB 417 is simple.  To encourage telecommunications companies to employ in-state call centers by allowing customers the option to be directed to an in-state call center and by encouraging the state when procuring services to give preference to telecommunications companies with in-state call centers, and to establish procedures for the timely repair of public utility poles and wires.  
 

SB 485 the TAX FAIRNESS Bill has passed in the Finance committee 40-15. CWA 1298 held a very successful LOBBY DAY at the Capital on April 8^th. CWA 1298 had an army of red shirt constituents speaking to legislators and legislative aides seeking co-sponsorship of the TAX FAIRNESS BILL. That was just the first step. We must also work hard to get this bill to the SENATE Floor and pass the bill there. 

The concept of SB 485 is simple. To enhance the equity and effectiveness of the corporation business tax by instituting a combined unitary tax. 
 

Remember we are talking about the future of JOBS and the ECONOMY in CONNECTICUT.  
 

We need you to contact your state Senators and State Representatives immediately and ask that they sponsor SB 417 and SB 485. 
 
 

Please  call Vice President Rich Benham   and leave a message on the union voice mail ext 3931, or email  and let us know who you contacted and how they respond.  Thank you for your help!  
 

The issue of paid sick days has been getting a lot of news coverage lately. And as the legislative session comes down the home stretch, it's critical that our legislators hear from us. The business lobbyists have turned up the heat to kill this bill. Now, we need your help more than ever.

The Appropriations Committee is expected to vote on the bill today. It's gonna be close.

Click Here to Send a Message for paid sick Days

It is urgent - our time and effort to make these bills pass will help keep jobs in our state.  Call State Senators Eileen Daily  (representing Chester, Clinton, Colchester, Deep River, East Haddam, East Hampton, Essex, Haddam, Lyme, Old Saybrook, Portland & Westbrook) and  Senator Andrea Stillman (representing East Lyme, Montville, New London, Old Lyme, Old Saybrook, Salem & Waterford) urging them to vote yes for "An Act Concerning Call Centers and The Timely  Repair of Utility Poles and to vote yes and Pass S.B. 485 the Tax Fairness Bill: Call Today!

 It's Now or Never!

Senate Bill 417 has passed the Senate  25 Yes and 10 No  - CWA 1298 wants to thank  every active bargaining unit member and every retiree who helped in this campaign.  Without your support we surely would have failed. 

Some of the details of this bill which will now go to the House of Representatives include:

• Any person who receives a telephone call from, or places a telephone call to, a telecommunications call center, upon request, shall be:

(1) told by the telecommunications call center employee the identification of the city, state and country where the employee is located, and

 (2) transferred to an in-state telecommunications call center when possible.

• In compiling the information for this report, the department shall require, among other things, each telephone company to provide to the department annually:

  (1) Its aggregate number of telephone access lines in service, not including resold lines or other wholesale lines;

(2) the annual change in such telephone company's access lines over the preceding five years;

(3) the number of active wholesale customers served by the telephone company;

(4)the nature of the wholesale services provided;

(5) the number of wholesale service requests;

(6) the impact of competition on the work force of the telephone company;

(7) a general discussion of the state of the industry, industry trends, and competitive alternatives available in the market, including, but not limited to, technological changes affecting the market;

(8) the number of competitive local exchange carriers; and

(9) how long it takes the company to respond to a wholesale service request.   

• The Department of Information Technology shall, when procuring telecommunications systems facilities, equipment and services, give preference to telecommunications companies identified by the Department of Public Utility Control,pursuant to section 16-247i of the general statutes, as amended by this act, to have a high percentage of service calls directed to in-state telecommunications call centers, as defined in section 1 of this act.
• On or before October 1, 2010, the Department of Public Utility Control shall adopt regulations in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 of the general statutes to establish procedures each public service company shall follow when one of its public utility poles is damaged in an accident. Such procedures shall include, but not be limited to, establishing a maximum amount of time between the accident and the repair.

CWA 1298 wants to thank all of you who took part to promote this campaign.  To get a bill through the  Senate on its first try is a feat in itself.  Bill S.B.  417 " An Act Concerning Call Centers and the Timely Repair of Utility Poles"  passed the Senate and went on to the House this week.   Unfortunately, the bill had so many amendments that the House, was hard pressed to temporarily pass it due to a shortage of time.  The many amendments that were placed on this bill made it impossible to allow for discussion during this short legislative session. Thus the S.B. 417 died.  CWA 1298 wants to thank Everyone who helped in this effort.  Special Thanks to Senator Fonfara,  State Representatives O'Rourke, and Vicki Nardello for their  assistance in getting this bill as far as it got.

For a Copy of the SB 417  and all the amendments attached,  where you can read who attached these amendments Click Here.

For a copy of the Vote Tally Sheet Click Here.  Please send an e-mail to thank your Representative and your State Senator if they voted to support this bill.

S.B.485 "An Act Concerning Tax Fairness" Never came to the floor in the Senate. For a list of votes Please Click Here.   Please send an e-mail to thank your Representative and State Senator if they voted to support this bill. 

This is the last day of the legislative session and a final push is necessary.  Call your State Representative and ask them to Support SB417 and SB485.   Find Your Representative by Clicking Here.

This is the last day of the legislative session and a final push is necessary.  Call your State Representative and ask them to Support SB417 and SB485.   Find Your Representative by Clicking Here.

Please join Hon. Joe Crisco, Hon. Elizabeth Esty, Hon. Steve Fontana, Hon. Scott Jackson, Hon. Marty Looney,
Hon. Brendan sharkey, hon. Peter villano, Everett corey, Ben cozzi, Bill Henderson, Joe McDonagh, John Olsen, Brian Petronella and Bob Proto
  FOR A BBQ HONORING
Congresswoman
Rosa DeLauro
Connecticut’s 3rd Congressional District
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS HOUSE COMMITTEE ON THE
BUDGET CO-CHAIR, HOUSE STEERING & POLICY COMMITTEE
Saturday, August 7 12:00-1:30pm
CWA LOCAL 1298
3055 Dixwell Ave.
Hamden, CT 06518
Supporter $20
Friend $75
Sponsor $150
PAC $ 1,000

CWA Members FREE!
Please make your check payable to:
Friends of Rosa DeLauro, 12 Trumbull Street, 2nd Floor, New Haven, Connecticut
06511 Contributions may also be made by personal credit card online at
www.rosadelauro.com
RSVP to: Chuck Swirsky at (203) 497-8034 or rosadelauro@gmail.com

 
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Your Executive board says Thank You to all of the members of Local 1298 for voting in yesterdays Primary’s.  We CWA Local 1298 were the first Union to endorse Dan Malloy for his run for the Governor of CT.

Also winning his primary was State Senator John Fonfara the Chairman of the Energy and Technology Committee.  A thank you goes out to our members in his district who took the time to vote. As always we are looking for volunteers for the upcoming election, if you are interested please contact me at union headquarters.. Thank you once again.

The Connecticut  AFL-CIO dedicated its 8th Biennial Political Convention to Senator Chris Dodd  for his 40 years of public service as a voice for the powerless, tireless advocate for working families and a champion of labor. Chris gave a riveting speech about the upcoming elections and he advised all  delegates  to be wary of the promises being made as he pointed his finger at the audience while admonishing them  to stay educated and to look back at the voting records of candidates for office before making a choice at the ballot.  

The theme of this years convention was a need for rank and file to become more involved, and educated in what is going on legislatively and politically.   We at CWA 1298 have a firm belief that without legislation that is working family friendly, our battles cannot be won.   Legislation gave us FMLA, the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, National Healthcare Reform, Social Security, Medicare, all worker friendly legislation. 

At today's convention the Connecticut AFL-CIO we endorsed the following candidates:

Senator - Richard Blumenthal

Governor - Dan Malloy

Secretary of State- Denise Merrill

Treasurer - Denise Napier

Comptroller - Kevin Lembo

Attorney General - George Jepson

Any members interested in helping with this years movement and become involved please email rbenham@cwa1928.org or call 203-288-5271 ext. 14.

Time to Start Gearing Up for Labor to Labor Walks

If you haven’t done the labor to labor walks before – don’t worry because you new walkers will be paired with veterans who have seen the power of the walks in Labor 2006 and Labor 2008. These walks can be fun and educational. Here are the plans so far:

 Questions or to sign up to walk, please contact Rich Benham @ UNION HQ 203-288-5271 or email rbenham@cwa1298.org

CD 1– Walk in Manchester

Saturday, September 11

Time:  9 - 12:00 Noon

Place: AFSCME 991, 8 Birch Street, Manchester

CD 2 South – Walk in Groton
Saturday, September 11

Time: 9-12 Noon

Place: IAM Hall, 18 Pleasant Street, Groton

CD 3
Saturday, September 11 – Walk in New Haven
Time: 9-12 Noon

Place:  Central Labor Council, 267 Chapel Street, New Haven

CD 4
Saturday, September 11 – Walk in Norwalk

Time: 9-12 Noon

Place:  LIUNA 146, 43 North Avenue, Norwalk

CD 5
Saturday, September 11 – Walk in Waterbury

Time:  9-12 Noon

Place:  IBEW 420, 550 Wolcott Street, Waterbury

CWA 1298 Legislative update for February 16, 2011

CWA 1298 is tracking the following bills that are of concern to our members.

An Act Concerning Licensing Requirements of Video Installers

This bill addresses the fact that contractors doing the same work as AT&T, COX, COMCAST, METROCAST employees do not have to hold or maintain a license as do the employees of AT&T, COX, COMCAST, METROCAST. This is unfair and results in lost revenue for the state.

An Act Concerning Employer Responsibilities and Employee Rights

This bill will make it a violation of Connecticut law for an employer to take any action against employees who requests or uses entitlements and benefits either negotiated or statutory.

Simply put no coaching or discipline sessions for using contractual sick days.

An Act Concerning Call Centers

This bill requires that any call center identify their location when asked by a Connecticut consumer. Further this bill requires that the Connecticut be transferred to a Connecticut call center in cases where a Connecticut Call center is available when the consumer requests to be transferred.

An Act Concerning Timely Repair of Utility Poles and Wires

This bill requires the DPUC to establish time requirements for the repair of damaged utility poles and wires.

We will keep the membership updated on these bills and ask for members to make calls, send letters and emails as the need arises.

Thank you

Your Legislative Team

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

February 19, 2011

There will be a public hearing on Thursday, February 24^, 2011 at 3pm for the following legislation

Raised Bill No. 6406

AN ACT CONCERNING EMPLOYER'S RESPONSIBILITIES AND EMPLOYEE RIGHTS. 

Statement of Purpose:

To prohibit employers from taking retaliatory action against an employee attempting to use his or her entitlements or benefits, and to require employers to notify employees, at the time of hiring, of the entitlements and benefits they may use and the penalty for an employer who fails to let him or her use them.

If you would like to testify or submit written testimony please call Rich Benham at 203-288-5271 x14 or on my cell at 203-415-4041

Click Here for entire Bill

A MESSAGE FROM YOUR NATIONAL UNION

Most of you may have seen this already, but if you haven't, we hope you can join the virtual town hall on Wednesday.  Please be sure to share with your networks.

Across the country, Americans are standing up and fighting for their collective bargaining rights. Photos and videos from Wisconsin have been thrilling. More than 100,000 people have taken to the streets and filled the rotunda of the State Capitol.

CWA members are responding in every state where collective bargaining rights are under attack and we need your voice in this fight.

On Wednesday,February 23 at 7:30 pm EST, please join CWA President Larry Cohen and the CWA National Executive Board for a virtual town hall and hear directly from local leaders in Wisconsin, Ohio and New Jersey. During the call you will learn more about how we are responding and what you can do and have an opportunity to ask questions.

 Click here to register: http://www.cwa-union.org/cwacall 

Our movement is spreading. Sign up for the virtual town hall today with your preferred phone number and we will call you on Wednesday to connect you to the meeting. If you plan to participate using your mobile phone, you can also register by texting CWACALL to 69866.

 It couldn't be easier, or more critical, to participate.

 In Unity,

H.B. 6446 An Act Concerning Registration Requirements of Public Service Technicians and Certified Competitive Video Service Providers has been moved to the floor of the House of Representatives for an upcoming vote.

Statement of Purpose: To protect the public by requiring the registration of all public service technicians who provide telecommunications and video services to customers in their homes.

FOR FULL TEXT CLICK HERE BILL 6446 

Please call, write or email your State Representative and urge them to sign up as a co-sponsor of this bill and to vote yes, when it is called for a vote on the floor.

Click here to contact your CT Representative

Please forward any correspondence and responses to Rich Benham Click Here.

If you make a telephone call please notify Rich Benham via email or call Rich at 203-288-5271 ext.14 or Union VM 203-288-4145 ext.3931

PLEASE PASS THIS ON TO CO-WORKERS + FAMILY AND FRIENDS

DON’T DELAY TIMING IS VERY IMPORTANT!!!

Connecticut licensing requirements should protect the consumers with respect to ALL Video Installations!!