November 12, 2009
Top Reasons to Support the House Health Care Plan
Here's how the health care plan that the House of Representatives
passed will benefit CWA members:
- All employers (except for small businesses) will be required
to provide health care for their employees or pay into a
fund. That means no more health care freeloading by some
companies.
- It's fairly funded. It doesn't tax our health benefits but
pays for health care through employer responsibility and a surtax
on the very wealthiest families earning more than $500,000 a year.
- It ends abusive practices by insurance companies. Insurers
can't deny claims because of pre-existing conditions or cancel
coverage when a patient files a claim.
- Children up to age 27 will continue to be covered by their
family's insurance.
- No more lifetime maximum benefit limits.
- Provides protection for pre-Medicare eligible retirees and
creates a new fund to help employers finance health care coverage
for early retirees ages 55-64.
- Provides a public health insurance option that will compete
with private insurance companies and help keep them honest.
- Applies anti-trust laws to insurance companies (they're
currently exempt from these laws) so insurers have to compete.
Keep Those Calls and Letters Coming
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A rally for health care reform organized by
CWA Local 9408 and the Fresno area central labor council
attracted more than 300 union members last week. Demonstrators
marched outside the offices of Rep. Jim Costa, who ended up
voting for the CWA-backed legislation in the House. |
Last week was another incredible week for CWA activists
contacting their members of Congress about real health care reform.
CWAers made more than 4,000 calls to key House members who were
undecided about their support for H.R. 3962, the Affordable Health
Care for America Act. The final vote 220 yes, 215 no.
Now the action moves to the Senate and CWA members are making
sure that their Senators know that taxing the health care plans of
middle class and working families is the wrong way to go.
Make sure you're a part of the campaign. Go to
www.healthcarevoices.org for more info.
Senate Votes FMLA for Flight Attendants
After a 16-year delay, flight attendants are about to win Family
and Medical Leave Act protections after the Senate voted to extend
coverage to airline workers.
The Senate approved the Airline Flight Crew Family and Medical
Leave Act, S. 1422, closing a loophole in the law that has enabled
airlines to deny airline workers FMLA benefits. The 1993 law
provides workers up to 12 weeks of unpaid family leave a year, but
airline management has claimed that the law did not apply to flight
crews because they did not work traditional 40-hour weeks.
"We look forward to an expedited process to finalize this very
important bill and for President Obama to officially sign it into
law this fall," said AFA-CWA President Patricia Friend. The House
passed virtually identical legislation last year and is expected to
adopt the Senate's version of the bill before the end of the year so
that it can go to President's Obama for his signature.
AT&T Mobility Conference Focuses on Building Union Power
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During the AT&T Mobility Conference,
participants rallied outside AT&T's Dallas headquarters, and
also spread the union word by leafletting workers at a T-Mobile
and AT&T Mobility call center in Dallas. |
Building our union at AT&T Mobility was the focus of a three-day
meeting of more than 200 local union leaders at the AT&T Mobility
Leadership Conference in Dallas.
CWA Executive Vice President Annie Hill discussed the recent
results of a nationwide survey of Mobility workers that highlight
the importance of communications and even more contact from
workplace stewards for members at Mobility.
Also on hand were District 6 Vice President Andy Milburn,
District 1 Vice President Chris Shelton, District 4 Vice President
Seth Rosen, and District 9 Vice President Jim Weitkamp.
Workshops and general sessions outlined ways activists can help
build CWA's effectiveness across diverse work locations: call
centers, small and large retail stores and garages.
One workshop explored ways that local union leaders can bridge
the generational gap that sometimes exists between older and younger
workers and activists. Mobility workers range in age from 18 to more
than 55. Another workshop looked at ways to improve communications
and networking through the Internet, e-mail, Facebook and Twitter to
build an online community of Mobility workers.
In the final session, local union leaders led a panel discussion
to share successes they have had in building membership. They were
Local 3806 Vice President Paul Klaebel, Local 6016 Vice President
Gemelli, Local 7250 President Shari Wojtowicz, and Local 4320 Vice
President Cathy Mason-Vallance.
Participants leafleted workers at T-Mobile and AT&T Mobility call
centers, and also rallied at AT&T headquarters in Dallas to support
for CWAers in District 3 and CWA Local 1298 who are bargaining for a
new contract.
CWA represents more than 42,000 AT&T Mobility workers.
CWA District 6 Members Ratify Contract at AT&T Southwest
District 6 CWA members ratified a new four-year agreement
covering 27,000 CWA-represented workers at AT&T Southwest. The
settlement was ratified by a majority vote.
Among improvements, the agreement provides for a 12 percent wage
increase over the contract term, with a cost-of-living adjustment in
the final year, and a 2 percent increase in the pension bands in
each contract year, also with a final year cost-of-living
adjustment.
Negotiations are continuing for about 40,000 CWA-represented
workers at AT&T Southeast (CWA District 3) and AT&T East (CWA Local
1298).
CWA Salutes Veterans, Active Service Members
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Alaska Airlines flight attendant and AFA-CWA
Council 19 member David Brunstad, stationed in Iraq, assigned to
Kirkuk Regional Air Base. On his days off, David spends his time
packaging school supplies for local Iraqi children through a
program called Operation School Supplies. |
CWA pays tribute to all veterans and military personnel, today
and everyday:
"On Veterans Day, the Communications Workers of America honors
the courageous and selfless service of our nation's military, the
men and women serving today in Iraq, Afghanistan and throughout the
world, and the veterans who have fought for our freedom over the
years.
"Thousands of CWA active and retired members are among these
brave veterans and military personnel, with service spanning from
World War II, Korea and Vietnam to today's conflicts. Hundreds of
CWA members also are among those who continue to serve through the
military reserves and the National Guard.
"We owe these brave men and women so much. They put their lives
on hold and literally on the line to defend our freedom.
"Our nation must meet its commitment to our fighting forces and
veterans by providing them with the best equipment and training, top
quality medical benefits, educational opportunities and the care
they and their families deserve. That's the way a nation thanks and
honors its soldiers.
"CWA is so proud of our members who have served this nation.
Please accept our thanks and gratitude on this Veterans Day, and
always."
'Sockville' DVD for Kids Helps Support Pediatric AIDS Foundation
Treat a youngster you love to the silliness of Sockville, an
award-winning DVD. At the same time you can support CWA's charity of
choice, the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation.
From now through Dec. 15, the Sockville DVD is selling for $9.99
on a special website,
www.sockshelpingkids.com. For every purchase there, the company
will send $3 to the Pediatric AIDS Foundation, which CWA has
supported for nearly 20 years. CWA locals that raise the most money
for Pediatric AIDS each year are recognized at CWA's annual
convention.
Locals will get credit for every $3 donation from Sockville DVD
sales, as long as buyers include their local number when they make
their purchase. Locals are encouraged to publicize the DVD and
website with flyers that can be downloaded from the site. Simply
click the "Resource" link on the upper left side of the page.
The DVD was designed and produced by CWA Local 6300 member
Patrick Voss, who has also help create a children's TV show about
Sockville — the place where socks lost in the laundry go to live.
The imaginative show and DVD use humor to inspire children to
embrace good values and manners, follow their dreams and respect
others.
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