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Highlights of the January Membership Meeting
The regular Monthly Membership Meeting was held Tuesday, January 10, 2012 at 8:00 P.M. at the Local 3871 Union office, 5074 Bluff City Highway, Bluff City, Tennessee. Sergeant-at-Arms was Rodney Nidiffer.
Eddie Hicks said Bobby Bright would take the oath of office as Local President and then call the meeting to order. Bobby called Joe Wilson, the new Executive-Vice President, Paula Nelson, Secretary-Treasurer, and the Area Reps. to the front for their oath of office. Present were Scott Johnson, Sean Rasmussen, Keith Perry, Randy Crockett, Greg Liddle, Judy King and Mark Horton. Joey Verbal and Roma Kilgore will take their oath of office later.
Bobby announced that the December Meeting Minutes and the Financial Report were at the front of the room for anyone who wanted to read them.
Grievance Report
Shannon Kirkland, Eddie Hicks and Bobby Bright met with CenturyLink On December 20 and 21, 2011. We have received three answers and are still waiting for the rest. None will be settled until Shannon has a chance to review the Company’s answers.
On January 5, Eddie Hicks met with Holston Manor on two grievances. One was a termination grievance and we need to talk to Shannon Kirkland before making a decision on that one. Eddie was able to settle the other grievance.
Old Business
CenturyLink Telephone Concession - Debbie Bradberry told Bobby they are making changes to the non-bargaining concession, and they don’t want to get it started for our members and then have to stop. The Company is waiting for everything to be finalized; then employees will be notified.
At the December Membership Meeting, non-members who crossed the picket line were discussed. The motion was made at that last meeting to carry this piece of business forward until the By-Laws committee could meet and review the situation.
Bobby said he does want to wait until our list of Committee members is completed and let them make a recommendation.
A sign-up sheet was made available for anyone to wanted to volunteer for a committee.
New Business
Bobby announced that we have a new vendor for the CenturyLink Uniform Program, Jack Nadel International (JNI). They are allowing $200 to buy new items and in addition, employees will continue to get fair wear and tear. There will be a catalog online to look at. We will be checking on the CWA pins that are shown online to be sure they are acceptable.
The Company has been cited by OSHA in the accidental death on the job of Brian Barron. The Company has appealed the citation. We will keep members informed.
Good and Welfare
This is for anyone who may have a family member or friends out of work. Bruce Dotson of the Upper East Tennessee labor Council has advised that CSX Railroad is taking applications to fill 40 plus jobs. Applications must be submitted on the CSX website. Bruce says to have all information ready when you log on. The site does not allow as much time to apply as is needed by most people.
After Bobby asked if anyone had other business to discuss, the meeting adjourned.
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December 6, 2011
FOR UNION MEMBERS ONLY - Union Plus® Scholarship Program
Since 1992, the Union Plus Scholarship Program has awarded more than $3.2 million to students of union families. Over 2,100 union families have benefited from our commitment to higher education.
The Union Plus Scholarship Program is offered through the Union Plus Education Foundation, which is sponsored by Union Privilege. Your union membership entitles you to a family of Union Plus benefits. (You do not need to be a Union Plus Credit Card holder to apply for this scholarship.)
Application Deadline: A completed application must be received on or before 11:59 p.m. (Eastern Time) on Tuesday, January 31, 2012. Applications received after this deadline will not be considered. Apply online by going to UnionPlus.org and click on Scholarships.
Scholarship Award Amounts: Amounts range from $500 to $4,000. These one-time cash awards are for study beginning in the fall of 2012. Students may re-apply each year.
Award Date: The Scholarship Committee will determine recipients of scholarship awards by May 31, 2012. During the first two weeks of June 2012 award recipients will be individually notified by mail, and all applicants will be sent an email with notification that the award list is posted at UnionPlus.org/Scholarships. Please note that due to the volume of applications we cannot provide any information on the status of an application before award announcements are made.
Eligibility Criteria:
This is a competitive scholarship, and applicants are evaluated according to academic ability, social awareness, financial need and appreciation of labor. A GPA of 3.0 or higher is recommended.
Current and retired members of unions participating in any Union Plus program, their spouses and their dependent children (as defined by IRS regulations). Grandchildren are not eligible unless a legal dependent (as defined by IRS regulations). At least one year of continuous union membership by the applicant, applicant's spouse or parent (if applicant is a dependent). The one year membership minimum must be satisfied by May 31, 2012.
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CWA LOCAL 3871 MEMBERS AT CENTURYLINK - SAFETY
THE UNION HAS ON ONGOING RESPONSBILITY TO PROMOTE SAFETY, AS WELL AS THE COMPANY. BECAUSE OF THIS, THE UNION AND COMPANY ARE IN AGREEMENT THAT WE WILL NOT PERFORM A JOB THAT WE FEEL IS UNSAFE. REPORT UNSAFE CONDITIONS TO YOUR SUPERVISOR, AND IF THERE IS A PROBLEM, CONTACT THE UNION AT 538-3257 OR THE COMPANY’S SAFETY DEPARTMENT. THE EMPLOYEE HAS THE RIGHT TO REFUSE TO WORK UNDER UNSAFE CONDITIONS AND THE COMPANY WANTS AND EXPECTS THEM TO DO SO.
IN THE PAST, IT MAY HAVE BEEN IMPLIED THAT AN EMPLOYEE WAS TO PERFORM THE WORK, AND THEN GRIEVE THE SITUATION. THIS DOES NOT APPLY IN THE CASE OF SAFETY, REFUSE IT!
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CWA LOCAL 3871 MEMBERS AT AT&T - SAFETY
Safety and health is a mutual concern of the Company and the Union. As stated in the contract, it benefits all parties to have employees work in safe and healthful environments and for employees to perform their work safely and in the interest of their own health.
This includes working in a drug free environment.
An employee, who has a question concerning any type of safety issue, should contact a manager or Human Resources.
The Union has discussed safety with Human Resources and they are committed to providing a safe work environment.
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For CWA Members at AT&T
A CWA officer was questioned about the online Code of Business Conduct Training at AT&T. The Company had told employees to either "acknowledge" or "not acknowledge" at the end of the session.
The CWA District 3 office has advised the following:
This is a uniform AT&T policy. The Union challenged it in arbitration a couple of years ago. The arbitrator ruled that employees can be required to electronically acknowledge coverage with the policy, but that dos not mean that they accept it, agree to it, or waive the right to grieve any discipline for violation of the Code of Business Conduct.
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For Members at At&T - Your rights as a Union member
Grievances - You have a right to file a grievance when being disciplined and it is in your best interest to do so. Sometimes an employee will wiat to file until after they are terminated. You should not wait that long. If you receive disciplinary action, you should talk to a steward or Area Representative. Of course the final decision is yours, but the Union recommends that you file.
Your Signature - When the Company is giving you a counseling, a written warning or whatever it might be, you do not have to sign your name. The Company could say your signature meant that you understood and agreed with everything the document says. Instead you can initial the copy indicating only that you have seen the document. That's a protection for you.
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