2018 Bargaining and Mobilization

Dear Union Member,

As President of the Local I am writing this letter to the membership to inform them of our Contract and Bargaining.  As many of you are aware our Contract expires on June 30th, 2018 and bargaining will begin on June 4th, 2018.  As we move forward toward bargaining you all need to be aware of the importance of getting a new contract.  As of the last head counts from the company we have approximately 350 union members nationwide on active payroll.  We all are the only remaining bargaining unit with the company worldwide.  Worst case scenario at the expiration of our contract the company could possibly lock us out, and we would be prohibited on any company and customer property. However, I find this very unlikely because the 3rd Party Contractors that the company has been using are not doing quality work and they need us to continue working for customer commitments. With this said it is important to be mindful of the fact that if our bargaining unit is forced out and there are not any bargained for members, then our pensions could be at risk of being moved into the management pension fund, and then they could offer pennies on the dollar for that pension you earned in a take or leave it deal.  There would not be any bargaining unit to negotiate retiree health care. With this said it is vital that our bargaining unit remains intact and the Bargaining Committee successfully negotiates us a new contract.

As the Bargaining Committee starts negotiations with the company the Mobilization Committee for the Installation Bargaining Units Council will be requesting us to comply with mobilization activities.  There have been many discussions with the Installation Bargaining Units Council about what type mobilization activity that will be implemented by the Mobilization Committee.  Both the pros and cons of these mobilization activities are and the impact to the company and membership. I would also like to ask the membership to look at these mobilization activities as potentially a short-term sacrifice for a long-term gain.  Also, one of these mobilization activities is participating in the “Authorization to Strike Vote”.  The more of us that participate in the mobilization activities the more strength the Bargaining Committee will have at the negotiating tables with the company.  

Local 7590

As I mention the word strike I would like to inform you that this would be the absolute last resort measure in getting a new contract and can only be called upon the expiration of the contract. The leadership from the Union from the Installation Bargaining Units Council, the National (CWA T&T Office), and the Bargaining Committee will be committed to remain at the tables as long as it takes and keep us working under the terms and conditions of this contract until a new one has been ratified (another mobilization activity – “Ratification Vote”). 

As the Mobilization Committee announces mobilization activities to the Local Presidents, I will be sharing them with the E-Board, posting them on our web page at https://unionhall.cwalocals.org/local-7590 and updating the announcement on the local’s tapeline 303-778-8423. For the “Authorization to Strike” and “Ratification” ballots will be mailed to your last known home address by the local’s election committee. Please make sure our Secretary/Treasurer, Brad Johnson, has your latest home address. I would again like to encourage you all in viewing these mobilization activities as a short-term sacrifice for a long-term gain and participate in the mobilization activities. I also encourage all of our members to participate in these mobilization activities.

Remember during these contract negotiations that united we will stand and divided we will fall. And I again state that if our bargaining unit disappears, then our current retiree’s and our pensions will be at risk and there will not be anybody to negotiate retiree health care. I again encourage each of you to participate.

In Unity,

R.K. Ferdinandsen

President

CWA Local 7590