Danny Alfonso

Brothers and Sisters,

   In the month of May I had the opportunity of attending the IBEW safety caucus with Felicia Archie and Noah Kaaa in Tulsa, Oklahoma. In case you were wondering, it was just as hot and humid there as it is here. Felicia and Noah have both volunteered to work on our union safety committee.

     This was a 2-day caucus, which was kicked off by Kristine Sexter who spoke on the generational differences in the workplace. This was a very informative discussion to help understand why each generation thinks, reacts and communicates the way they do. Understanding these differences is applicable in everything from safety to simply communicating across those generation gaps.

   Next up was Lou Boulanger who explained the use of a job hazard analysis. We will be discussing this in more detail with our joint union/company safety committee. The short version of a job hazard analysis is a mindset. If we are aware of everything that can go wrong we will diminish the possibility of being injured.

   Carl Potter continued the caucus with the theme that “NOBODY GETS HURT”. This should be the goal for us all. There were 2 specific things that we all should be able to do. The first was that we all commit to wearing seatbelts. Not only is it mandatory if you drive a company vehicle but it is a federal law. In his words, it is hard for a steward to file a grievance for someone who gets written up for not wearing a seatbelt when it is violation of the law. The second thing was backing accidents. Please make sure before you put the vehicle in reverse that there is nothing behind you.

   The last speaker at the conference was David Wald. He was with OSHA and spoke on recording keeping and inspections. He stressed the importance of reporting and injuries, fatalities or work related illnesses. Unfortunately, every day in this country alone, 14 workers die in workplace preventable accidents. That is almost 100 workers per week. That was an eye opener for me and hopefully for you as well.

     For outside plant we have a joint union/company safety meeting scheduled for June 16^th.  If you have a safety issue that needs to be addressed at this meeting please call or email me as soon as possible so we can get it on the agenda. As for inside plant, I am still trying to get a date set for last months meeting which had to be postponed. As soon as it is set I will be contacting the inside plant committee.

  In Solidarity,

      Danny

Brothers and Sisters,

     The month of April was busy but productive. In the FSC, a meeting was held concerning the Dispatch Out checklist. The issue was with the last statement where it was asking for an electronic signature that stated you have answered the questions to the best of your knowledge “truthfully”. The problem was that in order for some tickets to be dispatched out our FSC reps had to lie on the checklist in order to get the ticket dispatched out to our FNFT’s. After some discussion with management, this statement has been removed completely from the DO checklist. With that said, please be sure to follow proper procedures on the checklist to ensure the highest quality service for each customer.

  Also in April another outside plant safety meeting was held. This meeting unfortunately started with a review of preventable accidents. Most of the vehicle accidents were from following too closely. Please remember to use the 3 second rule while driving. The other vehicle accidents were hitting fixed objects and backing accidents. Doing a circle check before moving the vehicle could possibly have prevented these accidents. In order to prevent damage to the ladder racks on your van, do not use the drive through windows at any restaurants. This is a new company policy. Please visit the safety tab from our home page for any new safety updates. If you have any safety concerns, please contact me so we can get it addressed at the next safety meeting. There was an inside plant safety meeting that was scheduled for May but had to be postponed due to a scheduling conflict with Kevin Cantero. I will inform our safety advocates as soon as this is rescheduled.

    In the VPSC things are going really well. That department has done a great job of not only keeping their work, but has actually taken additional work in from other states. Their goal is to be a national center. The good news is that through their hard work, there are 12 new positions up for bid in the VPSC. These jobs include Business Response Specialist (7openings) and Design Technician (5 openings). The bid will close on May 13 2009, so if you are interested, please go on line to apply. Great job! Keep up the good work.

  In solidarity,

    Danny

Brothers and Sisters,

 
 APRIL IS HERE which means SUMMER is just around the corner!  

    Last month I reported that a safety rodeo was planned for Southern division. Well the rodeo went off without a “hitch”. No one was – “bucked” out of their vehicle or “roped” into working unsafe.

    Each station had a member of our union safety committee as well as a supervisor. All of the feedback I have received has been very positive. Any member who had faulty equipment was either given new equipment that day or it has been ordered. I would like to thank the following members for their help at their respective station.

PPE- Doug Blackburn, Billy Flick, Greg Flick,

John Keiper, Stephen Kinlaw

Ladder/Pole Safety- Mike Kinlaw, John Riddlebarger

Manhole Safety- JC Jurnigan

Attic Safety- Noah Kaaa

Grill Team- Alan Gaver, Nettie Hamacek, Josh Salidino

   I would also like to thank Mark Hoke, Kevin Cantero and everyone in management who helped out. This was truly a joint effort.

    Also in southern division I would like to welcome our newest stewards. Josh Saladino who has been a steward for seven years is now the chief steward for Sarasota. Chris Emrich and Fred Lauper have also accepted steward’s positions in Sarasota. In circuit repair for Sarasota CB Roberts has become a steward as well. Congratulations, I look forward to working with each of you and I know you will serve our members well.

 In the Fsc this past month there were issues with members not having any consecutive lay days for the entire month. With the help of Paul White, Perry Sidlinger and Patrick Miller we were able to resolve this issue. The upcoming schedule has each member getting 2 consecutive lay days 2 out of the 4 weeks. Good job!

   In Solidarity,

    Danny

Brothers and Sisters,

I hope everyone is enjoying the cooler weather we have been having recently. It will not be long before we are in the 80-90 degree range again and complaining about the heat.

For the last three months the FSC has been on required overtime and unfortunately that will continue until the new Customer Service Advisors get out of training. I appreciate our members who are volunteering or are being forced to work this overtime in order to provide customer service. With all the work that is being moved to different parts of the country I am glad to say the FSC is getting and keeping work here.

In Southern division we have a safety rodeo scheduled for March 16^th -18^th.  This Safety Rodeo is a joint Union/Company partnership in order to promote a safety refresher on the many dangers we face daily. There will be multiple stations set up to cover the following:

• Electrical Safety
• Ladder Handling/Pole Climbing
• Driving Safety
• Attic Safety
• Manhole Safety
• Personal Protective Equipment

As safe union workers we all need to be aware of the hazards we face and know how to correctly deal with them.

In closing, I have received a call that members are being charged with a $15.00 co pay for lab work, X-ray and other diagnostic procedures. These services are covered as stated in the Point of service memorandum of agreement. If this has happened to you please contact me at the Hall with the following information.

• Name
• Dr. Name
• Date of procedure

In Solidarity,

Danny

Brothers and Sisters,

   On Monday February 8^th 2010, several grievance reviews were held between the Southern Fios area manager and the stewards. These meetings were set up to try to come to resolution on numerous outstanding grievances. These were very productive meetings and I would like to thank Gregg Flick (Chief Steward-Venice), Doug Blackburn (Chief Steward-Sarasota South side), Ed Hawks and Christine Riley (both Fios stewards-Bradenton). With their help we were able to review and settle 95 outstanding grievances. These grievances varied from discipline and worksheets to, you guessed it, overtime. And with the discussions of overtime we were reassured that the new rosters along with the worked and refused time will be posted on a weekly basis. With the amount of grievances and lack of time we were unable to discuss grievances for Sarasota North. Within the next few weeks another meeting will be scheduled to discuss outstanding grievances in Sarasota North as well. Nettie Hamacek (Chief Steward) will be assisting me on these grievances. 

   I know the month of January was an extremely busy month for anyone who works in the Fiber Solution Center, Fiber Network Field Technicians and Customer Zone Technician II work groups. This did not come without extensive overtime, some of whom volunteered and some were required. With that said, I would like to thank each member who gave of their time away from their family to serve the needs of our customers.

   In Solidarity

   Danny             

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season.

With the start of the New Year we have both good and bad news concerning FIOS. For the good news the orders have seemed to increase over the last few weeks. This is encouraging since it has increased work for just about every department that has anything to do with FIOS. Unfortunately the bad news is that in 2 specific departments this has caused required overtime.

In the Fiber Solution Center (FSC) Lily Saunders (Chief Steward) is working hard every day to make sure the overtime is done correctly. Unfortunately, the FSC is dealing with mandatory 10-hour days and a 6-day workweek. Management has tried, unsuccessfully, to mandate a 7-day workweek.

In southern division, Fiber Network Field Technicians (FNFT) are being offered overtime every day to try to bring the service orders back in to a 3 day due date. The FNFT’S have also been required but not on a daily basis.

The CZT II work group has also had an extremely heavy workload as well. Between the snowbirds being down for the winter and with the amount, and frequency, of rain they just can’t seem to get a break. The Cable splicer work group has asked for volunteers to go to the CZT II work group permanently in an effort to help out. Also, the Cable Splicers have been canvassed to go to West Virginia for up to 3 months. I tip my hat to anyone who decides to go work in the freezing temperatures up there.  

As we start the year we are continuing the membership training classes. If you are interested in attending this class, please contact me so I get you scheduled for one of the upcoming classes. As we prepare for contract negotiations later this year, please mark your calendar and plan to attend either the general meetings or your unit meeting every month.

   In Solidarity,

       Danny

Brothers and Sisters,

Can you believe 2009 is almost over? This year has gone by faster than any I can remember. I’m not sure if it is because I am getting older or if it is because we have been very busy.

Over the last month I had the opportunity to go to the Fiber Solution Center to sit with a few members and listen as they handle calls. As a former Fios technician, I thought I understood what their job entailed. But as I listened to the calls, I realized that those of you who handle these calls everyday have a thankless job!  

Whether it was a customer or a Fios technician at the other end of line, they were dealing with someone very frustrated. It wasn’t like anyone was calling them to tell them thank you and their service was working fine. The only reason to call the FSC is if there is a problem.

Each member I sat with handled every call with not only the knowledge necessary, but also with courtesy and respect. If you are a Fios technician, next time you call the FSC please understand that the Network Technician you are talking to probably just hung up with either an irate customer or a FNFT that had a major problem. As a tech in the field you have the ability to get a break from a customer that is really difficult even if it is only for a few minutes. For our NT”s, every call is another issue to try to resolve for them. So, next time you have to call the FSC, please remember to treat our brothers and sisters with the courtesy and respect they deserve.

For our members who work in any of the customer call centers, I applaud you for having the ability to deal with irate customers on a daily basis. It is you who are on the front line with our customers and have the most influence on whether or not they continue to choose Verizon.

I would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

In Solidarity,

Danny Alfonso 

Brothers and Sisters,

As we approach the Thanksgiving Holiday I would like to take the time to thank all of our stewards. Their selfless giving of their personal time is greatly appreciated. The responsibility of being a steward is time consuming as well as mentally draining. Stewards have to be very versatile. Primarily they are responsible for upholding the contract. And sometimes they have to act as a peace keeper among brothers and sisters. They have to do this all while still performing their daily job functions. Please show your support of your stewards and if you get a chance a simple thank you would be much appreciated.

Also for the past month we have been getting numerous calls of investigations going on all over the company. If you are asked or told by a supervisor that they need to talk to you please read them your Weingarten Rights.

       Weingarten rights:

            “If this discussion could in any way lead to my being disciplined or terminated or have any effect on my personal working conditions, I respectfully request that my union representative, officer or steward be present at this meeting.”

These rights are printed on the back of our local union 824 membership cards. If you do not have a membership card with these rights printed on the back please call us at the union hall or notify your chief steward.

      Happy Thanksgiving,

      Danny Alfonso 

Brothers and Sisters,

Overtime?  There is no other one word that evokes more emotion.  Whether it is “required” or voluntary it still is a very serious issue of contention.  Management cannot seem to ask or require in the same manner in any 2 locations. Several times the confusion has even been in the same location between 2 managers that cannot agree on how it should be offered. Over the last 3 months I have dealt with more overtime issues than almost all other issues combined.  It all starts with a current up to date overtime roster, which contractually is to be maintained and posted on a weekly basis.  Please check the board in your respective area to make sure this is done weekly.  We all need to be diligent in this matter since this is usually where the trouble starts.

In situations concerning Outside Plant, we have been successful in resolving most of the issues as long we are made aware of the problem before the day tour gets off work.  In the Fiber Solution Center issues have come up where overtime was being asked days in advance, only to be canceled at the absolute last minute.  This has caused many of our member’s problems with child-care when they make plans to either to come in early or stay late. We are still working on this issue and will report back as soon as we have some resolution.

Next, we need every Brother and Sister to work only the overtime he or she is entitled to.  Several things happen when you work overtime that you are not entitled to.  First and foremost, it causes dissention within our membership.  How can we stand together if we are arguing with each other about overtime?  Also as I stated earlier, the roster is to be maintained and posted weekly but more important, balanced quarterly. When someone works overtime without it being offered correctly that is almost impossible for it to end up balanced.  As you can see, working overtime that you are not entitled to hurts everyone. The closer we get to negotiations the more important it is that we are all unified.

In Solidarity,

 Danny

Brothers and Sisters,

I would like to make sure all members are aware of the dental network that was set up specifically for IBEW, Local 824 union members.  The IBEW has a contract with Union Dental Corp to provide a network of Dentists who provide $1500 worth of services every year for you and each member of your family. This network accepts our negotiated dental plan with extremely reduced prices for out of pocket expenses.

When you make an appointment with any of their dental offices you need only pay an annual $25.00 deductible and show your IBEW, Local 824 Union membership card to receive treatment.  (If you do not have this membership card, please contact the Union Hall so a new one can be mailed to you.)  Almost every dental procedure is covered, and I urge you to take advantage of this negotiated benefit.  ONLY IBEW 824 MEMBERS CAN USE THIS BENEFIT!!!

Please visit their website at http://www.uniondental.com.  Once on the home page click on patient benefits then choose IBEW 5^th District to view the benefits page.  This is a significant savings to us as union members, which we need to make sure we use if needed. 

Remember the more members’ participation we have in Union Dental the stronger our bargaining positioning will be in the future to negotiate additional savings and coverage.

 In Solidarity,

 Danny Alfonso