Michelle Agne

 Brothers and Sisters,

On June 16^th the Stress Committee set up a table in the EAX lobby. We provided information to approximately 400 members with EAP/VZ Life information. IBEW824 and the Company donated items for door-prizes. This was a great success. Our next stop will be the Main building in September.

Zaida Menendez, Chief Steward in the CSSC and I continue our weekly meeting with management. According to the company the pitch and save rates are up, the close rates have shown great improvement. Attendance has gone down to about 12%. Please remember that if you are called into an investigation or meeting it us up to YOU to request a steward it is NOT up to management to provide you one.

Sherry Waters, Chief Steward in E-Commerce, Felicia Archie, Steward Charlotte Smith and I met with management to start our monthly partnership meetings. The attendance rate in E-Commerce is about 7.5%. The morale in the center is a greater concern. We discussed ways to improve these issues. Management was very impressed with the awesome job that was done by the members with extending the hours and Saturday coverage. The move from the 3 floor to the 9^th floor should be complete within 6 weeks.

Dora Mulis, Chief Steward at the 301 Complex, Joy Teague, Peaches Caldwell, Rhonda Gilbert, Alice Kunder, and I met with management to start our monthly partnership meetings. We discussed several safety issues that were taken as action items for our next month meeting. We covered several process concerns that will reduce handling time and order processing for the BSSS in the customer care/VCC Department. Management advised that the last Business 101 training class is scheduled for July 19^th.  

In Solidarity,

Michelle Agne  

Brothers and Sisters,

The Stress Committee is ready to start meeting with members to provide information on the EAP/VZ Life. Our first stop will be the EAX building. We will have a table in the lobby on June 16^th from 7:30am until 1:00pm.

Our goal is to start forming sub-committees. If you are interested in being on one of these please let me know.

Zaida Menendez, Chief Steward in the CSSC and I continue to meet with management. I have gotten some positive feedback from the changes that have taken place in the CSSC. Management will continue meeting with representative to get more ideas on what will help improve moral. According to the company the pitch rates are up but, close rates are down. The attendance rate continues to be at about 14%.  Please remember that if you are called into an investigation or meeting it is up to YOU to request a steward, it is not up to management to provide you one. If you get written up and want to file a grievance it must be done within 10 calendar days. Please contact your steward as soon as possible.

Robert, Jim Brading (Steward) and I met with BSC management and the offline group to discuss the way that the work is being assigned and the rotation of work.

Dora Mulis, Chief Steward at the 301 Complex, Melissa Braswell and I met with Roxy Parker to discuss forming an environmental committee. We will start these next month.

Sherry Waters, Chief Steward in E-Commerce and I met with Karen Provost and we will also form an environmental committee. We will start these next month.

In Solidarity,

Michelle Agne  

Brothers and Sisters,

Zaida Menendez, Chief Steward in the CSSC and I continue to meet with management on a weekly basis. We continue to discuss ways to improve morale in the CSSC.  The bathroom and break rooms have been given some attention. Stavros Maglis has been meeting with representative individually to get a better idea of what the issues are and he has been making efforts to be seen on the sales floor more. We were told that the new Sales Coordinator would be starting sales focus groups. Get involved. We hope that you have noticed some changes in your center. We can do a lot more but, we need your input. The attendance rate has stayed at about 13%. Sales were at about 103% and attainment is good.  Please remember that YOU have to ask for a steward if you are called into an investigation or being given a write up.

Dora Mulis, Chief Steward at the 301 Complex, Melissa Braswell and I met with Roxy Parker last month. As a result of this meeting a tentative Business 101 class has been set for May 15, 2010 for 10 of the 20 remaining BSSS’S. We are working on getting grievances heard.

There have been some changes in the way that Verizon processes FMLA. Please look at the Verizon home page for these updates. If you have any questions or need assistance please feel free to call Melissa Braswell or myself.

I will continue to spend each Thursday in the front of the EAX building. It has been a pleasure meeting and visiting with members.

In Solidarity,

Michelle Agne 

Brothers and Sisters,

Zaida Menendez, Chief Steward in the CSSC and I continue to meet weekly with management. Your voices are being heard. We have talked about morale in the CSSC with Stavros Maglis and Amiee Della-Croce over the last couple of months. They have sent surveys out to each representative and have gotten some great ideas. They will start meeting with representatives to get more ideas on what you think will improve morale. “Fun Zone” was started last week. We were notified that the CSSC will be open every Saturday except for: April 3^rd, May 8^th, June 12^th, July 7^th, Aug 21^st, Sept 4^th, Oct 9^th, Nov 13^th, and Dec 18^th. All Verizon offices will be open on July 5^th. They will need about 90 representatives for Saturday coverage. An audit was conducted on each representative for call avoidance. Employees are being disciplined for this. Please remember that YOU have to ask for a steward if you are called into an investigation or being given a write up.

Dora Mulis, Chief Steward at the 301 Complex, Melissa Braswell and I met with Roxy Parker. We discussed day at a time vacations requests, communication between management and the stewards and upcoming training schedules.       

Robert, Grace Smith, Chief Steward in SST and I met with management to discuss the SST. Robert and I were able to talk to several representatives about concerns that they have.

Our stress committee meeting was cancelled this month. We will have a meeting in April and start getting information out to members.

I have had the great pleasure of meeting and visiting with numerous members in the front of the EAX building each Thursday. I appreciate all of the positive input and suggestions that have been given.

In Solidarity,

Michelle Agne

Brothers and Sisters,

Zaida Menenez, Chief Steward in the CSSC and I have met with management each week. We have looked at the enhanced Power Pitch Assessment Tool. If you are using this tool you are following the sales process. You still have to manage objectives, build rapport and attempt your saves or LEC offers. If we use P-Pat, it can eliminate some of the write –ups. We talked about forming Focus Groups for the CSSC again. If you have any ideas, comments or concerns with this please call me. I have started to do a weekly email to members in the CSSC on what is discussed in these meetings. If you are in the CSSC and have not been receiving these emails please update your contact information on the IBEW824.org website. We have had about 70 members from the CSSC attend membership training. Remember to ask for a steward if you are called into an investigation or given a write up.

The BSC and E-Commerce are extending their hours. The BSC will now be open until 6:30pm. E-Commerce will be open on Saturdays. They need about 41 Representatives for this day. You are able to do Trades, Flex or take a Vacation day.

It continues to be a busy time in SST and the 301 Complex. I am still working with management to get a least one member from each of these areas for membership training. If you are interested in attending, please call or email me. I have started spending more time at the EAX.  I visited with many of you in front of the building. I appreciate all of the positive input and suggestions that were given.

In Solidarity,

Michelle Agne

Brothers and Sisters,

It has been another difficult month due to the bumping process with the closure of Pub Com.  If you are involved in the bump and have questions or need help with your forms please call me. It is crucial that you fill your forms out correctly. And, remember to leave your can be reached number.  As of last Friday staffing thought that they would be done with all of the rounds by the end of the month. I would like again to thank all of the stewards and chiefs who have spent countless hours assisting members during this challenging time.  

Zaida Menendez, Chief Steward in the CSSC and I have started our meetings with management on a weekly basis again. We listen to random calls of members who have gone on a form of discipline and have filed a grievance. The vast majority of these write-ups continue to be for not following the sales process, and not using the Power Pitch Assessment Tool. Attendance has become a great concern again. We currently have approximately 14% of our members calling out per day. We have started our membership training classes back up. We have had about 65 members from the CSSC attend. It has been great seeing so many of you at the General and unit meetings.

Robert, Dan Wagner, and Jim Brading (Steward) met with BSC management and the offline groups to discuss cross training options within that classification. We have had 19 members attend membership training from the BSC.

It has been an especially busy time in E-Commerce, SST and the 301complex. I have been working with management to get at least a one person from each of these areas for membership training. Please call or email me if you are interested in attending.

In Solidarity,

Michelle Agne   

Brothers and Sisters,

During the last month Robert, Zaida Menendez, Chief Steward in the CSSC and myself have continued to meet with Management and members to discuss the state of the center. We have now met with 13 teams.  Robert asked for your input. Any suggestions or comments are welcomed.  Zaida and I continue to meet with management, listening to random calls of members that have gone on a form of discipline and have filed a grievance. The majority of these write ups are still for not using the Power Pitch tool and the Sales Process.  We are still trying to catch up on 3^rd step grievances.  We have had about 60 Members from the CSSC go through membership training. It is great to see more of you at the General meetings.

Robert, Jim Brading, Steward in the BSC and I held a parking lot meeting with the BSC. We had about 30 members attend. It was great to see so many of you.

Sherry Waters, Chief steward in E-Commerce and I continue to get 3^rd steps heard. We have had 17 members from E-Commerce attend membership training.

Robert, Grace Smith, Chief Steward in SST and I met with management to discuss the SST.  Robert and I did side by sides with a few SST Reps to see day-to- day operations.  

Our Stress committee was cancelled this month. We have been waiting on some posters to arrive so we can start getting information out to members.

May Peace be your gift at Christmas and your blessing all year through!  ~Author Unknown

In Solidarity,

Michelle Agne

Brothers and Sisters,

It has been an extremely difficult month for all of us.  One of the most frequent questions that I get asked each day is about bumping rights.  If you are involved in the bump and have questions or need help with your forms please call the hall.  I would like to thank all of the stewards and chiefs who have spent countless hours assisting members during this challenging time.   

During the last month Zaida Menendez, Chief Steward in the CSSC and I have met with management and have spent time listening to random calls of members that have gone on a form of discipline and have filed a grievance. The majority of these write ups have been for not securing the accounts, the usage of the Power Pitch Assessment Tool and the sales process.  We have continued to get 3^rd step grievances heard.  We have had about 18 members from the CSSC go through membership development.  If you are interested in attending one of these classes or have any concerns please call me. 

Robert and I met with Earl Dowdy and Ron Beigler in the BSC about billing training and new work coming into the BSC.

Sherry Waters, Chief Steward in E-Commerce and several stewards and I have met with management to get 3^rd steps heard and have several more scheduled this month to try to get caught up.

Robert, Dora Mullis, Chief Steward at the 301 complex met with Roxy Parker to discuss the new billing work that has been brought into this center and additional training classes that are scheduled.

I attended the Verizon Plus environmental meeting with Nettie Hamacek, Chief Steward for Bradenton/Sarasota VZ Plus stores.  We discussed the ongoing issues in the Plus stores such as RSC’s placing SPOT orders, Campaign Manager and the decline in sales coming into the stores.  Please support your union brother and sisters in the VZ plus stores if you are in need of services such as cell phones or accessories.

Grace Smith, Chief Steward in SST and I had 3^rd step grievances this month as well.  We have had 5 members from the SST attend membership development.

I have had the great pleasure of meeting and visiting with numerous members over the last month and hope to get to every department to do side by sides and continue to meet more members of our local.   

In Solidarity,

Michelle Agne