Who Speaks For Me?

 As of October 1, 2007 there were 321 days remaining until our current Agreement with Qwest Communications expires. 

Preparations for those negotiations began the week of August 27, 2007 when the elected members of CWA’S Qwest bargaining committee met with the District 7 staff who will be at the 2008 bargaining table and those who will play a supporting role to the committee throughout the bargaining process.  

 

 

During the coming months, we will be outlining how the formal bargaining process is conducted, from the use of rank-and-file bargaining surveys to how that information is ultimately formulated into specific proposals for bargaining. Those proposals will be presented during a bargaining council meeting where delegates from each of the Local Unions representing Qwest employees will define and adopt CWA’s agenda for the talks with Qwest. In the coming weeks, we will be distributing information regarding Qwest’s financials as well as those of the rest of the industry and begin highlighting those issues that we believe will be the subject of our talks with Qwest next year, such as the steady escalation of health care costs for both active and retired employees and a renewal of employer demands to roll back contract language they view as inflexible.

 

 The CWA/Qwest Bargaining Committee 

Reed Roberts, Administrative Assistant to CWA District 7 Vice President, Denver. Reed will serve as the Union’s chair for the 2008 talks. Reed served as CWA’s co-chair for the 2005 negotiations and, as Bargaining Agent, has primary responsibility for our contracts with Qwest.

 Jay Boyle, CWA staff, Nebraska, will serve as co-chair for the 2008 negotiations with Qwest. In addition to his field assignment in Nebraska and South Dakota, Jay has responsibility for administering the Qwest agreement in regards to IT, Screening, OCS and those issues related to LNO in the old NWB area. Jay served on the 2003 bargaining committee.

 Kent Anderson, President Local 7704–Utah (Salt Lake City) Kent has been in Qwest since his start in 1971 in a number of functions in Qwest’s Network Operations groups. Kent is a retiree who continued to pay full dues so that he can continue his participation as a full member.

 Ken Saether, President Local 7906 – Oregon (Eugene). Ken has over 10 years of service with Qwest as a Network Technician – loop maintenance and splicing. Ken also serves on the CWA/Qwest Executive Work Council which deals with disputes regarding contracting and the movement of work. 

Suzie Miller, President Local 7777 – Colorado (Denver) Suzie is returning to the table for the second time having served on the Union’s 2005 Qwest bargaining committee. Suzie started her career in 1972 and has worked as an Operator, Frame Attendant, Estimate Assigner, Sales Consultant, a Network Technician (I&M and construction) and is currently a Facilities Specialist. Suzie is also a member of the CWA/Qwest Executive Work Council. 

Malachy Sreenan, President Local 7800 – Washington (Seattle) Malachy is also returning to the table for the second time having also served on the Union’s 2005 Qwest bargaining committee. Malachy is a Credit Consultant and in his 10 years has also worked as a Sales Support Specialist. He also serves on the Consumer Scheduling Advisory Committee.

 In addition to the staff assigned to the bargaining committee, three others from the District’s staff will be assisting the committee from the ‘back room’, meaning that while they will not actually be at the bargaining table, they will be assisting the union committee with research and language. They are: 

Mary Taylor, CWA staff, Minnesota, responsible for administering the Qwest Communications agreement in the Small Business, Wholesale, Retail and OSR business units.

 Joe Gosiger, CWA staff, Arizona. Joe has responsibility for administering the Qwest Communications agreement in the Consumer, Retail and OSR units.

 Lew Ellingson, CWA staff, Denver. Lew has responsibility for those issues related to Qwest Communications LNO operations in the old PNB and Mt Bell areas. 

We will also have the necessary expertise in terms of our research economist group in CWA headquarters and our in-house legal counsel, Richard Rosenblatt and his associate Stan Gosch. 

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