Annual Meeting Update

LOCAL 1301 

 

ANNUAL MEETING UPDATE:

 

Our Annual Meeting was held Saturday September 17th at the Best Western TLC, Waltham Massachusetts.  We had many Members in attendance and started the meeting right after 10AM. I want to personally thank all the Members who took time out of their personal lives to attend.

 

Jon Manning presided over the By Laws Committee and the Membership overwhelmingly voted in the By Laws changes that were put forth.

 

Elections were held for all Executive Offices (3 year terms). Thanks to Kevin Gibbs for presiding over the Elections as Chair of the Election Committee.

 

Results are as follows:

President: Thomas M Bates

Executive Vice President: Jon Manning

Secretary/Treasurer: Tim Nixon

Area Rep (Boston MA): Rich Gedies

Area Rep (ME, NH, VT): Rick Fermon

Area Rep (RI, Cape Cod): Keith Garland

Area Rep (Worcester, Springfield): John Croci

 

We want to thank all those who ran and are passionate about being part of the Union. We also want to thank our Stewards in the offices for their continued support and efforts.

Some time was spent recognizing Patrick O’Neil for his 20+ years as part of Local 1301. Pat was awarded the Thomas Miller Award for his outstanding service and passion as part of our Local. Thomas Miller, a past President, showed compassion and courage in dealing with the companies that preceded Verizon, Idearc and SuperMedia. It seems fitting that Pat would be honored in Tom Millers name. We can’t thank Pat enough for his tireless work and commitment he showed, to make this the best Yellow Pages Union in the country.

 

In the next few months we will be preparing our Bargaining Team for talks with SuperMedia sometime early in 2013.

 

In solidarity,

Thomas M Bates

President CWA Local 1301 

 

Layoffs based on seniority & require transfer options

Layoffs require seniority based payments of $5,000 to $66,000

 

 

Dear Brothers & Sisters-

 

The departure of Scott Klein should be of no surprise to any of us. We have no “inside information” regarding his departure. Without reading between the lines, we are in a business that continues to be “in transition” and many of the Executives, and their reports, will continue to be under scrutiny from the Board of Directors and shareholders. We had little, if any, relationship with Mr. Klein and as I’m sure you’re all aware, Scott will be highly compensated regardless if he was fired and/or resigned. In some ways it’s a sad testament to the fact that the business hasn’t been in a good place for some time.

 

Our hope is that there could be some constructive dialogue between CWA and the new CEO, Peter J McDonald. It looks like Mr. McDonald has several years experience in the Yellow Pages Industry. It could also be good news that he worked for NTDC in New Jersey and may have the aptitude to deal in an open and honest way with Labor on Local and Regional Issues.

 

It is so clearly evident that what’s left of this once great business are the employees who put it on the line every day, and the customers who continue to support our product lines. The Yellow Pages does not sell itself, it’s the members of Local 1301 who work tirelessly to maintain and grow our existing customer base. Without you, there would be no Yellow Pages in New England.

 

I’m sure, in short course, we’ll see which way Mr. McDonald decides to go. Without open and honest dialogue the product may continue to erode, and employee and customer satisfaction will be in jeopardy.

 

We hope to reach out to other members of CWA for some background on our new CEO. In the meantime, please keep the excellent selling up as New England Sales, represented by CWA Local 1301, continues to lead the country in many sales categories for 2010. We have a good story to tell.

 

 

 

In solidarity,

 

Thomas M. Bates

President CWA Local 1301 

 

 

SEPTEMBER 18, 2010

 

 

Please join us for our annual meeting.  We want to hear about the issues that most concern you.  You will receive an update of current events and answers to any questions you may have.  There will also be an election for our Executive Vice President.  Please take this opportunity to come and discuss your future!

 

 

Best Western

February 28, 2011

Dear Colleagues:

We're ready to kick off the CWA Joe Beirne Foundation's annual scholarship offerings for the 2011-2012 school year.

The Foundation's Board of Directors has approved the awarding of fifteen (15) partial college scholarships of up to $3,000 each.  The winners also will receive second-year scholarships for the same amount, contingent upon satisfactory academic achievement.

Eligible for the scholarships are CWA members, their spouses, children and grandchildren, including the dependents of retired, laid-off, or deceased members.  Applicants must be high school graduates or high school students who will graduate during the year in which they apply.  Undergraduate and graduate students returning to school may also apply.

Applications will be available solely online for completion and submission to the Foundation's website:  http://www.cwa-union.org/members/beirne/.  Applications will be accepted until April 30, 2011.  The winners will be chosen by lottery from those submitting the required essay.  Additional information about the program can be found at the website.

This valuable scholarship program is made possible by the funding of CWA locals.  For those locals not yet participating in funding the Beirne scholarships, I urge you to do so.  Financial arrangements can be made to accommodate your local's needs.  For more information and assistance, please call 202.434.1403.

Click here for the poster announcing the program for 2011, which can be circulated electronically or downloaded, printed and distributed at your work locations.

In Unity,

Larry Cohen
President 

 

380 Winter Street

Waltham, Massachusetts

www.bestwesternmassachusetts.com

 

 

 

Check In/Continental Breakfast:  9am

Meeting Convenes:  10am

 

ANNUAL MEETING UPDATE:

 

Our Annual Meeting was held Saturday September 17th at the Best Western TLC, Waltham Massachusetts.  We had many Members in attendance and started the meeting right after 10AM. I want to personally thank all the Members who took time out of their personal lives to attend.

 

Jon Manning presided over the By Laws Committee and the Membership overwhelmingly voted in the By Laws changes that were put forth.

 

Elections were held for all Executive Offices (3 year terms). Thanks to Kevin Gibbs for presiding over the Elections as Chair of the Election Committee.

 

Results are as follows:

President: Thomas M Bates

Executive Vice President: Jon Manning

Secretary/Treasurer: Tim Nixon

Area Rep (Boston MA): Rich Gedies

Area Rep (ME, NH, VT): Rick Fermon

Area Rep (RI, Cape Cod): Keith Garland

Area Rep (Worcester, Springfield): John Croci

 

We want to thank all those who ran and are passionate about being part of the Union. We also want to thank our Stewards in the offices for their continued support and efforts.

 

Some time was spent recognizing Patrick O’Neil for his 20+ years as part of Local 1301. Pat was awarded the Thomas Miller Award for his outstanding service and passion as part of our Local. Thomas Miller, a past President, showed compassion and courage in dealing with the companies that preceded Verizon, Idearc and SuperMedia. It seems fitting that Pat would be honored in Tom Millers name. We can’t thank Pat enough for his tireless work and commitment he showed, to make this the best Yellow Pages Union in the country.

 

In the next few months we will be preparing our Bargaining Team for talks with SuperMedia sometime early in 2013.

 

In solidarity,

 

 

Thomas M Bates

President CWA Local 1301