Unit 4

Hello my fellow unit members. I have wanted to do this and have finally sat down to write the article. I tend to procrastinate a little. We are all waiting to get more information about the merger. We are slowly getting information about the tiers of management. Did you notice we use 4 at the top and then down for managers, Managers are level 1. Century Link is the opposite. If you have a tier 1 in the building it is a fairly high level Manager. It will take some time to get use to that for some of us.

We are still having leadership forums every other week with the company. It gives us time to discuss things going on or will be going on in the center. It also allows us to address things that are probably not a grievance issue but people are up set about them.

It is going to take some getting use to this since we change the appearance of the meeting. We now have a Labor rep involved in the meetings. We are now getting updates about the center in a timely manner now. Before this process, we were getting blind-sided with things after the fact.

There aren’t a whole lot of issues in the Sales Support center right now, but a lot of changes going on. The good thing is they keep bringing us more types of work, so we are safe if all goes well.

Today there was an announcement on an Enhances VSPP in Network. They also announced a surplus of technicians and Load Specialists. At this time, it doesn't sound as thought there will be any EVSPP matches made. If this changes, we will let you know. They do not want to replace these who leave. It does not affect Mass Markets as of now. There is one exception, the Albuquerque Sales Support will close and allow the I.S. people the option to follow the work to Phoenix or Omaha. This is also a budget issue. The close date is no later than Nov. 1, 2010.

Qwest Kiosks are still being written up for the ridiculous goals they are given. It is sad, in this economy, that the company can’t give them a break. We have been busy with them.

ATT Retail Stores are also writing their reps up for same reasons. They are also keeping us busy.

*********WE are looking for a few good people that would like to be a steward for this Unit. If you are interested please let Mickie Wegner at 602 670-3222 know or Tracey Johnson at 602 481-0954. We are having a steward training class on Aug. 28^th and on Sept. 18^th, 2010. It is a two part training and you must attend both to get certified by the District. Please notify me no later than Aug. 13^th. You may also call the hall and let them know you are interested.

This is the season for the primary candidates to beat each other up in the media. We, as a labor group, are asking our members to vote Labor Friendly. On your bulletin Board on your floor, I have put up a list of primary candidates we are endorsing. We usually don’t do the primary, but so many people want us to, that we did. We met with candidates as an Executive Board and voted on the ones we thought would do the best job for Labor issues and the workers. We need strong people in the election for Nov. or many of the labor issues may go by the wayside. Please vote your heart and vote Labor Friendly!! Please vote! Every vote counts and it has been proven many times in the past. The Primary Elections are as important to me as the election in November. We can’t get Labor friendly people in office if we choose not to vote for them and enable them to move to the election in November by voting for them.

We have our annual Local Convention on Sept. 11. Please call the hall if you would like to be a guest and attend. You might learn something about your local and the way we have to run the business. Please call 602 331-7019. It is a Saturday and will start at 9:00a.m.

I guess that is all I have to say right now, but remember we are only as strong as our members.

We met at the Hilton next to the 20 E. Building at 6p. We were there to have our Delegate Elections for all areas of the Unit. Area 1 includes SSS and DS members in the Sales Support department; Area 2 includes all of the members of Qwest Mobile; Area 3 includes all members of the ATT Retail stores and the members of SW-Bag ATT.

At 6:15pm we started the nominations of delegates for Area1. John Lane was nominated and approved by acclamation. Areas 2, 3, & 4 had no one present or letters sent into the office to run for delegate. With the nominations closed for the year, we moved on to the Units Business.

In the Sales Support group, the same old stuff is going on with company moving work from the SSC group to the SSS group in Win Back to do. The original grievance has gone to 3^rd step, but no word has come down yet as to whether they have arbitrated the grievances yet with the company. The company seems to think because the work will have no sales or quoting of prices, they can move it to where ever they want. That is one of the arguments in the grievance. If we don’t fight these things, they will continue to SCREW the SSS win back group or any other group they choose to move work from the SSC group. We must unfortunately continue to do the work they request us to do until we here on the grievance out come. The company has offered the SSC title the ZIPP-VSPP. They are looking for only 1 volunteer, but may consider more. Requests whether yes to accept or no to decline, must be into Patti Shields no later than 6pm on June 23, 2010. The company will then decide according to how many show interest, as to how many they can afford to leave the company. (And why are they moving this work from the SSC?) Other than that all seems fairly calm right now. It has been a long time coming though!

Area 2 has been fairly quite. We have had some coverages on numbers and some on attendance, but not like they did no too long ago. Greg Kar is no longer the director over this group, so be aware that Mary Ann Lopez is covering the entire greater valley, Northern AZ and Tucson. Say some prayers for the sales people. As Betty Davis said many years ago, “Fasten your seat belts, this is going to be a bumpy ride.”

Area 3 is fairly quite but has had quite a few terminations, but most are code of business conduct! Please if you have any doubt of what should be done, or how to do something, check with your manager before it is done. It is wasted talent if you are terminated for closing too early, buy phones and selling them on the internet, using your company phone for anything but business. Do not put your privately own Sims card into your company phone.

In the Southwestern yellow pages group, (SW-Bag there has been nothing coming down that the members are letting me know about. If there are things going on that you do not think should be, please call me al allow me to look into it for you.

In area 4, Dex Media, they are still settling in to the new concept after the bankruptcy the company declared awhile back. As usual, when the company grows too fast and has no inkling as to how run the businesses, the occupational staff is the ones to suffer. It also has been quiet.

I want to thank all of the Stewards and Officers of the Unit for all they have done to help our Unit get stronger and work like a well oiled wheel. I really do realize that without them, this Unit would not be able to get accomplished what we have got done.

We are looking for people that are interested in becoming a steward in your area. We need the help and the commitment for our members to continue to do this work. If anyone is interested please call Mickie Wegner at 602 670-3222 or the Union Hall at 602 331-7019.

There will be a Unit 3 meeting to nominate and elect Delegates and Alternates for the Local 7019 Convention for your area on:

If necessary voting will be from 6:30pm – 7:00pm

Delegates/Alternates are elected by their peers for the purpose of representing and voting on the business of the local. The delegates/alternates position is for one year.

Due to the fact that the Convention is scheduled for Saturday, there will be no lost wages paid. The expectations would be that if you are elected as a delegate/alternate to the local convention that you make sure you are not scheduled to work that Saturday. If you have any problems contact your Area Vice President immediately.

If for some reason any nomination (whether a first or a second) is going to be presented in writing, the letter must be on file with the Secretary-Treasurer of Local 7019 by 5:00pm on the day of the nominations. Any letter accepting a nomination must also be on file if the nominee is not accepting in person. Each letter must include the office for which the candidate is running and the appropriate Unit and Area numbers if applicable.

April 8, 2010

CONGRATULATIONS - TRACEY JOHNSON New Area Representative of Unit 3- 1.

Thank you for your devotion.

There will be a Unit 3 meeting held to nominate and elect an Area Rep for Area 1 (Sales Support Specialists).

If for some reason you are unable to attend the meeting for nominations and elections you should have two letters on file with the Secretary/Treasurer of Local 7019. One letter from a member in your area to nominate you as a candidate with a second signature from another member in the area as the second to the nomination. The second letter should come from you the candidate accepting the nomination.

I am wishing all of you a safe and prosperous year in 2010. I had a wonderful time at Christmas and New Years, but at my age it does not take much to make my time wonderful. I am grateful I am healthy and still have a job and a place to live. This is all possible due to our Union negotiating the salary we receive bi-weekly from our employers.

We are sailing along in 2010 already. I can not believe it is almost the end of January already. January brought us some changes in our Unit 3. The SSC group in Sales Support has been moved over to Unit 4 under AVP Irene Robles. This was done because she has the other groups of SSC’s, and it makes it easier to work with people who are experienced in what they do. Irene is also in that group in Sales Support. We have acquired the people who are now being called the FSS group. Sales Support is now in the process of being moved around again. We are just house cleaning, I think. It needed to be done per the managers of the department. I see it as; don't get to comfy, they will move us again. The good thing is we get to know more people in our own department. We have a wonderful group of people and it is nice to know more of us.

We have a few who have retired, or are retiring in the Sales Support Department. Carol Landis and Geri Gordon retired at the end of the year. We have Norma Kernes, Roy Ray, retiring soon. They have offered us ZIPP-VSPP. It is going to be interesting to see how many will chose to take it. This is not a surplus in the group. We will know by end of January, if not sooner.

Qwest Kiosks are still getting written up on their sales goals. It still is a sticky economy and the company can not see that. Just sell. We are fighting with all we have. The Sales people are trying their best and that is all they can do. Some don't have managers, and some don't have managers' who update them in a timely manner on goal changes. The company is also closing some of the Kiosks and this is not good for this group. They are not covered under the usual surplus articles. They don't get the offer to move to another store or kiosk by seniority. They are just gone. Their last day is January 29, 2010. See Article 13 in your Union Book for more clarification.

The ATT stores and kiosks are in the same dilemma on their goals. Some are making the goals and some aren't. We are also fighting them by way of grievances.

ONCE AGAIN, I MUST SAY FOR ALL TO HERE AT ATT: " YOU MUST TELL THE MANAGER YOU WANT A UNION PERSON PRESENT." The management is not required, by their contract, to notify us of any discipline or termination. PLEASE STAND UP FOR YOURSELF. INSIST ON A UNION PERSON PRESENT!!

I also want to know of any retaliation going on from managers because you called or spoke with the Union. This is unlawful and I will stop it. It is your right to speak or ask for us. The Labor Law says no retaliation will be taken on any employee for asking or using a union representative to protect their rights.

We have several grievances just filed on behalf of Qwest and ATT people for discipline action. We have many grievances at 2nd step waiting for responses from the Company. We have a couple of the grievances which have advanced to the higher step, third. This is the step before we close or send them to arbitration. We are winning, but it just takes time to go through the legal steps we have to follow for your cases.

I also would like you all to know how much I appreciate our Stewards, Elaine Squyres, Anna Basurto-Whitehead, John Lane, Tracey Johnson and all the others who have helped me with the kiosks and stores for the mobile group. Many have stepped up and attended a coverage when I was already booked. Laura Roybal, Darrell Parrish, Mariano Godoy, Vonda Wilkins, just to list a few. No wonder we are called UNITED IN LABOR!

Dex has again changed their name officially to Dex One Corporation. They are slowly coming out of the bankruptcy.

We will have a Unit meeting on February 25, 2010 at the Union hall at 7p.m. All come and get to know your fellow Unit 3 members. I am grateful for all of you. I appreciate all you do to keep our contract followed in your departments. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!!

We have a workgroup within CWA titled DEX. This contract ends Friday, October 3^rd at 5pm Phoenix time. Will they strike? We don't know yet. DEX has given the Right to Strike vote to the National. What does that mean? Just like most Unions, their members have the opportunity to vote yes or no to go on strike. (Another good reason to be a member.) This does not mean they will go on strike. The favorable vote means the National has the okay from the members to pull them off their jobs to strike if necessary. This is usually the last choice made.

What I am asking of all of our Brothers and Sisters is to support them if necessary (picket lines, etc). They are a small group now, but they supported us and the Union when needed.

Regional Sales Support is going down the path of discipline on the performances of all workers on their job. It is now expected the numbers put out for us to meet, must now be met. I question, as do the other employees, how do we do that and keep the "Customer Experience" good? We are a specialist department. Very few of us do the same thing. We get the issues after the customer has been missed, or the order has errored out of the system. The customer doesn't want to hear us talk fast so we can make our numbers. We are there to help them and answer their questions if needed. We have no control over the questions coming to us. Not only does the company want us to make their goal, but also use the Special Project reason in Avaya for too long but justified time with customer.

Not only have we used it, but we have had it denied, and it screws up your numbers. Are we going to have problems with our people cutting corners to get their numbers? Yes. Will the customer suffer for this? I hope not. We have become a numbers department and have lost the real purpose of the Sales Support; to help customers and make them happy they are using Qwest. Keep your fingers crossed for all of us. When a manager asks you what he/she can do to help you, put it back on them. Reply, "I don't know, what are you going to do? You are the manager. It is your responsibility to help make me successful." Do not say "Nothing, it's on me.”

Qwest Retail is still suffering from their numbers set for them. I have argued more grievances with those managers, no 1st level, than I ever thought I could in less than a year. Retail has one 1st step manager (asrm) who is a control person and argues all of the grievances. They also have another 1st level (asrm) which allows the manager's some discretion to coach and help the people to make them successful. Now with the two different 1st levels, who would you hope you get assigned to? So much for equality in the disciple steps of Qwest Retail. We are working hard on these grievances, but with numbers not close to the goal, it doesn't give us much hope or a case to fight. Please remember you must make a conservative effort to make those numbers.

OIS has given me my first opportunity to argue a case. I have very little issues in this group. The Steward, Kathy Hons is wonderful handling all issues with grace. Thank you, Kathy.

ATT retail stops and stores are also going through the same thing with the goals given them every month. The managers are also trying to keep their people, but they also give very little lee way for growth. They have very little ramp time to get where you need to be to be successful when you are a new representative.

We are going into the Holiday Season very soon. We are hoping the companies will realize the economy is still flat lining most of the time. It should be mindful of this and help the reps. stay at their job, and quit doing the rotating door thing with the representative. This is meant for ATT and Qwest Retail Sales Reps.

Now that I have explained all or most all of the things going on in our Unit 3, I would like you all to know that Elaine Squyres and John Lane have also been working very hard to represent the members. I have relied on them tremendously and would be CRAZY without them.

What can you do to help? Step up and help your Union. We need help in committees. We need people willing to step in and be a Steward. We are way under staffed. Please help us HELP YOU!!! We are only as strong as our membership. Stop waiting for someone else to step up. Be brave and know you can do it. Encourage others to do the same.

Thank you for listening. I have been in deep thought this weekend, and this is the result. I am not a writer; but I have said some things that have been on heavily on my mind for quite some time. I am depending on all of you to step up!

At 5:30pm, we held unit meetings at the Hilton Hotel next to the Qwest building. We first met with the Area 2, Small Business and Qwest retail stores.

We reviewed issues in regards to the new class starting soon in SBG. We discussed the “Star” interview process the company is using now during the interviews for a different job through the “post and bid” process. We need more training to alert people what is expected of them in this type of interview.

Nominations for Area Rep Area 2 were open to the floor. Mickie read a letter nominating Deanne Maier for Area Rep in SBG and Qwest Retail Stores by Eva Olszewski. Tracey Johnson seconded the motion.

Mickie Wegner asked “Is there any other nominations for this office?” three times as required by the guidelines of our elections. Mickie then read a letter from Deanne Maier accepting the nomination.

Hearing no other nominations, the nominations were closed. Deanne (Dee) Maier was elected by acclamation.

Present were John Lane, note taker and steward Elaine Squyres, Janice Alexander, Mickie Wegner, James Brooks, Mariano Godoy and guest VP Dave Wood.

Area 1 nominations were opened to the floor. Janice Alexander nominated Elaine Squyres for Area Rep for Area 1. James Brooks seconded the motion. Elaine accepted the nomination for Area Rep.

Mickie Wegner asked “Is there any other nominations for this office?” three times as required by guidelines of our elections. Elaine accepted the nomination.

Hearing no other nominations for the Area Rep Area 1, the nominations were closed. Mickie asked for a show of hands to accept Elaine Squyres as Area Rep for Area 1 by acclamation. The motion was carried unanimously.

We then opened the floor for nominations for Area Rep for Area 3 which is our Local Market members. A letter from Rosa Garcia was read nominating Mariano Godoy as Area Rep for Area 3. A letter from Manuel Villa was read to seconded the nomination. (All letters are on file at the Hall).

Mickie Wegner asked, “Is there any other nominations for this office?” Mickie repeated this three times as required by the guidelines of our elections.

Hearing no other nominations, the nominations were closed. Mariano Godoy accepted the nomination.

We had no members from the AT&T Mobility attend the meeting for Area 4 of Unit 3.

Unit 3 Area 5 Dex held their Unit Meeting at the Dex building on March 11, 2009 at 2:00pm in the office break room.

The meeting was called to order by Mickie Wegner. She opened the nominations for the Area Rep for Area 5. Brenda Collins nominated Anna Basurtos-Whitehead for the position. Reno Tuma seconded the nomination for Anna.

Mickie then asked if there were any other nominations for this position three times as required by the guidelines of our elections. Hearing none, the nominations were closed. Reno Tuma moved to have Anna elected to the office by acclamation. Brenda Collins seconded the motion. All in favor was unanimous. Anna has been elected to the position of Area Rep for Area 5.

There was discussion of possibilities of what is happening At Dex. Concern was expressed about the co-workers that were forced to leave the job and the economy right now. A question and answer period followed with VP Dave Wood answering their concerns on different issues.

A motion was placed by Reno Tuma to adjourn the meeting. Anna seconded the motion.

CONGRATULATIONS to Elaine Squyres-Area 1; Dee Maier-Area 2; Mariano Godoy-Area 3; Anna Basurto-Whitehead-Area 5 on your election to the office of Area Rep in your Area of Unit 3.