MESSAGES

This is an update on the non-surplus group of volunteers for the special enhanced offer. After meeting with the company on several occasions over the last month Vz. has agreed to release all of the non-surplus volunteers. They will be released on one of two dates. The dates are August 8, 2010 and November 21, 2010. The letters will be mailed beginning Friday.

General Wage Increase (GWI) for Verizon Members effective on August 1, 2010:

Please note: no COLA
3.75% wage increase for fBA will be shown on check received 8-13-2010.
3.75% wage increase for fGTE will be shown on check received 8-20-2010.

This is an update regarding the non-surplus volunteers. There were 292 non-surplus volunteers from 28 different director groups. As of today these directors have not released all of the non-surplus volunteers.

Discussions will continue regarding this issue. The MOA allows for a 30 day period to determine whether these non surplus volunteers will be accepted. We will update you as soon as a decision is reached.

IMPORTANT MESSAGE TO MEMBERS WHO HAVE INITIATED THEIR RETIREMENT VIA VERIZON BENEFITS

If you have put in for retirement and NOT granted the July 4 EISP or you are on the list for November 21, YOU MUST CHANGE OR WITHDRAW YOUR RETIREMENT request. If you were NOT accepted for the eisp, you must withdraw your retirement request.

Sent: Friday, June 25, 2010 1:50 PM
Subject: EISP/Article 35 Update

Good Afternoon,

This is to update locals on the EISP/Surplus discussions.

The surplus and oversubscribed volunteers will be notified they are accepted
or rejected and if accepted will also be advised of their date off the
payroll by letters going out in the mail by Monday. The off payroll dates
are July 4th and November 21st. Some locals have reported field management
has started to verbally advise some members of their status. The company
has not agreed to verbally communicate to all members.

I should receive a list containing the surplus and over subscribed
volunteers at some point today. The company alleges they have not finalized
some of the over subscribed lines of business. I will forward the data as
soon as possible.

Letters will be sent to our members over the weekend. The first will be
sent to the non-surplus employees informing them that their application was
received, but a decision about acceptance has not yet been reached and is
pending discussions between the Company and the union. The second will be
sent to surplus employees who have been accepted and will indicate their off
payroll date.

Verizon has yet to confirmed that there will be no layoff of post 2003
members. I will update locals as information becomes available.

In Unity,
Gail Evans
CWA District 2

Good Afternoon All,
I am writing to provide a brief update from my meeting today with Labor Relations regarding the EISP/Article 35. As you already know there was an over subscription for the EISP offering in the surplus areas in the Potomac Region. However, the company did not reach the 12,000 minimum volunteers from the former Bell Atlantic footprint. The decision as to whether a layoff will occur in Potomac has not been decided. Should a layoff occur the off payroll date would be August 21, 2010 but could be later. The company indicated today it will exercise its option under the MOA and have a second off payroll date in addition to July 3rd. The second date has yet to be determined. The company also indicated it has not been determined as to whether all volunteers for the EISP will be accepted. It is the company's intent to notify all accepted volunteers by Monday, June 28th. Discussions with the company will continue tomorrow. I will update you as more information becomes available.
In Unity,

Gail Evans
CWA District 2

06-01-2010
This is an update on the 2Q2010 Potomac EISP/Surplus.

The District has had several discussions with Vz. regarding the One-Time Enhanced Voluntary Separation Incentive Offer. To date no agreement has been reached with the company regarding a second off payroll date. The company has indicated there will only be one off payroll date of July 3rd. Any member not pension eligible until after the July off payroll date and who returns the voluntary separation request will forfeit service pension benefits by leaving the payroll in July. As of today the company indicated they have received approximately 1100 volunteers. This number includes volunteers from both the surplus and non surplus titles. A total list of volunteers will be provided shortly after the close of the EISP offer on June 16th. On Friday, May 28th the company mailed postcards to all employees reminding them of the deadline to apply for the offer. We will send out an update as new information becomes available.
In Unity,

Gail Evans
CWA District 2

Verizon's determination of surplus is reflected on the report from the company. It identifies the total # the company deems to be surplus by organization.
If you see the word "YES" in red lettering under the "involuntary" column, this means that the company has invoked the language under Article 35 for the particular title at designated locations.
The Enhanced Offer was expected to be mailed to employees 5-13-2010.
The volunteer period to put in for the package runs from 5-18-2010 and will end on 6-16-2010.
Volunteers will be accepted as necessary to meet business needs and will have a last day worked of 07-03-2010 or by 11-30-2010 as determined by the company."
Click here to view the company's determination of surplus.

** High Priority **

I am happy to report that CWA & Verizon reached an agreement late this
evening in reference to the latest surplus for Maryland, The District of
Columbia & Virginia. Details will follow shortly.

Solidarity Forever,
Ron Collins
CWA District 2

The Company and Union began talks today regarding the recently declared surplus. The Union has requested specific data relevant to contractors who are currently performing any work which could be performed by the surplus titles. The parties are scheduled to continue their discussions next Wednesday. We hope to provide more details after our next meeting.
In Unity,
Gail Evans
CWA District 2

MEMBERS, PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE MAY BE OTHER AFFECTED TITLES WHICH HAVE NOT BEEN COMMUNICATED BY THE COMPANY AT THIS TIME.

This is a continuation of the EISP / Surplus notification I sent you on February 26, 2010. This notice relates directly to 122 surplus CSTs and 108 surplus OPTs in MJ Johnston's Regional Operations organization.

As I told you in my February 26 notification, it is unlikely that EISP will be sufficient to meet the Company's force reduction needs. In that event, the Company intends to invoke the force adjustment provisions under Article 35 of the General Agreement which may require part-timing, reassignment to lower paid job titles or classifications, involuntary transfer which necessitates a change in residence and termination or layoff of regular employees with a net credited service date of August 3, 2003 or later.

EISP packages mailed to employees beginning April 16.
Volunteer Period is April 20 through May 19.
Last day worked for EISP volunteers is May 29.
Canvass for available jobs is May 10 through May 17.
Available jobs assigned by May 20.
Employees report to available jobs by June 1.
Last day worked for surplus employees who don't take EISP or an available job is July 10.

Subject: Verizon Surplus
** High Priority **

I understand Verizon sent out an e-mail outlining specifics of the
negotiations. There was a unified decision to do a joint release from the
Unions.
We all agreed, we should not negotiate in the public. It was also a
unified decision of CWA Districts 1, 2, 13, IBEW New England & IBEW NJ to
reject this offer. This offer was not in the interest of the Union
members. We also agreed that we would not negotiate in the public,
obliviously Verizon violated that agreement.

As a follow up to the Unions position from the Wednesday evening
conference call, I stated, " Verizon attempted to throw a lot of money at
the Unions in an effort to destroy our bargaining unit". To re-state the
Unions position, "we are not in the business of negotiating away our
jobs". We must do everything to maintain our power in negotiations with
Verizon. The more members we lose, the weaker we become in negotiations
for both active members and retirees. I understand that some members may
want to leave and would like additional money. Verizon offered the
following: additional $40,000 to the voluntary termination bonus for all
employees, change the 30 year cap under EISP to 40 year cap, remove
penalties if you had at least 25 years of service and were at least 50
years old, provide the October pension increase now versus in October.

DON'T BE FOOLED BY VERIZON - Verizon is not willing to do anything about
the huge number of contractors, they refused to address contractors, they
refused to address job security for the post 2003 members, they refused to
give any laid off member access to jobs at Verizon subsidiaries, they
refused to discuss an early retirement incentive, they refused to treat
any EISP as a layoff. The Unions offered several options in an effort to
help reduce the 12,000 member surplus - all were REJECTED by Verizon.
Moreover, Verizon stated: "It doesn't matter what we do - it will not
change our surplus number of 12,000.

There was no spirit of negotiations on Verizon's part. Their only goal is
to de-unionize at Verizon, if there is no union at Verizon, we can't
negotiate for active members or retired members. Please stayed focused on
the big picture - don't be fooled by Verizon. We are at war with this
company and we will do what ever is necessary to stop this corporation
form destroying us and our families.

Any questions please call.
I hope everyone has a Happy Easter.
Solidarity Forever,

Ron Collins
CWA District 2

Brothers and Sisters,
Here’s the REST of the story.
Meeting in NY with CWA, IBEW and the company. The union proposed to offer additional money for people to leave the company.
Job security exchange – allow for every 1 senior employee that leaves, a transfer of job security to the next highest Jr. employee that remains to have job security.
Eliminate contractors, allow members to do this work.
Preferential hiring for jobs at VZW or Vz subsidiaries for surplused members.
The Company refused all of the above.
Even if the company should rid of contractors, company still wants to remove 12,000 people from payroll.
Company likely wants to get out of the business represented by unions.
Official surplus and Article 35 notices will be forthcoming.
Would not be surprised if company attempts to use an external event i.e., economy, health care legislation, etc. to justify layoffs.

The District will be collecting proxy votes from our members who hold Verizon stock. There are two recommendations CWA Research has offered regarding the proxy vote.

Under Section A - Item #3 - Advisory vote related to Executive Compensation - we should vote AGAINST and in Section B - Item # 6- Performance Stock Unit Performance Thresholds - we should vote FOR.

Members, please make sure you sign your proxy. Proxy votes may be given to your Shop Steward or Local Vice President up to April 26, 2010 to be delivered by District 2 staff to the Shareholder's meeting. The Shareholder's meeting will be held in Little Rock, Arkansas on May 6th.

Representatives of CWA Districts 1, 2 and 13 as well as IBEW New Jersey and New England met again today with Verizon Labor Relations.

The Union Committee presented ways that could relieve surpluses such as returning contracted work to the bargaining units, offering any job openings that exist in all Verizon subsidiaries and increasing the EISP offers. Verizon refused to do any of the things the Union suggested except for increasing the EISP slightly.

The Union Committee's efforts were aimed at saving jobs but the Company believes that they need to shed 12,000 employees without regard to our contract or common decency, or the state of the economy.

At this point we should expect Verizon to formally announce the surplus and start the article 35 process.

03-21-2010

Latest New on the Verizon Surplus:

It is important to remember that NO DATE has been assigned to the latest
Verizon Surplus. The Committee of 8 held a conference call late Friday
afternoon to discuss preparing a counter proposal to present to Verizon in reference to their latest surplus. The company has yet to agree to grant the unions additional time. The committee has agreed to go forward with a counter
proposal.

We can not allow the company to divide and conquer us – we must stand united
to fight Verizon! We are expecting to get a counter proposal to Verizon
early this week. I will keep you updated on the situation and their
response.

Solidarity Forever,
Ron Collins
CWA District 2

The Idearc contract was ratified with 100% voting for approval.
It is a 3-year contract with an expiration on October 12, 2112.
We want to thank the District 2 Bargaining Team which included
CWA Staff Rep Steve Holland, Les Evans, President CWA Local 2108 and Travis Carpenter, VP CWA Local 2222.

IMPORTANT FMLA MOBILIZATION FOR VERIZON MEMBERS (07-03-2007)

It appears that Verizon is again violating the FMLA in a very significant way. CWA’s Legal department is collecting data that may be used as evidence in regard to the company’s mishandling of certain FMLA issues. Please provide the Local with detailed facts in reference to the following:

§ Retaliatory Changes to Attendance Control Plans,

§ Employees harmed solely because they failed to sign the medical release section of the form and are denied leave even though all other parts of the form have been completed correctly,

§ ARC Backlog Problems relating to Medical certifications for employees with chronic serious health conditions are not being processed in a timely manner or due to the backlog, supervisors may have incorrectly assumed that no word from ARC means that the leave is not FMLA covered and the employee is disciplined,

§ Denials for untimely requests during the administrative review process or because the employee did not ‘explain’ that the denial was due to no fault of his/her own error,

§ Pressure by Verizon on medical providers to change the certification through its’ “MD to MD review process”,

§ Company incentives being denied to FMLA certified employees

Please forward in writing detailed facts (names, dates, etc.) about specific cases in which these items have occurred. You may email your information to cwa2202@verizon.net , drop off at the Union Office or give to a Steward or Vice President. For additional info, click here for more detailed information.

Important Info About the Verizon Short-Term Disability Plan (09-13-06)

There are times when a Verizon employee’s absence due to illness or injury may be covered under the Short-term Disability plan.

When this happens, it is crucial that contact be made with MetLife on or before the eighth calendar day from the first day of your absence; Otherwise your pay may be interrupted.

In addition; if you return to work after a disability absence and are then absent again for any reason within 14 calendar days, you, of course, must call your supervisor and contact MetLife immediately in order to prevent interruption of pay. You may reach MetLife at (800) 638-4228.

Employees may now initiate and track claims from home using the internet by going to www.metlife.com/mybenefits, entering company name (Verizon Communications) to register for the service.