If an employee has a reasonable belief that discipline or other adverse consequences may result from what he or she says, the employee has the right to request union representation. Management is not required to inform the employee of his/her Weingarten rights; it is the employees responsibility to know and request.

"If this discussion can in any way lead to me being disciplined, I respectfully request union representation before I answer any questions"

Protect yourself! Learn it, use it!

The Executive Board welcomes all Communications Workers of America, AFL,CIO Local 1120 members to our web page. The purpose of this web page is to provide a means of supplying information about our local and labor issues.    To all cwa local 1120 members. I want to thank all of my fellow union brothers and sisters for their commitment, and determination in keeping our local strong. Together we can overcome any challenge that we may face.

Frank J. Fauci Jr.
President, CWA Local 1120

 We must guard against being fooled by false slogans, such as ‘right to work.’ It is a law to rob us of our civil rights and job rights.
Its purpose is to destroy labor unions and the freedom of collective bargaining by which unions have improved wages and working conditions of everyone…Wherever these laws have been passed, wages are lower, job opportunities are fewer and there are no civil rights. We do not intend to let them do this to us. We demand this fraud be stopped. Our weapon is our vote.”

Martin Luther King

According to Department of Labor guidelines, no ballot voting is necessary for uncontested offices. These candidates will begin their new term as outlined in the Local Bylaws.

The candidates for Newburgh/Monticello Business Agent are Mike McDonough and Rob Esposito. The election for will be conducted by mail ballot.

Ballots for this election are being mailed on October 19, 2020 to members that are in good standing and that are represented by the Newburgh/Monticello Business Agent. If you have recently moved please make sure that the Local has your correct address. Any eligible member who has not received a ballot in the mail at home by October 29, 2020 should contact the Local.

When you receive the ballot in the mail, please read very carefully the directions that will be included, and return the ballot in the enclosed envelopes as soon as possible.

Ballots MUST arrive at the PO Box by November 10, 2020 by 3pm in order to be tallied.

The 2021 Annual Open Enrollment Dates are as follows:

October 6, 2020 to October 15, 2020 – (these dates are for Active employees and Retirees)

This is your opportunity to review your benefits and make any changes to your benefits.

Retirees are urged to make any changes during the annual enrollment period; however they continue to have “Anytime Enrollment”. When a retiree makes a change outside of the Annual Enrollment period, the change is effective the first of the month following a 30 day period. So, under “Anytime Enrollment” a retiree could make a change up through November 30, 2020 to be effective January 1, 2021.

All other 2020 Elections and designations automatically carry over into 2021 Annual Enrollment, Members who want to stay with their plan without any changes don’t need to do anything.

If you have a Qualified Life Event between now and the end of the year, you will need to make changes on BenefitsConnections for both 2020 and 2021. Examples of a Qualified Status Change are adding a spouse if you get married, adding a child when there is a birth of a new baby etc.

Annual Enrollment Guides will be sent to employees and retirees during the week of beginning September 21^st.          

Health Assessment Credit

Verizon has informed us that in order to receive the $100 Health Assessment Credit in 2021, employees will need to retake the Health Assessment. A communication was sent to employees advising that they could take the assessment beginning on 9/1/2020. Employees will also have the additional option to complete one wellness activity between 9/1/20-12/1/20 instead of the Health Assessment to earn the $100 premium reduction for 2021. 

Available activities:

·  Complete the Health Assessment

·  Complete a WebMD Coaching Session

·  Participate in a Volunteer Activity

·  Choose a Primary Care Physician

·  Complete a Biometric Screening

Completion by 12/1/20 ensures the credit is in place by the first paycheck of 2021.

Completions by 12/31/20 will receive full credit for 2021.

Completions in 2021 will receive a prorated credit.

Non- Tobacco User Credit - $600

·      If you are a non-tobacco user and are already receiving credit, no further action is needed.

·      If you are not receiving this credit and DO NOT use tobacco products, indicate your NON-TOBACCO status on BenefitsConnection to receive your $600 credit towards your annual medical contributions.

·      If you and your covered dependents DO USE tobacco products but have completed a tobacco cessation course within the last six months indicate your status on BenefitsConnections during Open Enrollment for the full credit.

·      If you have NOT yet completed a tobacco cessation course, you can earn the full Non-Tobacco Credit in 2021 if you and/or your covered dependents satisfy the reasonable alternative standard as follows:

1)      During Annual Enrollment, log on to BenefitsConnection and answer the Tobacco User Status question while completing your Annual Enrollment elections: - answer YES and intend to complete a tobacco cessation course before July 31, 2021.

2)      Before July 31, 2021, complete a tobacco cessation course such as Craving to Quit.  An employee can also focus on tobacco cessation with a WebMD coach, available through the Health Zone.

You MUST update your Tobacco User Status response by July 31, 2021 in order to receive the full Non-Tobacco credit. Any update made to your tobacco user status after July 31, 2021 will result in a prorated credit for the remainder of the year.

Retirees:

Your contributions depend on your retirement date, your net credited service date and the medical plan option you select.

For all retirees who retired after January 1, 1992, with a net credited service date before August 3, 2008:

The labor contracts provide for limits on the amount the Company will contribute toward retiree medical coverage. These limits are referred to as retiree medical caps.

In the 2020 plan year, the cost of coverage of each of the Medicare plan options is less than the applicable retiree medical caps.

For the 2021 plan year, the cost of coverage for the pre-Medicare MEP HCP plan option will again exceed the applicable retiree medical caps. The excess amount is less than it was for the 2020 plan year and also is less than the currently required premium for retirees with a retirement date on or after January 1, 2013, so it will not have any effect on the premium contributions those retiree pay. Retirees with a retirement date before January 1, 2013 will be required to pay the excess amount in the form of monthly premium contributions in order to enroll or remain enrolled in the pre-Medicare MEP HCP plan option.

As we did for the 2020 plan year, the Union and the Company agreed upon an optional pre-Medicare MEP HCP Alternative plan for the 2021 plan year, which requires no premium contributions.

The chart below provides an overview of the differences between the MEP HCP plan option and the MEP HCP Alternative Plan option for 2021.

The chart below shows the monthly contribution amounts for 2021 as compared to 2020:

Please refer to the Annual Enrollment Materials for more details.

In the 2021 plan year, the cost of coverage of the pre-Medicare EPO, Harvard Pilgrim and Aetna HMO (retiree =1 and retiree = family coverage levels only) plan options will exceed the applicable retiree medical caps, and this excess amount over the retiree medical caps is greater than the annual minimum contribution for all retirees.

Your current elections will automatically continue unless you make a change.

The billing process will remain unchanged from the process that is in place today for those who are already making contributions.

Anyone that is enrolled in a benefit that requires contributions will receive a bill.

Bills are mailed by the 15th of each month with a due date of the first of the following month.

For example, the bill for the contributions for January 2021 will be mailed/posted to the web by December 15, 2020 with a due date of January 1, 2021.

Retirees can elect to have contributions paid via ACH debit or pension deduction:

Because ACH direct debit is the fastest and easiest way for a retiree to pay for coverage, it is highlighted on each monthly invoice that is mailed home to encourage enrollment. The retiree can enroll in this option on the secure BenefitsConnection website by providing his/her routing and checking account number. The balance due would be debited out of their account on the first business day of the month. For example, January’s balance would be debited on 1/4/2021.

A retiree who is receiving a monthly pension also has the option to have his/her deductions taken from their pension check. A retiree would have to call the Benefit Center and speak with a representative to enroll in this option.

Life & Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance (AD&D)

Annual enrollment offers you the opportunity to make changes to your current life insurance coverage amounts and/or waive coverage. The rates for coverage are based on age ranges. As you and your spouse fall into a new age band your costs could increase. If you choose to continue your coverage, no further action is required.

Verify you beneficiary status to make sure it is accurate and up to date.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81797303126?pwd=ZEdwTzMrQlo2ZTFyM1RCVjhQY05adz09

CWA Local 1120 is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: CWA 1120
Time: Sep 17, 2020 06:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
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Meeting ID: 817 9730 3126
Passcode: 399617
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IMPORTANT UPDATE

A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

Friday, September 11, 2020

I hope this message finds you and your families healthy and safe. 

There have been no new positive tests for any members within CWA Local 1120.

We continue to work on several issues at Marist after they implemented layoffs. Grievances have been filed and have been sat a first step. We will continue through the process as we believe these are clear violations of your CBA. We will go as far as we deem necessary to correct and remedy these violations, including Arbitration if needed.

Most of the other units are still adjusting to the new ways of doing business. 

Verizon and CWA are still in discussion on the Work from Home Agreement and Home Garaging Agreement. 

REMEMBER, any rumors coming out of any units are just that, rumors. DO NOT BELIEVE ANYTHING YOU HEAR THAT DOESN’T COME FROM YOUR UNION! 

Remember, if at any time you feel there is an unsafe condition that may put you at risk, report it to your Supervisor and contact a Steward or Business Agent immediately!

REMINDER

There will be a Virtual General Membership Zoom meeting on Thursday, September 17, 2020 at 6PM, followed by a vote to amend the bylaws. 

Please go to www.cwa1120.org to register for the website/meeting and to be able to access the zoom link under the MEMBERS HOME tab for the meeting and to vote on the proposed bylaw change. Deadline to register for the meeting is September 16, 2020.

TODAY MARKS THE 19TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SEPTEMBER 11th ATTACKS ON OUR COUNTRY. PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TODAY TO REMEMBER AND HONOR THOSE THAT PERISHED ON THAT DAY. LET IT BE A REMINDER AS AMERICANS OF OUR PATRIOTISM, STRENGTH AND COMPASSION. 

, 

“REST IN PEACE PAUL TEGTMEIER, WE SHALL NEVER FORGET” 

ON BEHALF OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD OF CWA LOCAL 1120, BE SAFE AND STAY SAFE!!!

In Solidarity

Frank J Fauci Jr

President, CWA Local 1120

August 31, 2020

NOTICE OF GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING FOLLOWED BY A VOTE TO AMEND THE BYLAWS

 SEPTEMBER 17, 2020 6P.M.VIA ZOOM CALL

WHEREAS, the Executive Board has conducted a comprehensive review of the Bylaws to determine whether any existing provisions should be updated or revised;

WHEREAS, the Executive Board has prepared a detailed report describing the issues it considered and the changes being considered 

WHEREAS, the Local Officers have considered the Executive Boards findings and agrees with its recommendations and the additional changes.  

WHEREAS, due to membership decline and projected membership decline in the coming years the Board would like to subtract one (1) Business Agent position from the Executive Board. 

WHEREAS, The CWA 1120 Article 12 Section 2(a) bylaws would be revised to combine the Newburgh and Monticello Business Agent positions and change the number of Business Agents from Five (5) positions to Four (4) positions 

The Article 12 Section 2(a) bylaw that will be amended is below:

1. The local shall have five (5) Business Agents: Newburgh one, Poughkeepsie one, Monticello one, Kingston/Catskill/Hudson one, and a Unit consisting of educational institution employees, hereafter, to be elected by the membership of the respective area or unit.

The Amendment would strike out the italics text:

1. The local shall have five (5) Business Agents: Newburgh one, Poughkeepsie one, Monticello one, Kingston/Catskill/Hudson one,

and a Unit consisting of educational institution employees, hereafter, to be elected by the membership of the respective area or unit.

The Amendment would insert the bold and underlined text:

1. The local shall have four(4) Business Agents: Newburgh/Monticello Area one(1), Poughkeepsie Area one(1), Kingston Area one(1), and a Unit consisting of educational institution employees, hereafter, to be elected by the membership of the respective area or unit

Please go to www.cwa1120.org to register for the meeting and to be able to vote on the proposed by-law change. The deadline to register for the meeting is September 16, 2020

Thank you