FYI for members who may displaced during rollover
Bill NJ S2160 Concerns unemployment compensation and labor disputes.
May 10, 2016 By
There is a Bill, S2160, introduced a week ago in the NJ Senate. Bill S2160 is co-sponsored by Senator J Vitale and Senator Sweeney. Bill S2160 would change the NJ unemployment rules and allow union members to collect unemployment after a 30 day penalty in the event of a strike. It covers labor disputes after April 10, 2016 and is designed to provide reliefs to union members. It is imperative that EVERY member contact their NJ Legislature Senator and their assemblymen and urge them to vote for the passage of Bill S2160. Urge your family, friends and neighbors to do the same. You can easily email your representatives by visiting www.njleg.state.nj.us/
Contract Update
May 7, 2016 By
The GCA (Six VLC’s, General Committee Secretary and General Chairman) members met this week about our failed agreement and contract negotiations, we discussed what we have been hearing from members.
During our meeting we suggested changes to Item 1 , Item 2 , Item 3 , Item 5 , Item 6 , and Item 7.
Your GC wants to hear from you the local 60 members, please email him with your concerns and recommendations at sburkert@utulocal60.com he expects at least 1057 emails.
Mike Richart Donate Leave Form
April 29, 2016 By
Below is the PDF form to donate sick time to our brother Mike, please print and complete form then fax 973-527-7020, email emitchell@utulocal60.com , or drop in a local 60 mail box. These forms must be signed by GC Burkert prior to being accepted by payroll. Please keep Mike and his family in your thoughts and prayers as they progress through this troubling time.
A Message From Our Brothers and Sisters at Verizon
April 27, 2016 By
Below is a message from Hetty Rosenstein, State Director of the CWA, which along with the IBEW is engaged in a strike with Verizon. They are asking for our help. Attached is a list of Verizon Wireless stores they are actively picketing. Please circulate to your locals and we’re asking you and our members to donate some time on the picket line in a show of solidarity. The strike is in its second week and there are no negotiations scheduled. You will see a link that will give you updated information about the pickets and other events. If while you and/or our members are driving around should you see pickets honk your horn in solidarity. If you do picket along with our CWA and IBEW brothers and sisters ask to speak to the strike captain or whoever is in charge of the line. Identify yourself as a member of the SMART Transportation Division and as either a bus or rail worker. Follow their instructions. They know what to do AND WHAT NOT TO DO. We want to be helpful not make matters worse. This can be a scary time for these union members, not knowing when or if you’ll settle and get back to work. We ask all of our members in NJ to stand with the Verizon workers. THEIR FIGHT IS OUR FIGHT! If you have any questions or concerns about this material please contact Daniel O’Connell SMART-TD Legislative Representative.
Dear Colleagues,
Picketing and Leafletting:
I have attached a list of the 17 corporate verizon wireless stores we are now picketing. You can find updated information about the pickets and other events at http://standuptoverizon.com, but the list is attached. If you go to a site when there are pickets there, they should have a sign for you and leaflets. If you go, it is very nice if you bring coffee, water, snacks. If you want to send pizza to the picketline, I’m sure there will be a lot of love sent your way.
If you can go early, from 9:30 – 11 and leaflet the morning group going in, let me know, and I will get you leaflets.
Tomorrow I will get a shipment of 25,000 general public leaflets that we want to distribute in train and bus stops and anywhere where there will be a lot of people. If you can take some and distribute a few thousand, please let me know.
Call Verizon:
If you pay your bill online – please stop. Send a check. That requires accounting and we don’t want to do anything that makes things easier for Verizon.
If you have any static or noise on your land line – call 1800Verizon and complain. Keep complaining until they tell you that they are going to send someone out, but if they do say that, tell them not to send a scab.
You can also call 1-800-Verizon and try to get a human being to talk with you. Just stay on the line and swe if you can get someone. If you do, tell them that you are a Verizon customer, and that you support the Strike and that you don’t want your calls shipped overseas.
Come to the Rally:
Please some to our Rally on April 25, at noon at the Statehouse in Trenton. We would greatly appreciate your help.
In solidarity,
Hetty
Crew Callers Unavailable 4/26/2016 from 5:30pm till 10:30pm
April 26, 2016 By
Crew Dispatchers office had to be evacuated tonight in order to fumigate the building. They are expected to return around 10:30pm, also the back up cell phones numbers are not available.
Please use the voicemail numbers to contact them and request a return call.
Flag Assignments
April 18, 2016 By
With the weather breaking we are anticipating a increase in outside contractors along our right of ways.
Please report any contractors working without flag protection immediately to the ACD (assitant chief dispatcher) at 201-246-2780 and this includes any equipment with the potential to foul.
Flag assignments keep us all working and need to be protected by SMART-TD members so please protect our work and report unsafe conditions ASAP
Another option is the safety hotline 877-806-8283 or your lines designated safety team member if your concerns are not being addressed by the dispatcher.
Your union representatives are also an option
Scott Spratt 973-223-8654
David Acosta (HB) 347-668-2166
Chris Temple (NWK) 215-435-9688
Contract Ratification Update
April 12, 2016 By
“A” ENVELOPES WERE NOT REQUIRED BY THE INTERNATIONAL. BALLOTS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED THE DAY OF OUR MEETING AND ELECTION WHICH WILL TAKE PLACE SATURDAY, APRIL 30, 2016 AT 9:00 A.M. AT VFW POST-1397 WHICH IS LOCATED AT 20 PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD AVE., LINDEN, NJ 07036. THE TELEPHONE # IS 908-862-7191.
