http://www.cwa-union.org The latest CWA Union News. {weblog_language} Copyright {gmt_date format="%Y"} {gmt_date format="%Y-%m-%dT%H:%i:%s%Q"} http://www.cwa-union.org/news/entry/new_book_exposes_the_worst_of_employer_pension_schemes/ http://www.cwa-union.org/news/entry/new_book_exposes_the_worst_of_employer_pension_schemes/ "Retirement Heist" is a new book by Ellen Schultz, a former investigative reporter for the Wall Street Journal. She carefully describes how companies plunder and wring profits from the defined benefit pension plans of American workers. It's required reading for union leaders engaged in bargaining with the country's biggest corporations. Retired Members Council, Retirement Security 2012-03-08T16:13:16+00:00 http://www.cwa-union.org/news/entry/cwaers_deliver_valentine_message_to_verizon_verizon_wireless/ http://www.cwa-union.org/news/entry/cwaers_deliver_valentine_message_to_verizon_verizon_wireless/ In District 2-13, CWAers leafleted more than 50 Verizon Wireless retail stores with the message: "We've given you so much, but now you're breaking our hearts. If you want to 'be ours,' focus more on good jobs and less on corporate greed." Retired Members Council, Retirement Security, 2011 Verizon Bargaining, Unity@Verizon 2012-02-17T17:13:19+00:00 http://www.cwa-union.org/news/entry/postcard_petition_campaign_furthers_fight_for_retirement_security/ http://www.cwa-union.org/news/entry/postcard_petition_campaign_furthers_fight_for_retirement_security/ Fighting to protect Americans' retirement security, CWA and members of the Strengthen Social Security Campaign delivered hundreds of thousands of postcards and petition signatures to Capitol Hill on Wednesday. Legislative Issues, Retirement Security 2011-10-27T13:31:30+00:00 http://www.cwa-union.org/news/entry/ny_retirees_protest_congresswomans_medicare_social_security_votes/ http://www.cwa-union.org/news/entry/ny_retirees_protest_congresswomans_medicare_social_security_votes/ Several CWA retirees got a jump start on August Accountability Month, joining a coalition of activists last week at the office of a New York congresswoman who voted for the Paul Ryan budget and its attacks on Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. Democracy, Human Rights, Retired Members Council, Health Care, Legislation and Politics, Retirement Security 2011-07-28T13:13:38+00:00 http://www.cwa-union.org/news/entry/gop_medicare_scheme_backfires_as_ny_dem_wins_race_for_congress/ http://www.cwa-union.org/news/entry/gop_medicare_scheme_backfires_as_ny_dem_wins_race_for_congress/ The Republican agenda to kill Medicare, trample workers' rights and cut millionaires' taxes at the expense of everyone else took a well-earned beating in upstate New York on Tuesday, as a Democrat comfortably won the special election for a U.S. House seat the GOP has held for generations. Collective Bargaining Rights and Organizing, Democracy, Retired Members Council, Health Care, Legislation and Politics, Retirement Security 2011-05-26T13:49:34+00:00 http://www.cwa-union.org/news/entry/cwa_joins_thousands_in_rally_against_anti-worker_budget_in_michigan/ http://www.cwa-union.org/news/entry/cwa_joins_thousands_in_rally_against_anti-worker_budget_in_michigan/ CWAers joined with thousands of union members, students, senior citizens and working families in Lansing, Mich., this week to rally against devastating budget proposals that would slash vital services, raise taxes on those who can least afford it and give a $1.8 billion tax break to businesses. Collective Bargaining Rights and Organizing, Democracy, Human Rights, International Solidarity, Legislation and Politics, Retirement Security, Civil Rights and Equity 2011-04-14T13:13:23+00:00 http://www.cwa-union.org/news/entry/guilds_ap_journalists_withhold_bylines_in_protest_over_benefit_cuts/ http://www.cwa-union.org/news/entry/guilds_ap_journalists_withhold_bylines_in_protest_over_benefit_cuts/ Hundreds of TNG-CWA journalists at The Associated Press are taking part in a national "byline boycott" this week, removing their names from stories and photos to protest the news service’s attempt to slash pension and medical benefits. Collective Bargaining Rights and Organizing, Retirement Security 2010-12-16T14:23:20+00:00 http://www.cwa-union.org/news/entry/medical_costs_for_retirees_falling_still_very_high_for_those_without_employ/ http://www.cwa-union.org/news/entry/medical_costs_for_retirees_falling_still_very_high_for_those_without_employ/ A new report estimates that retirees without the benefit of employer provided coverage will need to have hundreds of thousands of dollars in the bank to cover expected health care costs. Employees with employer provided coverage can expect to retire securely with 40% less money in savings for health care costs. Health Care, Retirement Security 2010-12-02T18:52:45+00:00 http://www.cwa-union.org/news/entry/fortune_magazine_editor_dont_gamble_social_security_in_the_stock_market/ http://www.cwa-union.org/news/entry/fortune_magazine_editor_dont_gamble_social_security_in_the_stock_market/ As talk of privatizing Social Security heats up again, a Fortune magazine editor and Washington Post business columnist is warning that it’s a foolish idea that would threaten the financial security of future retirees. Retired Members Council, Legislation and Politics, Retirement Security 2010-12-02T15:17:22+00:00 http://www.cwa-union.org/news/entry/call_congress_tuesday_to_say_hands_off_social_security/ http://www.cwa-union.org/news/entry/call_congress_tuesday_to_say_hands_off_social_security/ The National Fiscal Commission is proposing that Social Security be carved up like a Thanksgiving turkey. We can’t let that happen. Legislation and Politics, Retirement Security 2010-11-24T16:40:09+00:00 http://www.cwa-union.org/news/entry/ten_reasons_the_social_security_proposal_of_the_fiscal_commission_co-chairs/ http://www.cwa-union.org/news/entry/ten_reasons_the_social_security_proposal_of_the_fiscal_commission_co-chairs/ The Fiscal Commission Co-Chairs’ Social Security proposals are an equal opportunity disaster. So soon after an angry electorate has expressed its frustration with a Washington political class that does not appear to be listening, it totally ignores the will of the people. Poll after poll has shown that Democrats, Republicans, and Independents reject the punitive cuts in America’s economic security that the co-chairs have proposed. Read more to find out the top ten problems with their proposals. Retired Members Council, Retirement Security 2010-11-23T19:22:32+00:00 http://www.cwa-union.org/news/entry/Health_Benefits_Restored_for_140_Windstream_Retirees_CWA_Keeps_up_Figh/ http://www.cwa-union.org/news/entry/Health_Benefits_Restored_for_140_Windstream_Retirees_CWA_Keeps_up_Figh/ CWA has won a round in the fight to safeguard retiree health care at Windstream. Windstream is restoring health benefits to about 140 retirees who had worked at the company's former GTE properties in Texas, New Mexico, and Oklahoma. The retirees, represented by CWA Local 6171, are among the 3,000 Windstream retirees affected by the company's plan to terminate retiree health care in July. Collective Bargaining Rights and Organizing, Retired Members Council, Legislation and Politics, Retirement Security 2010-05-27T11:09:15+00:00 http://www.cwa-union.org/news/entry/may_is_older_americans_month/ http://www.cwa-union.org/news/entry/may_is_older_americans_month/ Continuing a tradition set in motion by President John F. Kennedy in 1963, President Obama proclaimed that May 2010 is Older Americans month. The proclamation was made to to honor the ongoing contributions of older Americans and pledge our support as a nation to the "wisest among us." Retired Members Council, Retirement Security 2010-05-05T14:50:56+00:00 http://www.cwa-union.org/news/entry/afa-cwa_elects_veda_shook_president_honors_retiring_pat_friend_for_lif/ http://www.cwa-union.org/news/entry/afa-cwa_elects_veda_shook_president_honors_retiring_pat_friend_for_lif/ The AFA-CWA Board of Directors has elected Veda Shook as international president; she will take office when current President Patricia Friend retires Dec. 31 after 15 years of leadership. Retirement Security, Women 2010-04-29T13:26:38+00:00 http://www.cwa-union.org/news/entry/overview_of_the_patient_protection_and_affordable_care_act_of_2010/ http://www.cwa-union.org/news/entry/overview_of_the_patient_protection_and_affordable_care_act_of_2010/ A presentation for CWA leaders on the benefits of health care reform for CWA members and retirees. Retired Members Council, Health Care, Retirement Security 2010-04-09T18:20:25+00:00 http://www.cwa-union.org/news/entry/Windstream_Sues_Retirees_for_Objecting_to_Health_Care_Cuts/ http://www.cwa-union.org/news/entry/Windstream_Sues_Retirees_for_Objecting_to_Health_Care_Cuts/ In an outrageous tactic, Windstream is suing dozens of retirees who objected to the company's plans to cut back or eliminate their promised health care benefits. CWA represents more than 1,300 employees and 3,000 retirees at the company. Collective Bargaining Rights and Organizing, Retired Members Council, Health Care, Retirement Security, Telecommunications 2010-04-08T15:38:12+00:00 http://www.cwa-union.org/news/entry/health_care_reform_and_retirees/ http://www.cwa-union.org/news/entry/health_care_reform_and_retirees/ There's some confusion out there regarding health care reform and retiree prescription drug coverage. It's important to get the facts, not the spin that some people are trying to sell. Retired Members Council, Health Care, Retirement Security 2010-04-01T20:50:29+00:00 http://www.cwa-union.org/news/entry/health_care_reform_and_medicare_retiree_drug_subsidy/ http://www.cwa-union.org/news/entry/health_care_reform_and_medicare_retiree_drug_subsidy/ CWA members have many questions about the recent news stories about retiree health care and charges that companies took on their financial statements in response to the health care reform legislation recently signed into law. As these are somewhat complicated issues, we have prepared a detailed fact sheet which lays out the policy issues and an explanation. Retired Members Council, Health Care, Retirement Security 2010-04-01T19:25:43+00:00 http://www.cwa-union.org/news/entry/q_a_can_state_governments_just_legislate_pension_changes/ http://www.cwa-union.org/news/entry/q_a_can_state_governments_just_legislate_pension_changes/ A member asks: How are these state governments able to legislate changes to vesting schedules and formula calculations without someone challenging in a federal tax court hearing on defined benefit plan qualifications? Bob Patrician, a CWA research economist, answers. Retirement Security 2010-02-26T19:10:16+00:00 http://www.cwa-union.org/news/entry/NABET-CWA_President_John_Clark_to_Retire/ http://www.cwa-union.org/news/entry/NABET-CWA_President_John_Clark_to_Retire/ NABET-CWA President John Clark will retire at the end of January, winding up 43 years in the union he joined while working at NBC Radio in New York City. Clark was working as a vacation relief engineer at the radio network when he joined NABET Local 11 in 1967 (now NABET-CWA Local 51011.) Retirement Security 2010-01-07T19:04:23+00:00