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9/1/2012

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Ginny

9/1/2012 01:07:39 am

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Heather Urquhart Ledbetter link

10/15/2016 02:28:29 pm

Hello - My father Bruce H. Urquhart was a proud member of IBEW/Local 2222 for many years. Bruce worked for the phone company for 35 years and retired in mid-1990's, but he was always very proud to be a Union member and of his work at the Telephone company, Bruce served as an Agent and also Vice President of Local 2222, as well as a delegate for the AFL-CIO in late 1970’s and early 1980’s. Bruce passed October 11, 2016 and is survived by his loving family at his side. We will miss this gentle giant as a kinder man has yet to be found. Obituary details below:

URQUHART, Bruce H. 77, of Franklin, MA, passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday, October 11, 2016 with loving family by his side. He is the beloved husband for 55 years of Bernardine M. (McCabe) Urquhart. Born in Boston, MA on February 1, 1939, he is the son of the late Henry and Marie A. (Muller) Urquhart. He is the loving father of Heather U. Ledbetter and her husband, John of Norfolk, MA, and Jennifer M. Gosselin and her husband, Leonard of Uxbridge, MA. He leaves his brothers, Wayne Urquhart and his wife, Holly of Ashland, MA and Donald Urquhart and his wife, Cathy of Easton, MA. A resident of Franklin formerly of Mashpee, Bellingham and Needham where he attended Needham High School. He enlisted the United States Navy in submarine service serving on the USS Sunbird and the Naval Reserve. He was employed by New England Telephone as a data line installer and repairman retiring in 1998. Retiring to Mashpee, he enjoyed boating, fishing, was an avid reader of non-fiction and was a Civil War History buff. He also was an animal lover. Mr. & Mrs. Urquhart enjoyed traveling especially cruises after retirement. In retirement he took on the job of Santa Claus at the Cape Cod Mall and he looked the part, standing 6’3” and well over 200 lbs. with a white beard. A loving and devoted husband and father, he will be greatly missed. Funeral will be held on Monday, October 17th at 9:00 AM from Cartier's Funeral Home, 151 So. Main St. (Rte. 126), BELLINGHAM, MA with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00AM at St. Mary's Church, 1 Church Square, Franklin, MA. Interment will follow at the Massachusetts National Cemetery, Bourne, MA at 12:45PM. Visiting hours are on Sunday, October 16th from 4:00PM to 7:00PM at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers donations in memory of Bruce H. Urquhart to Smile Train, P.O. Box 96231, Washington, DC 20090-6231 or www.smiletrain.org would be appreciated. To sign guest book visit www.cartiersfuneralhome.com
Published in The Boston Globe on Oct. 14, 2016

Gordon Borges link

9/1/2012 03:35:07 am

Hi My name is Gordon Borges, a retiree in Calif at IBEW Local 1245
Thanks to the cooperation of Ginny & your board I'm permitted to post a description of our Local dilemma. Simply put our union democracy is not a democracy at all. The prerequisite of a FREE
PRESS is non-existant. Letter to editor & mrmbership debate on
union policy is not tolerated. In our 7/25/12 table agreement vote
49% of members rejected the benefit package approved by the negotiating committee. Worse yet, hundreds, perhaps thousands,
boycotted the vote ! !
So much for now. I will be please to tell you
' The Rest of the Story ' if your interested ? ? ? .
By the way , The table agreement provides a $ 85 stipend for those that retired in 1986 or before ? ? (a HEREAFTER benefit !)
Thank you for your time. I hope you were not borede
Gordon

boycotted the ballotbox
a FREE PRESS. Any attempt to debate Union policy among our
members is not tolerated in the Utility Reporter or the Loca website l ? ?

JEFF

9/1/2012 10:22:01 am

I LIKE TO HERE MORE OUR RETIREES HAVN'T RECIEVED A RAISE SINCE 1984
WE ARE LUCK THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO PAY FOR MEDICAL
ACORDING TO IBEW LOCAL 2321 N.H.
WITH THE RAISING COST OF THINGS MY WIFE AND I FIND IT HARD TO ENJOY OUR GOLDEN YEARS

william phillips link

9/1/2012 11:01:40 am

The phone co. and utility{pacific gas & electric} our retirements dont
even come close to the public sector retirements,and a lot of them
was 20 years svc.or 55 which comes first at any where from 75% to
100% of their base pay,plus eye and dental coverage with medical
and some no co-payment.

Gordon Borges link

9/2/2012 12:22:15 am

Hi Jeff
I've been retired for 24 years. Never has a annual cost of living raise been considered, much less given. My medical cost run $520 a month for private insurnce plus the cost of medicare, another $200 a month. Our union has approximately 19,000.members, our retiree count is uncertain but it's huge. I have contended that while on the job our
retiree contributed billion of dollare only to be considered an after thought during negotiation ? ? Many of us are union dues paying member of the IBEW brotherhood.?
Anyway,good luck You are fortunate to have such a well organized Retiree Club
Gordon

Jeff

9/2/2012 12:59:05 am

I hope this time around the union could at least get us a cost of living raise. We all support our union here. We still join them on the pick lines and will continue to do that. But I hear you !!! We are still an after thought when it comes to the contract.
Our brothers and sister need to unite across the board.

Dan

9/2/2012 01:32:25 am

YOU WILL GET A KICK OUT OF THIS

Arnold " Skip " Trivigino

This is my sad tale of New Jersey Bell to Verizon. I took a buy-out in Nov. 2003. Couldn't take anymore.

"Ode To Ma Bell "

Many years I spent at Bell.
Lot's of stories I could tell.
Winter, Summer, Spring and Fall,
I've worked my tail off thru them all.

Then the break-up of Eighty Four.
No one seemed to care anymore.
Bell Atlantic's now the name.
But things just didn't seem the same.

CEO and his partners grabbed all the loot,
But about us workers... no one gave a hoot.
Oh wait...something new...Verizon's the name.
Stock's going down - the union we'll blame.

GTE and Verizon, what a nice mix.
Dump our employees. That's a good fix.
Once we cared about customers, one and all.
Now we push cell-phones in stalls at the mall.

Arnold " Skip " Trivigino
Repairman/ Maint. Splicer
1970-2003 Now playing golf...

Ray NY

9/7/2012 07:05:16 pm

Just found this site very informative
keep up the good work

Tony boston ma

9/7/2012 07:07:22 pm

Has anyone ask the union about retirees cost of living

Ray Ny

9/7/2012 07:09:26 pm

Hi pal from boston I called our union CWA and they could careless about our retirees

Tony

9/7/2012 07:11:27 pm

I guess the retirees once again well get screwed by the verizon and the Union IBEW

Ray

9/7/2012 07:12:45 pm

Ihavn't gotting a raise in so long I Had to send my wife and dog to work HaHa !

Tony

9/7/2012 07:18:20 pm

I wish I had a wife and dog to send out. Ray how old are you I'm
78 yrs old was a repairman in Boston for 47 yrs worked hard
for telephone co. You think they at least give us a $20.00 a month raise thats $.66 cent a day Us retirees should be worth that don't u think

Ray

9/7/2012 07:21:59 pm

I'm 73 yrs old . i've never seen a raise I can tell you this the union suck when it comes to the retirees.
But i do find this site in formative and it looks like they have fun.
Are you a member

Tony

9/7/2012 07:23:42 pm

No. but I plan to be one I just downloaded and printed the membership card will send in today

Ray

9/7/2012 07:26:45 pm

I wonder if the would let out of state telephone people to join
my son lives in Belmont, ma I go there every summer to visit for a couple of weeks I would like to go to the Races next year maybe we can meet

Tony

9/7/2012 07:29:04 pm

You should contact them and ask if you can join if so let me know via this blog and i will meet you at the track
ihave to go now bye

Ray

9/7/2012 07:29:32 pm

See ya Pal

Ginny

9/8/2012 10:51:33 am

Ray
yes you can join
just click on the button membership
print it out
fill it out and send to MaryAnn the address is on that page
thanks for joining
Ginny

Ray

9/9/2012 03:45:40 pm

Ginny if you are head of this web site I thank you for responding and i will send my money i to join
hopfully i will see you all at the track next time
God Bless

Gordon Borges link

9/13/2012 10:47:34 pm

Hi Gordon Borges here at Local 1245 in Calif.
The treatment of retirees is considered intolerable by many.
So much so we have intiated a campaign to vote the business
manage out of office in June of 2013. This means support from
active employees who vote. It will be a huge job but we are
giving it our best shot
I will continue to update you as things develop

Gordon Borges link

9/16/2012 02:32:24 pm

Hi Gordon Borges here
This is what I do when I'm not avocating the retiree
cause
I have maintained a Fitness Regimen for sixty years
Permit me to share this fitness effort at my non-profit
website http://mrfitness101.tripod.com
In Unity - Gordon

Amy

9/16/2012 05:46:35 pm

Hello Everyone
I'm new to this site great front page
9/11 movie was righr on
kept up the good work
Amy from CWA NY

Tom

9/21/2012 03:02:37 am

I we going to have a meeting about the contract

Ginny

9/21/2012 03:36:01 am

Yes sometime in Oct Marty Qinn and Myles are arranging it.
the Myles is going to help pay for it.
Ginny Twrc

liz

9/21/2012 03:04:50 am

Hi Tom I was wondering that to.
Do you think we have to pay for it
I hope we don't
Liz from waltham

Tom

9/21/2012 03:07:10 am

Hi Liz
I can't seem to find anything on the web about retirees paying or not
I hope IBEW didn't screw us. Did you take a pension or buy out
Tom from newton

Liz

9/21/2012 03:10:54 am

I took a pension and my husband took a buy out
we have 4 kids the last one just grag. for salem state thank god!
He had to take a buy to pay for the shcool. We are on a tight buget

Tom

9/21/2012 03:13:05 am

Maybe we got a raise Ha Ha !
or more likely a boot in the ass from Verizon and the Union

Tony from boston

9/21/2012 03:16:32 am

Hi guys
I too took a pension. But if we have to pay I was wondering the people who took a buy out how will Verizon get the money from them

Liz

9/21/2012 03:18:04 am

Hi Tony
good question ???? Too bad Myles isn't on this blog to answer this question

Tom

9/21/2012 03:21:50 am

Hi tony
That is a great question that no one seem s to have an answer to. But you can bet they will find away !!!!
I hope we don't have to pay
but i guess that unlikely.
So be prepared to bend over for the kick in the ass because its going to HURT !!!!!!

Mary from Andover

9/21/2012 03:31:34 am

Gee Tom
You got me upset I've been screwed by the union many times
being an M.A. they screwed my job and forced me to retire
Myles and that F&%k Adle ( every clerk remenbers her) did away with our jobs. Knowing that let me tell you the IBEW will see to it
that we pay and tell us were luck just so they can get a big raise for techs not inside people WAKE up PEOPLE !!!

Liz

9/21/2012 03:38:50 am

Saw your post Ginny are you online with us

Ginny

9/21/2012 03:39:26 am

yes for a little while

Tom

9/21/2012 03:39:58 am

Hi ginny

Ginny

9/21/2012 03:40:23 am

Hi Everyone

Ginny

9/21/2012 03:41:41 am

Please don't ask me anything about the contract. I'm in the dark too.

Mary

9/21/2012 03:49:11 am

Hi Ginny
this is Mary a friend of your Aunt Joan Rossi Who worked in the business office. I still think of her we use to go out a lot she had the best laugh and she love you. She would tell us of the jokes you use to play on your Mon and Dad I heard that they both had passed.
I bet you Joan and your Mom and Dad are all in Heaven looking down So proud of you

Ginny

9/21/2012 03:50:58 am

Thanks Mary
I miss them all too.

Tony

9/21/2012 03:52:14 am

Hi ginny
will you be posting the meeting on the web

Ginny

9/21/2012 03:54:11 am

Yes and we will be sending postcards out to our paid members
I have to go now BYE!

Tony

9/21/2012 03:55:43 am

Bye Ginny
God Bless !

Liz

9/21/2012 03:54:55 am

bye ginny keep up the great work

Tom

9/21/2012 03:56:37 am

Hey that was nice of her to come online with us

Mary

9/21/2012 03:59:03 am

She is a really nice person totally deicated to helping people
I know she think very highly of Myles

Liz

9/21/2012 03:59:50 am

see you guys

tom

9/21/2012 04:00:21 am

me bye

ginny

9/22/2012 01:14:25 am

A question was asked of me.
Did I know anything about the retirees medical on the contract ?
My Answer was.

I don’t know much of anything.They are pretty quiet about the whole thing. I think its because they want to get the correct information out there. What I can tell you is that Myles asked for a meeting with all retirees he is paying $1000.00 toward it we will pay the rest. We are now looking for a hall for Oct 18 the day he wants. It will be a two to three hour meeting. Postcards will be sent out. And the information after the meeting will be posted on http://www.twrcma.com/bargaining-updates.html also we will send out emails. So it is important that people send in their email addresses to me if they are not attending.

Ginny Rossi

dan link

9/23/2012 05:16:17 am

Ginny according to that CWA contract highlights that was on our retirees club under the locals website it said on page 3 second from the bottom sentence *ANY RETIREE WHO LEAVES SERVICE BEFORE 1/1/2013 WILL NOT BE REQUIRED TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE COST OF RETIREE MEDICAL CARE.

dan link

9/23/2012 06:59:50 am

Ginny and others, according to some of the other LOCALS like LOCAL 2325 IBEW they are reporting the same thing .....*ANY MEMBER RETIRED BEFORE JANUARY 1, 2013 will NOT be subject to healthcare premiums......As far as any changes to the medical plan in regards to CO -PAY ,deductibles and hospital room and board we will have to wait for the meeting ....

ginny

9/24/2012 09:33:16 am

dan
DAN WHAT YOU ARE SAYING ISN'T TRUE FOR HEATHCARE !!!!

I just got the word from Myles
if you are a retiree on an HMO you will be paying for your Heathcare $67.50 a month (hmo are united heathcare, tuft prefered etc)
To be save pick a heathcare plan under the HCN

dan link

9/24/2012 09:50:04 am

as stated in my remarks according to the CWA highlights posted on the TWRC /LOCAL 2222 website and LOCAL 2325 IBEW central Ma. website that is what they reported and I said you will have to wait and attend the meeting for any changes to medical plan ....

dan link

9/24/2012 10:35:21 am

SO WHAT THE CWA HIGHLIGHTS POSTED ON TELEPHONE WORKERS RETIREE CLUB AND THE LOCAL 2325 IBEW HIGHLIGHTS ISN'T COMPLETELY ACCURATE BUT IT IS ACCURATE FOR RETIREES ENROLLED IN THE MEP/PPO OR THE HCN .. BUT NOT TRUE FOR RETIREES ENROLLED IN A HMO...

dan link

9/24/2012 12:15:28 pm

never once did I state anything it was according to and as reported by CWA and LOCAL 2325 ,you or I cant control what is accurate on LOCAL 2325 website but on the TELEPHONE WORKER'S RETIREE CLUB website YOU can as EDITOR and the CWA highlights that is posted on that site under BARGAINING UPDATE is not 100% TRUE

GINNY

9/24/2012 05:32:02 pm

SORRY IF I OFFENDED YOU DAN DIDN'T MEAN TO JUST WANTED IT TO BE A SHORT MESSAGE AND TO THE POINT

NOW THIS IS WHY I WAITED TILL I SAW THE CONTRACT FOR MYSELF.
I QUESTION MYLES ON THIS. SOMETIME WHAT HAPPENS IS WHEN THEY THINK OF RETIREES THEY THINK WE ARE ALL AGE 65 AND ON MEDICARE. WHICH ISN’T TRUE.
NOW I’M LEARNING THAT SOME PARTS OF THE CONTRACT ARE STILL NOT SETTLE WHAT THEY HAVE SETTLE IS THE MAJOR PARTS.
BUT THIS PART OF THE MEDICAL WAS NOT.
MYLES TOLD ME THAT IT WOULD BE WISE IF EVERYONE PICK A HEALTHCARE PROVIDER UNDER HCN TILL THIS WAS SETTLED.
YOU CAN CHANGE YOUR MEDICARE AT ANYTIME

OUR MEETING ISN'T GOING TO BE TILL THE END OF OCT. MYLES IS HAVING TROUBLE GETTING A HALL FOR US.
SO I HOPE MOST OF THIS GETS OUT TO PEOPLE BEFORE THE RATIFICATION

dan link

9/24/2012 07:59:12 pm

Its not a case of being offended its a case of what is being stated on websites and I repeat according to CWA highlights on the T W R C site it states on page 3 second * from the bottom = Any retiree who leaves service before January 1 ,2013 will not be required to contribute to the cost of retiree medical care....

GINNY

9/24/2012 08:15:51 pm

GOOD MORNING DAN !
HOW ARE YOU DOING TODAY !

I POSTED THE CONTRACT FOR ALL TO READ
FOLLOW THIS LINK
YOU CAN PRINT IT OUT
I WARN YOU ITS 64 PAGES
http://www.twrcma.com/bargaining-updates.html

dan link

9/23/2012 02:43:31 pm

In answer to Tony in Boston if you had to pay you would be sent a BILL monthly the same way the company does it for the supplementary life insurance and the company would probably contract it out to Hewitt associates the same people that you call with benefit problems. But as stated by CWA and Local 2325 there appears to be no healthcare premiums for retirees ....As far as any changes to your medical plan in other words co-pay, deductible, hospital room and board and prescription drug plan you will have to attend the meeting to find out........

TOM

9/24/2012 04:50:07 am

2) Retirees with Net Credited Service Date Before August 3, 2008 and who Retired After January 1, 1992. Any Covered Retiree with a Net Credited Service Date, as defined in the Pension Plan, before August 3, 2008 and who retired after January 1, 1992 will be required to contribute to obtain retiree medical coverage. The minimum contribution for retiree medical coverage will be required on an after-tax basis.
a. Contributions for Retiree Medical Coverage.
(i) Such Covered Retiree who enrolls in any Option under the VMEP other than the HCN Option or the Health Care PPO Option, such as an HMO option or the EPO Option (“Other Medical Option”) will pay a monthly contribution, on an after-tax basis, towards the cost of coverage for the medical coverage category elected by such Covered Retiree. These contributions will commence on January 1, 2013. The monthly contribution rate for such Other Medical Option may vary by option but will be no greater than the monthly contribution rate for the applicable Plan Year set forth below; provided that the monthly contribution rate for Medicare-eligible Covered Retirees will be no greater than 50% of such rates:
2013 2014 2015
Retiree Only $67.50 $75 $82.50
Retiree + 1 $105 $115 $125
Retiree + Family $135 $150 $165

Gordon post 1245

9/24/2012 05:41:21 am

A Union Democracy in The Making

The Tea Party is, without question, the biggest peril to collective bargaing. However, our problems runs much deeper. When the private sector union participation nationwide plummets to it’s lowest point in more than 70+ years it’s time to look within . Our recent 7/25/12 election is a vivid example of this problem where hundreds, perhaps thousand, of our Local 1245 brethren boycotted the vote To illustrate, the table agreement denies new hires traditional health Care benefits ? Abusive takeaways continue in 2013
49% OF OUR VOTING BROTHERS & SISTERS REJECTED THE BENEFIT PACKAGE..
Dissatisfaction among our members is rampant
These items allude to facts of major importance to active & retired union members TRANSPARENCY IS ESSEMTIAL TO THE INTEGRITY OF OUR REVERED BROTHERHOOD
’ A ‘GAG ‘order of the Utility Reporter has ignored Letters to the Editors repeatedly
This arbitrary decision has stifled an open debate of the administration policies
The outside press is being explored UNION DEMOCRACY IN ACTIOM
DECISION MAKEERS MUST BE ELECTED NOT APPOINED
Membership decision making during negotiations is isolated to Executive Board
appointees, many of which, ‘ innocently ‘ follow their professional leader.
In brief, our leadership has cajoled a majority of the negotiating committees
into accepting and recommending our present dillemma
This defies the best interest of our membership.
The negotiating committee should be elected by the membership directly
This will encourage an ‘ independent ‘ approach to their problem solving
UNION DEMOCRACY IN ACTION
OUR HEALTH CAR PLANS HAVE BEEN DISMATLED
Alternatives are now limited to two options
Reduced benefits have occurred in two consecutive negotiations
New hires are victimized by cost cutting measures
It appears that health care as we know it is being phased out, Only adamant
resistance can salvage this hard earned staple
Union leadership must be willing to control negotiations by Flexing their muscles
when required UNION DEMOCRACY IN ACTION
SOLIDARITY IS THE ESSENCE OF OUR BROTHERHOOD
In negotiations All union dues paying members should receive equal treatment
at the bargaining table ?
Our leader forgets that retirees are part of our brotherhood
As it is now retiree benefits are considered separately
This denies retirees any negotiating leverage, hence, minimal benefits ?
The absence of a COLA has had a devastating effect over the years. Many
Pension checks are a mere shadow of there former self. Sporadic Ad Hoc
Increases have been wholly inadequate
These facts are ignored :
1. Our retirees have contributed BILLIONS of dollars into the union
coffers while in the workplace. Local 1245 is what it is today because of
predecessor contributions
2 Many retirees are still dues paying members of Local 1245
The diversity of Local 1245 may have short changed our 12,000 PG&E union members ?
Our union’s large number of participants include workers at Utilities, Irrigation Districts, Municipalities,
Pipe Line Operation, Tree Trimming & much more .
Could it be that local 1245 has become to BIG to manage efficiently ?
These circumstances require NEW LEADERSHIP.
The June 2013 union election of officers is your opportunity to make things right
Chance is in the Wind
Earnest Gibb Boomer Redding/Red Bluff / Clay Phillips Merced. Atwater / Gordon Borges Los Banos

GINNY

9/25/2012 12:08:05 am

THIS IS THE EMAIL I GOT FROM MYLES

There is NO contribution unless you are in the healthcare HMO which you will have an opportunity to get out before Jan 1 2013

Myles Calvey
Business Manager
IBEW 2222
Sent from my iPhone

On Sep 24, 2012, at 3:01 PM, "Ginny Rossi" <[email protected]> wrote:

MYLES
A QUESTION WAS ASKED OF ME ---GINNY

I’M A RETIREE WHO RETIRED IN 1997

I’M NOT ON MEDICARE OR SOCIAL SECURITY RIGHT NOW

I DO NOT CONTRIBUTE MONTHLY TO MY HEALTHCARE
IN MY PENSION FROM VERIZON

WILL I NOW HAVE TO MAKE A MONTHLY PAYMENT OUT OF MY PENSION CHECK
IF SO HOW MUCH

THANK YOU IN ADVANCE

Champion Fence link

1/31/2024 05:42:16 am

Hello Ginny! Is this community still functioning to date?

ginny

1/31/2024 11:15:08 pm

Yes

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