CWA Local 4502 urges our membership to vote No on Issue 7. This issue would remove $87 million dollars from the City’s General Fund. This would mean the loss of services and jobs. Save jobs and services to the City of Columbus customers by voting No on Issue 7.
Last night at the City of Columbus council meeting, President Wilson was invited to speak on behalf of our membership in support of frontline workers to receive hazard pay. Needless to say, she was very well received. The legislation was approved to issue one-time hazard payments to frontline city employees in an amount up to $1,000.00 per employee. All the details have not been worked out and we will be providing updates as they become available.
Healthcare Insurance Information
July 15, 2021
Some employees in July received a letter concerning step therapy changes beginning September 1, 2021. This letter was sent in error by UHC. There is a letter being sent advising employees to disregard the previous letter with an apology for the error and any confusion.
HOWEVER, if you receive a letter in August, please follow the directions provided in the letter. The first letter was sent to a broader number of employees and did not necessarily apply. As per UHC, the August letter will be sent to only those that are impacted by plan changes.
Introduced in House (01/04/2021)
Social Security Fairness Act of 2021
This bill repeals provisions that reduce Social Security benefits for individuals who receive other benefits, such as a pension from a state or local government.
The bill eliminates the government pension offset, which in various instances reduces Social Security survivors’ benefits for spouses, widows, and widowers who also receive government pensions of their own.
The bill also eliminates the windfall elimination provision, which in some instances reduces Social Security benefits for individuals who also receive a pension or disability benefit from an employer that did not withhold Social Security taxes.
These changes are effective for benefits payable after December 2021.
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Contact your Congress Representive or Senator and ask them to support this bill.
We are pleased to announce that the City was willing to work with us on a settlement to resolve the Union Grievance concerning Merit Pay.
If the contract is ratified (voting March 8 from noon through March 10 noon) the City has agreed to settle the Union Grievance concerning Merit Pay by lifting the freeze on merit pay increase retroactively to January 1, 2021.
Based upon the risk inherent in arbitrating this grievance, the union believes the settlement is in the best interest of the bargaining unit because it guarantees bargaining unit employees the opportunity to receive a 2020 merit pay increase in 2021, in addition to removing the freeze on merit pay increases. Employees must be employed by the City and have met the merit requirements.
In June 2020 we heard from members who received text messages on their personal cell phones from the Freedom Foundation. Now (December 2020) they are pursuing members through their work email.
The Freedom Foundation wants to take away our ability to negotiate for better wages and benefits and have a secure retirement. This is our next Senate Bill 5. But just like Senate Bill 5, Ohioans aren’t buying what they’re selling. Ohio voters overwhelming repealed that damaging, anti-worker law. Ohio’s unions, including CWA, have continued to fight and win better compensation, benefits and working conditions for the employees we represent. That is why the Freedom Foundation is targeting union members like you.
The Freedom Foundation is telling members they can drop out of the union and still get all of the benefits without paying dues. But we know that’s not a winning strategy. Our members understand that strength at the bargaining table requires the membership to stand in solidarity with one another and their union. That is especially important as we get ready to start negotiations over your pay, benefits and working conditions with the City of Columbus. Each one of us needs to stick together in support of our union and to protect our bargaining rights.
If you are contacted by an anti-union pusher from the Freedom Foundation, don’t sign anything and ask them to remove you from their list. If you receive an email from this deceptive organization, forward it to [email protected] You can also visit https://weareohio.com/ for more information. In order to fight back, tell your co-workers about how the Freedom Foundation is threatening everyone’s wages, benefit and working conditions. Most importantly, stay involved in CWA Local 4502. It’s your Union and we need to keep it strong for all of us.
Review the Letter from President Susan Wilson for more background information, who this organization is and how they got your personal information. NOTE: This letter was mailed to all CWA Local 4502 members in February 2020.
Recently (June 2020) we have heard from members who have received text messages on their personal cell phones from the Freedom Foundation.
The Freedom Foundation wants to take away our ability to negotiate for better wages and benefits and have a secure retirement. This is our next Senate Bill 5. But just like Senate Bill 5, Ohioans aren’t buying what they’re selling. Ohio voters overwhelming repealed that damaging, anti-worker law. Ohio’s unions, including CWA, have continued to fight and win better compensation, benefits and working conditions for the employees we represent. That is why the Freedom Foundation is targeting union members like you.
The Freedom Foundation is telling members they can drop out of the union and still get all of the benefits without paying dues. But we know that’s not a winning strategy. Our members understand that strength at the bargaining table requires the membership to stand in solidarity with one another and their union. That is especially important as we get ready to start negotiations over your pay, benefits and working conditions with the City of Columbus. Each one of us needs to stick together in support of our union and to protect our bargaining rights.
If you are contacted by an anti-union pusher from the Freedom Foundation, don’t sign anything and ask them to remove you from their list. If you receive an email from this deceptive organization, forward it to [email protected] You can also visit https://weareohio.com/ for more information. In order to fight back, tell your co-workers about how the Freedom Foundation is threatening everyone’s wages, benefit and working conditions. Most importantly, stay involved in CWA Local 4502. It’s your Union and we need to keep it strong for all of us.
Review the Letter from President Susan Wilson for more background information, who this organization is and how they got your personal information. NOTE: This letter was mailed to all CWA Local 4502 members in February 2020.