RMO News January, 2009

HAPPY NEW YEAR from RMO President, Leighton Timm

 

We are starting a new year and with it new leadership for our RMO.  Serving for the next term will be Leighton Timm-Local 4603 RMO President, Bonnie Murphy-Vice President and Erich Stapelfeldt-Secretary/ Treasurer.

We certainly want to acknowledge the leadership of Julian Modjeski and Bonnie who have been the catalysts of our RMO’s success thus far.  They are known throughout CWA and the State of Wisconsin for their dedicated work for senior citizens and retired workers.  Julian is no-longer able to lead us.  Our prayers are with him and Bonnie as his illness progresses.

Our goal is to continue their successful programs and work hard to make our RMO stronger.  We need to step-up our membership efforts.  We will stay involved with the groups that speak for seniors and retired people.  We will try to get more people involved in those efforts.  We will actively pursue a stronger unity with other RMOs in Wisconsin and work with our District 4 and national retired member groups.  We want to continue our community service efforts by again participating with Channel 10/36 Auction, Ronald McDonald House and food pantries and homeless shelters.  Our 50/50 drawings have paid for food for Ronald McDonald meals and supported the GED Program at Hope House.  Local 4603 Stewards have led efforts at their work-places, which  have contributed much food and money to food pantries.  I will be looking for volunteers for those projects again.

We are also in the process of revamping our record keeping by putting all of our RMO records on a computer owned by you.  In the past, the records were on our personal computers which then became cumbersome as we changed officers.  Erich and Bonnie have been working closely and we thank her for those countless hours she gave to our records and information in the past. 

We will be trying to keep our membership meetings short but still as informative as possible with information that we think you need.  There will continue to be important handouts at each meeting as well as time for friends to gather.

We wish all of you a Blessed New Year.  Please keep Julian and Bonnie and their families in your prayers.

RMO Secretary/Treasurer’s Report

I would first like to thank all those members present at the last meeting for their confidence in me by electing me to this position. I will do this job to the best of my ability and to maintain the high standards set by Bonnie Murphy.

I ask that you are patient during this transition period, until I get all the pieces of the job figured out. While there should not be any wholesale changes in how we operate, there may be some changes as we go down the road.

         

One of our long range goals however would be to get a broader membership involvement in the RMO. It has always been my belief, that if all help a little, no one person is left doing it all. After all WE ARE UNION.

I may be reached as follows:

                             Erich F. Stapelfeldt                                      414-354-7008

                             8821 W. Greenwood Terrace                      

                             Milwaukee WI  53224-4021

My E-mail is going to change at the end of the month. I will put it in the next issue.

HAPPY NEW YEAR, and HAPPY HOLIDAYS               

2009 Calendars have been mailed to paid-up RMO members. If you haven’t received a calendar, please contact S/T Stapelfeldt to discuss your dues situation.

Please mark the following RMO meeting dates in your calendars:

March 13, 2009 - RMO Executive Board - March 20, 2009 - RMO Membership Meeting

May 8, 2009 - RMO Executive Board - May 15, 2009 - RMO Membership Meeting

Sept. 11, 2009 - RMO Executive Board - Sept. 18, 2009 - RMO Membership Meeting

Nov. 13, 2009 - RMO Executive Board - Nov. 20, 2009 - RMO Membership Meeting

Executive Board meetings are held at 9:30 at the Local 4603 Office,

Watch the WIRETAP for information about the Membership Meetings.

CWA Retired Members Council [RMC]-  Elections were held on the national level for the RMC. A President and Vice President were elected from each of the CWA Districts plus one President and Vice President to represent all the CWA Merger Partners [IUE, TNG, Flight Attendants, Printers, NABET and Public Safety Officers.] Ann Flack and Marcy Gregory were elected President and Vice President to represent us in District 4.

WELCOME to our new members Charles Ksobiech and Anna Ohly.

 

Join the RMO Breakfast Bunch

Dutch Treat

1st Wednesday - 8:30 am

Meyer's 4260 S. 76th St. - next to Pick n' Save.

3rd Tuesday - 8:30 am                                                                    

Denny’s - 11154 W. North Ave

 December 2008 RMO News

Here’s to a Blessed and Safe Christmas and a Great New Year for all of us -

                   from the RMO Executive Board

 

Thank You All - we want to thank Local 4603 and all of our RMO members for their magnificent support and assistance during our time as President and Secretary-Treasurer of the 4603 RMO. We are looking forward to the new ‘administration’ and will remain a part of the CWA Local 4603 Retired Members Organization as Lifetime members no matter where we end up.  Julian and Bonnie

 

WELCOME to our new members Judith Gambino, Dolores Rathmann, and Kathy Atkinson

 

IN MEMORIAM Please remember deceased RMO member Carroll Jakubowski in your prayers.

 

from the Alliance for Retired Americans November 14, 2008

GM Retirees to Lose Health Care Benefits As Company’s Cash Woes Mount
As General Motors (GM) revealed that they are running out of money, company officials announced that they will eliminate lifetime health care for salaried retirees.  Ford and Chrysler made similar cuts last year.  About 100,000 GM retirees will lose their health coverage at the end of 2009, although former factory workers will retain their coverage due to union contracts.  According to The New York Times, to try to ease the transition, 150 informational meetings are scheduled in cities with high concentrations of GM retirees, and a company called Extend Health has been hired to answer questions about Medicare and help with Medicare enrollment.  Monthly pension payments are also being increased by $300.  GM estimates that this move, along with pay and staffing cuts in its current salaried work force, will save the company about $1.5 billion per year.  Leaders in Congress have called for a lame-duck session to consider an auto industry bailout.  "I hope President Bush doesn't make the mistake of trying to prevent the auto industry from getting this needed aid," said Ruben Burks, Secretary-Treasurer of the Alliance.

 

Join the RMO Breakfast Bunch

Dutch Treat

All Are Welcome

1st Wednesday - 8:30 am

Meyer's 4260 S. 76th St. -  next to Pick n' Save.

3rd Tuesday - 8:30 am                                                                    

Denny’s - 11154 W. North Ave

 

 

November 2008 RMO News

RMO MEMBERSHIP MEETING and LUNCH

Friday, November 21, 2008  at

Meyers Family Restaurant, 4260 S. 76th. St.

Business Meeting begins at 11 A.M. Sharp!

On the Agenda, RMO Officer Elections

Nominated for President, Leighton Timm

Secretary/Treasurer, Erich Stapelfeldt

No Nomination for the Vice President Position

 

Lunch Menu: All You Can Eat Baked or Fried Fish and Baked Chicken. Cost: To Current RMO Members plus 1 guest (includes associate members) $5.00 per person.  Prices include tip & tax.

Reservations for Lunch Are Needed! If you plan to attend the meeting and wish to stay for the meal, please send in your reservation before Nov. 16th.  Send your name and $5 per person to Bonnie Murphy, 3679 S 32nd Street, Greenfield, WI 53221. Checks payable to CWA Local 4603 RMO.  After Nov. 16th, call or email Bonnie at 414-672-8759, bemurphy41@sbcglobal.net.

 

WELCOME to our new members Kenneth Weske, John Sierpinski and Carl Wagner.

 

From the Alliance for American Retirees

Benefits for Social Security Recipients, Federal Retirees to Increase by 5.8%
Following a year of rising food and energy prices, benefits for Social Security recipients and federal government retirees will see a 5.8% increase, the largest cost-of-living adjustment since 1982, in 2009.  Although large compared to last year’s 2.3% increase, many experts believe the rising prices will exceed the increase in benefits.  Nonetheless, if the McCain-supported Social Security privatization initiative of 2005 had not successfully been defeated, seniors would have seen an enormous drop in benefits, not a record increase.  Alliance Secretary-Treasurer Ruben Burks remarked, “As of this week, the Dow is down 35.33% for the year.  If John McCain and George W. Bush had had their way, seniors would have seen a massive reduction in their benefits from Social Security – a far cry from the nearly 6% increase we will enjoy instead.”

 

$2 Trillion Lost in Retirement Accounts, CBO Says - Retirement plans in the U.S. have lost $2 trillion in the past 15 months, the head of the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) reported on Tuesday.  The loss, approximately 20% of total value, is indicative of the severity of the current crisis in the financial industry.  CBO director Peter Orszag said that 10% of this loss was between mid-2007 and mid-2008, with another 10% occurring just in the past three months.  “We have a major retirement crisis in America,” said Alliance Secretary-Treasurer Ruben Burks, adding, “Social Security is more important than ever. It is a mystery to me why, in the face of all this, President Bush and Senator McCain want to gamble away a privatized Social Security on the roulette wheel of the stock market.”

 

 

Join the RMO Breakfast Bunch

Dutch Treat

All Are Welcome

1st Wednesday - 8:30 am

Meyer's 4260 S. 76th St. -  next to Pick n' Save.

3rd Tuesday - 8:30 am                                                                    

Denny’s - 11154 W. North Ave

 

 

 

RMO MEMBERSHIP MEETING and LUNCH

Friday, November 21, 2008  at

Meyers Family Restaurant, 4260 S. 76th. St.

Business Meeting begins at 11 A.M. Sharp!

On the Agenda, RMO Officer Elections

Lunch Menu: All You Can Eat Baked or Fried Fish and Baked Chicken. Cost: To Current RMO Members plus 1 guest (includes associate members) $5.00 per person.  Prices include tip & tax.

Reservations for Lunch Are Needed! If you plan to attend the meeting and wish to stay for the meal, please send in your reservation before Nov. 16th.  Send your name and $5 per person to Bonnie Murphy, 3679 S 32nd Street, Greenfield, WI 53221. Checks payable to CWA Local 4603 RMO.  After Nov. 16th, call or email Bonnie at 414-672-8759, bemurphy41@sbcglobal.net.

RMO Officer Nominations were held at the September 19th membership meeting. Former Local 4603 President Leighton Timm was nominated for President, and former 4603 Secretary Erich Stapelfeldt for Secretary/Treasurer. The position of Vice President is vacant. Elections will be held at the November 21st  membership meeting.

From the National Council On Aging

2009 Medicare Premiums and Deductibles Announced - the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services [CMS] announced today that the 2009 Medicare Part B premium will remain at $96.40/month. This is the first year since 2000 that the Part B premium has not increased. Part B covers the cost of physicians' services, outpatient hospital services, certain home health services, durable medical equipment, and other items. 2009 is also the first year that people with income above $85,000 will have to pay the full premium increase.

          In 2009, the Part B deductible will be $135, the same as it was in 2008. The Part B deductible is tied to the percentage increase in the Part B premium. Since there was no Part B premium increase, the Part B deductible rate remains the same as well.

          The Part A deductible has increased to $1,068 in 2009. This is an increase of $44 (from $1,024 in 2008). Part A is responsible for inpatient hospital, skilled nursing facility, hospice, and certain home health care services. The Part A deductible is the only cost for beneficiaries for up to 60 days of Medicare-covered inpatient hospital care in a benefit period. There is an additional cost for days 61-90 ($267/day). After 90 days, people will be required to pay $534/day.

CWA District 4 – Retired Members Council Newsletter - August , 2008

A. 2008 CWA Focus - CWA is specifically focused on 3 important issues for 2008/2009 = Health Care, Retirement Security and Employee Free Choice [to legally have the right to form and join a union].

          This 3 part focus roles right on into the November Elections and on into 2009 Bargaining where many of our Companies are continuing to refuse to bargain for retirees.  Both retirees and active working folks are struggling to maintain health care coverage [if they even have it] and to maintain their independence in retirement. 

          We need to elect a congress and a President who will pass family friendly legislation on health care, retirement security and allow the formation of unions to help further economic stimulus. 

          Based on our issues and how the two candidates for President have voted in the past; CWA endorsed Senator Obama as the candidate we believe will take us in a family friendly direction for workers.

          This needs to be the year of the workers… of the middle class; not the corporate rich.

          Don’t let the news media sway your thinking or your vote or tell you what the issues are.  We need to vote on OUR ISSUES… Healthcare, Retirement Security and Jobs. THESE ARE OUR MORAL ISSUES.

B. ALSUP Letters – Legacy SBC Retirees -    Letters/Questionnaires from a Company named Alsup are in some our retirees’ homes. The idea is to help you qualify for Social Security Disability [SSDBI] if you are or have recently become disabled [thereby increasing your monthly income from Social Security].  However; by qualifying for SSDBI; you would also then qualify for Medicare no matter what your age is.  Medicare pays the bills first thereby saving the Company money as well.

If you are not disabled; just call the number on the letter and tell them that so you don’t have to fill out the questionnaire.  If you are disabled it may be in your best interest to qualify for SSDBI; depending on your situation.

WELCOME to our new members; Barbara Dauer, Henry Kroeger and Marilyn Marcou.

IN MEMORIAM - Please remember RMO Charter Member Heinz Hinz in your prayers.

 

Join the RMO Breakfast Bunch

Dutch Treat

All Are Welcome

1st Wednesday - 8:30 am

Meyer's 4260 S. 76th St. -  next to Pick n' Save.

3rd Tuesday - 8:30 am                                                                    

Denny’s - 11154 W. North Ave

 

September RMO Report

RMO MEMBERSHIP MEETING and LUNCH

Friday, September 19, 2008  at

Meyers Family Restaurant, 4260 S. 76th. St.

Business Meeting begins at 11 A.M. Sharp!

Nominations for RMO President, Vice President and S/T will be held at this meeting and we will have a guest speaker from the WI Alliance for Retired Americans who will talk about state and federal campaign issues that impact seniors.

     Lunch Menu: All You Can Eat Baked or Fried Fish and Baked Chicken. Cost: To Current RMO Members plus 1 guest (includes associate members) $5.00 per person.  Prices include tip & tax. Reservations for Lunch Are Needed! If you plan to attend the meeting and wish to stay for the meal, please send in your reservation before Sept.12th.  Send your name and $5 per person to Bonnie Murphy, 3679 S 32nd Street, Greenfield, WI 53221. Checks payable to CWA Local 4603 RMO.  After Sept 12th, call or email Bonnie at 414-672-8759, bemurphy41@sbcglobal.net.

 

Verizon-East Tentative Settlement - According to CWA, “A new tentative three-year contract settlement with Verizon achieves union employees' major goals of promoting union jobs and expanding bargaining rights, providing good health care for both active and retired workers, and increasing wages and pensions for 65,000 workers from Virginia to Maine, the Communications Workers of America and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers reported.”

Here is a summary of the bargained Retiree Health Benefits:
a. Fully paid, no retiree pays during life of agreement
b. Any changes in future health benefit plans for retirees will be negotiated with the Union in the same manner as that for actives and for future retirees.
c. No current retiree will pay for health coverage through the end of 2011.
d. No active employee who retires during the term of this agreement will pay or health coverage through the end of 2011.
e. Caps on the Company’s contribution to the cost of retiree health coverage in 2012 and after have been raised as follows: Prior to Age 65 and Medicare Eligibility, Retiree Only: $12,580, Retiree + 1 25,160, Retiree + Family 31,450. Age 65 and after and Medicate Eligible, Retiree Only: $ 6,330, Retiree + 1 12,660, Retiree + Family 18,990
f. Employees hired after August 2, 2008 will be covered under a new retiree health program: Once they retire (under the same eligibility requirements as currently required), they will receive an annual payment equal to $430 times years of service (to a maximum of 30 years). The parties will negotiate this amount in future years to reflect changes in the cost of health coverage.

          It took a determined bargaining team supported by very involved and mobilized CWA members and retirees to achieve this contract.  With the same commitment, we can do as well or better for our ATT retirees..

 

Setting the Record Straight - We have received some rather nasty calls from some 4603 retirees who are very upset that CWA is endorsing Obama because they are sure that he will raise their taxes. Evidently they have been listening to McCain ads and talk radio. FactCheck, a web-based nonpartisan group that researches the real facts behind the campaign rhetoric, has posted the following:

“More Tax Deceptions”

August 8, 2008

“McCain misrepresents Obama's tax proposals again. And again, and again.

McCain released three new ads with multiple false and misleading claims about Obama's tax proposals.

1. A TV spot claims Obama once voted for a tax increase "on people making just $42,000 a year." That's true for a single taxpayer, who would have seen a tax increase of $15 for the year – if the measure had been enacted. But the ad shows a woman with two children, and as a single mother, she would not have been affected unless she made more than $62,150. The increase that Obama once supported as part of a Democratic budget bill is not part of his current tax plan anyway.

2. A Spanish-language radio ad claims the measure Obama supported would have raised taxes on "families" making $42,000, which is simply false. Even a single mother with one child would have been able to make $58,650 without being affected. A family of four with income up to $90,000 would not have been affected.

3. The TV ad claims in a graphic that Obama would "raise taxes on middle class." In fact, Obama's plan promises cuts for middle-income taxpayers and would increase rates only for persons with family incomes above $250,000 or with individual incomes above $200,000.

4. The radio ad claims Obama would increase taxes "on the sale of your home." In fact, home-sale profits of up to $500,000 per couple would continue to be exempt from capital gains taxes. Very few sales would see an increase under Obama's proposal to raise the capital gains rate.

5. A second radio ad, in English, says, "Obama has a history of raising taxes" on middle-class Americans. But that's false. It refers to a vote that did not actually result in a tax increase and could not have done so.

            Another McCain ad shows pictures of wind-driven turbines while the narrator says: "Renewable energy to transform our economy, create jobs and energy independence, that's John McCain." But, in fact, his energy plan doesn't specify any new federal spending for renewable energy and says only that he'd "rationalize" existing tax credits to provide incentives. In the past, however, he's opposed extending such tax credits when paid for by tax increases elsewhere.
            The ad also insinuates that Obama would bring "higher taxes" for "your family," another in what has become a pattern of misrepresentations of Obama's tax plan. Obama actually proposes to cut taxes for all but the most affluent families. He wants to restore tax rates to pre-Bush levels only for those making over $250,000 a year.

            These ads continue what's become a pattern of misrepresentation by the McCain campaign about his opponent's tax proposals.”

 

In another posting dated August 14th, FactCheck says, “We are issuing a split decision in the Obama vs. McCain dispute over whether proper tire inflation could save as much oil as expanded offshore drilling is likely to produce. We find that proper tire inflation could save more than a billion gallons of fuel per year and do it several years sooner than expanded drilling could produce a single drop. McCain has exaggerated by representing Obama's suggestion as a silly notion or implying that it constitutes his entire energy policy. But we also figure that expanded offshore drilling is projected to produce far more oil eventually than can be saved by proper tire inflation – nearly three times as much even by the conservative estimate of government experts, and more than 10 times as much if an industry-endorsed estimate is correct. And even taking into account additional fuel savings from tune-ups, which Obama also mentioned, he greatly exaggerated.“

We do plan to make FactCheck articles on both Presidential candidates available to our RMO Email List after the Republican and Democratic conventions.

         

 Another Successful 4603 picnic - Our thanks to Local 4603 and the Picnic Committee for the fun and food enjoyed by retirees and their families at the annual picnic.  Nobody should have gone home hungry!

 

Check out the CWA Retired Members’ Council website http://www.cwa-union.org/rmc

 

WELCOME to our new members Mary Deering and Kathy Kunkel.

 

IN MEMORIAM   Please remember deceased RMO member Joseph Dziengel in your prayers.

 

Join the RMO Breakfast Bunch

1st Wednesday - 8:30 am

Meyer's 4260 S. 76th St. -  next to Pick n' Save.

3rd Tuesday - 8:30 am                                                                     

Denny’s - 11154 W. North Ave

 

RMO MEMBERSHIP MEETING and LUNCH

Friday, September 19, 2008  at

Meyers Family Restaurant

4260 S. 76th. St.

Business Meeting begins at 11 A.M. Sharp!

Nominations for RMO President, Vice President and S/T will be held at this meeting and we will have a guest speaker from the WI Alliance for Retired Americans who will talk about state and federal campaign issues that impact seniors.

    

Lunch Menu: All You Can Eat Baked or Fried Fish and Baked Chicken. Cost: To Current RMO Members plus 1 guest (includes associate members) $5.00 per person.  Prices include tip & tax. Reservations for Lunch Are Needed! If you plan to attend the meeting and wish to stay for the meal, please send in your reservation before Sept.12th.  Send your name and $5 per person to Bonnie Murphy, 3679 S 32nd Street, Greenfield, WI 53221. Checks payable to CWA Local 4603 RMO.  After Sept 12th, call or email Bonnie at 414-672-8759, bemurphy41@sbcglobal.net.

 

Bush Makes Good on Veto Threat - President Bush went through with his threat to veto the Medicare Bill, H.R. 6331, which will stave off a 10% reduction in reimbursement to physicians and change the Medicare Advantage programs so that more money goes to seniors and not to large insurance companies. But, thanks to all of you who contacted your Senators and members of Congress, that veto was overridden by a hefty 383 to 41 in the House [Sensenbrenner the lone Wisconsin Congressman voting against the override] and 70 to 26 in the Senate [both Wisconsin Senators voting to override].

 

From the National Retired Members’ Council - 2008 National RMC Meeting

The 2008 Retired Members' Council Annual Meeting in Las Vegas set a record for the largest number of attendees ever for such an event. Throughout the day, the 110 chapter delegates, other retirees and guests representing nearly every district and sector in the union heard from many CWA vice presidents who echoed the theme of the Meeting – "We're In This Together" – in the fight for retirement security, health care reform, the passage of the Employee Free Choice Act, the election of larger majorities of worker/retiree-friendly Members of Congress, and making Barack Obama America's first organizer president.

          In the late morning, President Larry Cohen, then Secretary-Treasurer Easterling and then-Executive Vice President Jeff Rechenbach spoke to the delegates and addressed their questions and concerns.  President Cohen and Secretary-Treasurer Easterling were able to stay for the box lunch provided to the attendees by the Council, and continued to interact with the retirees.

          In the afternoon, the group was given a special retiree-oriented slide show of CWA's campaign "Building a Political Movement" which focused on the twin problems of unions being under assault and the health care crisis. The assembly learned that the decline of union power has matched the decline in benefits, especially in health care. The solution is to pass legislation, the Employee Free Choice Act, to make it easier for workers to gain bargaining rights. Any health care reform proposals must include everyone, control costs, improve quality, have a strong government role and have broad-base tax financing. For more information, please visit http://www.healthcarevoices.org/.

Chapter members will be given the presentation at an upcoming chapter meeting. (For those who are not Chapter members, go to http://www.cwa-union.org/rmc/rmc/rmc-chapters and find one near you.)

          Delegates were actively engaged in the business of the Council. By an overwhelming margin, the delegates voted to revive Journeys, the official publication of the Council, as an electronic newsletter. They requested that future Annual Meeting include workshops on relevant issues such as chapter-building. The Board readily agreed.

Delegates were given information regarding the upcoming elections for Council's Executive Board. Briefly stated, all 18 positions are open, self-nominations are made in September, ballots are mailed in October and counted in November. More details will be in the next issue of Journeys.

          The 2009 Annual Meeting of the Council will take place in Washington, DC in June. The exact date has not yet been established, but will be publicized as soon as it is known.

 

Hey - Lucent Retirees - Carly’s Back! The infamous Carly Fiorina is back in the news, this time as Republican Presidential Candidate John McCain’s economic advisor. She is also on McCain’s short list of Vice President candidates. Let’s look at her long list of ‘qualifications’.

Regardless of how you feel about him, the fact that McCain chooses Carly to be so closely associated with his campaign should not give anyone a warm, fuzzy feeling about what his presidency would be like. The idea of this woman being his running-mate, or even a member of his staff, should invoke feelings of deep mistrust, if not panic. Shades of Chaney!

 

WELCOME to our new members John DeCaire, Lois Schlueter, and Martin Wilke,

 

IN MEMORIAM Please remember RMO member Bob Weber in your prayers.

 

Join the RMO Breakfast Bunch

Dutch Treat

All Are Welcome

1st Wednesday - 8:30 am

Meyer's 4260 S. 76th St. -  next to Pick n' Save.

3rd Tuesday - 8:30 am                                                                     

Denny’s - 11154 W. North Ave

 

 

 

Retired Members’ Organization Report June, 2008

Next RMO membership Meeting

September 19, 2008. The usual details will appear in the August RMO Report.

AT&T Telephone Concession

We have heard from our District 6 RMC President  Bobby Brown that at&t is working on a new concession package. No details yet - hopefully it’s just folding in BellSouth and legacy at&t.

AT&T Benefit Advocacy Hotline - 210-351-3333

We published this number a few months back, but some of you seemed to have missed it. It’s for problems with benefits that you can’t seem to resolve with Hewitt.  Please save it for future reference.

RMO Elections

Per RMO bylaws, office elections will be held this year, with nominations for President, Vice President and Secretary/Treasurer at the September 19th RMO membership meeting and elections at the November 21st membership meeting.

Support Your Local Union and Enjoy Better TV.

We urge you to switch to our Union product, U-Verse, as it becomes available in your neighborhood. What is U-verse? U-verse is new service from AT&T which combines high speed internet, built-in wireless networking, packages of up to over 300 TV channels, high definition TV service, built-in digital video recording, and other options. 

          AT&T Technicians who are members of CWA Local 4603 in Milwaukee provide installation and repair for U-verse products in the Milwaukee area. Customer Care professionals— also members of CWA—provide phone support for U-verse customers from union call centers.

          As RMO VP Erich Stapelfeldt reported at our last RMO membership meeting, not only is it a superior product with a discount for AT&T [legacy AT&T and SBC] employees and retirees, it provides jobs for our Local. As the traditional “telephone company” shrinks, so do our jobs. Keeping our CWA jobs is vital to our future as retirees. Just ask a Lucent retiree what happens when the workforce is outnumbered by retirees. You lose your power at the bargaining table and in the community. Our benefits become at risk. For information about U-Verse call 888-667-8489 to reach a union customer representative. Be sure to ask about your employee [retiree] discount.  

WELCOME to our new member Catherine Beyer.

IN MEMORIAM  Please remember deceased RMO member Richard Kelley in your prayers

From the Alliance for Retired Americans

Spread the Word - It’s Not Too Late to File for That Economic Stimulus Rebate Check -
Although April 15 has passed, it is not too late to file a tax return in order to collect your stimulus rebate check.  Up to 20 million Americans who rely primarily on Social Security income qualify for a check from the federal government.  Even seniors who do not earn income through current employment can qualify for a stimulus check, if their Social Security benefits, Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits, and railroad retirement benefits totaled at least $3,000 in 2007.  In most cases, retirees will receive an economic stimulus check ranging from $300 to $600.  Seniors need to file a 2007 federal tax return on IRS Form 1040 or 1040A (short form) to receive the check.  Seniors must file a 2007 tax return even if their income is normally low enough that they were not required to file in previous years.  Those who qualify for a stimulus check will receive one by the end of 2008, as long as they file by October 15, 2008 - but no rebate checks will be issued after 2008.

From the Alliance for Retired Americans

Drug Companies to Spend Millions Lobbying at Political Conventions
According to Politico, the pharmaceutical industry will spend upward of $500,000 lobbying politicians and skirting the new rules created by Congress to limit such activity at the national nominating conventions in Denver and Minneapolis-St. Paul.  While ethics restrictions prohibit congressional campaign committees from receiving soft money contributions, the Democratic and Republican governors associations are not bound by the same rules as federal lawmakers and groups.  Capitalizing on this loophole, drug companies such as Merck and AstraZeneca are expected to give $250,000 to the association of each party.  Given recent scrutiny of the pharmaceutical industry, the companies are seeking to spend millions of dollars to influence politicians outside the Beltway and draw less negative attention to themselves.  In exchange for their contributions, drug industry lobbyists and executives will receive tickets to parties and other special events where they will have the opportunity to mingle with elected officials.

.

Join the RMO Breakfast Bunch

Dutch Treat

All Are Welcome

1st Wednesday - 8:30 am

Meyer's 4260 S. 76th St. -  next to Pick n' Save.

3rd Tuesday - 8:30 am                                                                    

Denny’s - 11154 W. North Ave

Retired Members’ Organization Report for May, 2008

2008 RMO Events - Watch the WIRETAP for Details.

August 3, 4603 Picnic

September 19, RMO Membership Meeting

October 26, 4603 Retiree Banquet

November 21, RMO Membership Meeting.

RMO Membership - the good news is our membership count is up to 422; the bad news is that 40 of our members are not up to date with their dues payments. The Secretary/Treasurer mails dues reminders on a quarterly basis. First and second quarter notices for 2008 have been sent. Third quarter notices should go out in June.

Wanted!!! The 4603 Retired Members Organization is in desperate need of members willing to actively participate in the RMO. Elections for the offices of President, Vice President and Secretary/Treasurer will be held this year, with nominations at the September 19, 2008 membership meeting and elections at the November 21, 2008 membership meeting. The current President and Secretary/Treasurer have announced that they will NOT be running again. Painless on-the-job training is available.

Latest ‘Oops’ from at&t - Per at&t, 297 retirees received W-2 forms containing incorrect information due to “a system error”. 99 of those retirees were in the Midwest region. Impacted retirees have received letters of explanation and apology “for any inconvenience” from at&t.  

          We still haven’t completely sorted out the Blue Cross card issue for our ‘split family’ members. Some are told it was an error, while others are told Blue Cross is the administrator for Medicare members of a split family.

          And, speaking of errors, Mary Johnson advises RMO members to be sure their deductible amounts are correct on their Explanation of Benefits. She discovered a $100 error. It was not in her favor.....

WELCOME to our new members: Gerald Barth, Daniel Rehorst and Ray Knutowski.

 

Text Box: CWA District 4 – RMC Newsletter - April 2008 – Vol. 6

                               2008 CWA Focus
Besides Social Security/Retirement Protection; CWA is focused on 3 important issues for 2008. Health Care, Employee Free Choice [to form and join a union] and the November Elections. Working and retired people are struggling to maintain health care coverage [if they even have it]. Without a Union; most folks don’t have health care coverage or are paying dearly for it. It’s time that America met the health care challenges as the rest of the industrialized world has. We need to elect a congress and a President who will pass family friendly legislation on health care and allow the formation of unions to help further economic stimulus. CWA has joined with 3 other Unions [United Automobile Workers, United Steelworkers and International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers = 2 million members] in a strategic alliance to achieve critical economic, political and legislative goals. 

                                  Social Security Debit Card
In the spring our government will trial a new social security debit card for folks who do not have bank accounts in 4 states [Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas]. By summertime; the debit card may be available nationwide. Those who chose to sign up; will receive a MasterCard debit card which would be reloaded each month with benefit payments and secured with a PIN number. Cash is available at ATM’s but beware of potential user fees. In an Illinois pilot of those who did not have a bank account; 85% were satisfied with the program and felt it was a safer way to receive their money. 

                                        Digital TV Coupons
On Feb 17, 2009, this country will switch to digital broadcasting. Analog, antenna dependent TV’s that are not connected to cable or satellite will need a converter box. Converter boxes are becoming available at stores now. Each household can apply for [up to] 2 coupons at $40 value each to help defray the cost of the boxes. Only one coupon per box and the coupons expire within 90 days. Go to www.dtv2009.gov or call 1-888-388-2009.

                                         2007 Stimulus Payments
To receive you must file a 2007 tax return. Payments will begin in May and will be delivered separately from tax refunds. For more Info: http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=179181,00.html

 

Join the RMO Breakfast Bunch

Dutch Treat - All Are Welcome

1st Wednesday - 8:30 am

Meyer's 4260 S. 76th St. -  next to Pick n' Save.

3rd Tuesday - 8:30 am                                                                    

Denny’s - 11154 W. North Ave

 

           

 

 

Dear Alcatel-Lucent Retiree,

Note: This information has also been posted on the C&T Website www.cwa-comtech.org

Below is information we received yesterday evening from Alcatel-Lucent on a lost disk that impacts thousands of our members and retirees.  Please read the information carefully, and follow the steps accordingly.

It is sad that a company that continues to pay outrageous bonuses to Senior Leaders cannot afford to protect the names and social security numbers of our members and retirees.  With all the problems our members and retirees have had in dealing with the administrators of the Lucent Health and Pension Benefits, it is not surprising that something like this would occur.  This is inexcusable. 

In Unity,

Ralph V. Maly, Jr.

Vice President

###############################

From: North America Communications [mailto:iisnotices@alcatel-lucent.com]
Sent: Thursday, May 17, 2007 3:43 PM
Subject: Important Security Message

May 17, 2007

As part of the company’s regular business, Alcatel-Lucent uses certain record retention providers and benefits consultants to assist with our employee programs.  We learned last Monday, May 7, from one of our vendors that a computer disk containing some personal information could not be located.  The disk was prepared by Hewitt Associates for delivery by UPS to another of the company’s vendors, Aon Corporation.   We are still investigating this matter, but we believe the disk was lost or stolen between April 5 and May 3. 

The disk contained personal information including name, address, Social Security number, date of birth, and salary information for our Alcatel-Lucent U.S.-paid employees who worked for Lucent, your dependents and Lucent’s retirees and their dependents.  This disk did not include any credit card numbers, bank account numbers, password information or information about employee savings plan accounts, stock option accounts or pensions. 

When we learned of this matter, we initiated an internal investigation and also asked the U. S. Secret Service to investigate.  Additionally, we reported this to state and local law enforcement officials and continue to work with law enforcement to investigate this matter.   

We are reviewing our current security policies and procedures to help us find ways to ensure that any information transmitted by our vendors is properly protected.  We have also requested our vendors to