IBEW Local 2222 will reimburse our members upon successful completion.

For over five generations, The Labor Guild School of Labor-Management Relations has been providing members of the labor movement with relevant, top-notch, and practitioner-led education.  Courses range in content, providing knowledge and skills for building just, ethical workplaces in Massachusetts and beyond.  Instructors are experts in a wide range of fields, coming from the ranks of labor lawyers, union officers, arbitrators, and more.

Each class meets via Zoom on the same day of the week for five weeks from 6:30 to 8:30 The cost is $50 per course. 2222 members will be reimbursed upon successful completion.   

For more information, a list of course offerings, and to register, please CLICK HERE

 

As of January 15, 2022, a federal mandate requires most people with a health plan can go online, or to a pharmacy or store to purchase an approved at-home over-the-counter COVID-19 diagnostic test authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) at no cost, either through reimbursement or free of charge through their insurance. This applies whether you purchased your health plan on your own or whether you get health insurance through your job.

The Biden-Harris Administration is strongly incentivizing health plans and insurers to set up a network of convenient locations across the country such as pharmacies or retailers where people with private health coverage will be able to order online or walk in and pick up at-home over-the-counter COVID-19 tests for free, rather than going through the process of having to submit claims for reimbursement.

For Verizon Members, the cost of over-the-counter at-home COVID-19 test kits will be covered by our prescription insurance carrier, Express Scripts, with no out-of-pocket cost at the point of sale.

You will need your Express Script Insurance Card, which you can get on their website HERE.  After logging in, go to: Account-> Member ID Card, and download your card. You can also call Express Scripts at 877-877-1878 to request a card.

The List of FDA Approved Tests is Below:

• • iHealth COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test
  • BD Veritor At-Home COVID-19 Test
  • BinaxNOW COVID-19 Antigen Self Test
  • InteliSwab COVID-19 Rapid Test
  • Celltrion DiaTrust COVID-19 Ag Home Test
  • QuickVue At-Home OTC COVID-19 Test
  • Flowflex COVID-19 Antigen Home Test
  • BinaxNOW COVID-19 Ag Card 2 Home Test

The mandate requires each active member to be covered for 8 tests per calendar month. Note this is stating 8 total over-the-counter Covid-19 tests per month per covered individual. For example, a box with 2 tests would count as 2 total tests. For example, a family of 4, all on the same plan, can get up to 32 tests per month.

If you need further clarification please call Express Scripts at 877-877-1878.

 

The IBEW, CWA, and Verizon have agreed to extend the Work At Home agreement.  This extension will run through April 2, 2022.  You can read the agreements HERE.

We will keep you posted with any updates.  Stay Safe!

Although a tentative agreement has been reached, the new contract needs to be ratified. This event will be held as planned, as a Day of Solidarity.

 

Housing Families is working to end family homelessness by providing safe, temporary shelter and quality affordable housing, so families can remain together. 

Bread of Life is a faith-based ministry with a mission to feed the body and to nurture the soul, striving to feed the hungry, the homeless, the needy, and the isolated.

IBEW Local 2222 supports these charities throughout the year, and especially during the holiday season. Once again this year, due to the pandemic, we are asking for donations of gift cards.  This will help keep the families safe and allow flexibility during these unprecedented times.

Suggested Gift Cards:

Target Kohl's Vanilla Visa

Best Buy Game Stop X-Box Live

Uber Eats / Door Dash Stop & Shop Market Basket

Gift cards can be given to your steward, dropped off at the Union offices, or you can call us at 617-929-6000 to arrange a time for us to pick them up.  If you would prefer, you can also donate cash, or you can use the link below to donate to the IBEW 2222 Benevolent Fund and we will purchase and deliver the gift cards.

Thank You so much for your support!
Together with our friends at Liberty Bay Credit Union, we raised $8,000, which was split equally between our two adopted charities.

The generosity of this membership is second to none – Thank You For Your Support! 

Update – While the vaccine mandate is on hold while the issue is being argued in the Federal Court, VZ’s requirement to submit vaccination status remains in place, and employees should comply.

On October 14, 2021, Verizon notified IBEW & CWA of its intent to mandate the COVID-19 vaccine for the unionized workforce unless an individual has a medical or religious exemption. The Company cited safety of employees and customers and the need to comply with federal, state, local, and customer requirements.

IBEW & CWA requested to bargain over the effects that a mandate may have on our members. On November 16, 2021, the Company presented a Last Best Final offer, which included modifications based on the Union’s counter proposals to Verizon, including extending the deadline for Verizon’s vaccine requirement for the unionized workforce to February 1, 2022. The Unions made a counter-proposal to the Company’s last best final offer which was rejected. Today, Verizon informed IBEW & CWA the parties are at an impasse and that they intend to impose the terms outlined in their Last Best Final offer.

The following are some of the key aspects of the Company’s last offer:

• January 4th:
  • Submit proof of vaccination, or apply for a legally recognized religious or medical accommodation
• February 1^st:
  • Fully vaccinated and submit proof
  • Have an approved or review pending accommodation 
• Failure to Comply:
  • Placed on 60 day unpaid leave
  • During this leave, if you prove full vaccination you return to work
  • During this leave, if you prove partial vaccination you return to work and follow safety protocols
    • You will have 6 weeks from 1^st dose to get 2^nd dose and be fully vaccinated
  • During leave, if you do not do anything you will be separated after 60 days
• Partial Vaccination by Feb 1^st:
  • Continue working under safety protocols
  • Need to be fully vaccinated within 6 weeks of Feb 1^st
  • If you do not have 2^nd dose in 6 weeks then place on 60 day unpaid leave
• Apply for Legal Accommodation:
  • If an accommodation is denied or expires you will be placed on 60 day unpaid leave
• Up to 4 hours paid time off for 1^st or 2^nd dose of vaccine
  • If there is an adverse reaction to vaccine and test is needed, paid time off will be granted by the company
• Lose your Proof of Vaccine:
  • Company will consider extending timelines as long as there is a good faith effort to obtain proof of vaccine
• Company will secure vaccine records and keep separate from personnel records
• Fully Vaccinated is currently defined as 2 weeks after a 2 dose vaccine or 2 weeks after a 1 dose vaccine
• Company will provide periodic reports to the Union on vaccine status, approved, denied or pending accommodation requests
• If Government vaccine requirements change the Company will discuss with the Union.

 

Click here to read Vaccine Mandate Legal Issues FAQ’s