We are excited to announce a new way to keep our members and retirees up to date on what’s happening at IBEW Local 2222 – The Union Strong App for your smartphone!

Please CLICK HERE to download the app.

Set up your account quickly and easily – all you need is your name, email, and zip code.

Please note –

• None of your personal info will be shared or sold.
• You will only receive messages from IBEW Local 2222.
• There is no advertising.

Download the app and create your free account today.

Once you create your account, please choose all of the following that apply to you to ensure you get the correct messages from Local 2222:

VZ & VZB Active Members – Choose all 4 below:

All Other Active Members – Choose 1 & 2 below:

All Retirees – Choose 1 & 2 below:

1 – Company (VZ, VZB, Siemens, etc)

2 – Role (member, steward, retiree, etc)

3 – Job Title

4 – Work Headquarters (VZ & VZB members only)

The New England Work and Family is a joint committee comprised of Union and Company representatives and supported by funds obtained through contract negotiations with each Collective Bargaining Agreement. The Committee creates programs to assist members and employees with health and life issues. Current programs include:

• Afterschool Activities Program
• Elder Care Services
• Dependent Care Reimbursement
• Summer Camp Reimbursement
• Medical Alert Pendant Program
• Health and Wellness

Please visit www.NewEnglandWorkAndFamily.com for full program details.

Please note the updates to the following programs:

• Dependent Care Reimbursement – Starting with the new program in May the household income limit to participate in this program will be raised from $175,000 to $200,000. 
• Summer Camp – The household income level to participate in this program will be raised from $175,000 to $200,000. Also, the total reimbursement per child will be raised from $300.00 to $500.00
• Health & Wellness – Starting January 2022 the six-month reimbursement will rise from $200.00 to $300.00.

Read more

The Problem

Wage theft has become business-as-usual. In our modern economy where bad employers increasingly use subcontracting and outsourcing deals to dodge responsibility for their workers, the epidemic of wage theft has overwhelmed the capacity of our existing labor laws and enforcement mechanisms.

The Solution

An act to prevent wage theft and promote employer accountability is a bill that will clarify who is ultimately responsible for upholding labor standards and also empower the Attorney General with additional tools to hold violators fully accountable to recover what is wrongfully taken from workers and the state.

Passing the bill will uplift low-wage workers and families: it will strengthen the state’s economy: and it will ensure Massachusetts remains the leader it has always been in passing strong labor laws and workplace protections.

2022-Wage Theft

The IBEW, CWA, and Verizon have agreed to extend the Work At Home Agreement.  This 10th extension will run through June 4, 2022.  You can read the agreements HERE.

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

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.

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