Bill – we have received word that the Division of Unemployment Insurance has determined that the IBEW 827 members/Verizon employees were out of work due to a work stoppage and are therefore disqualified for UI benefits. As a result, they are denying all UI applications of IBEW 827 members employed by Verizon. Those notices have been mailed out (one member has already forwarded to me a copy of her denial letter). Please advise your members that our office will appeal this decision with the Appeals Tribunal on IBEW 827’s behalf. The members do not need to call and/or e-mail us to tell us they were denied; nor do they need to send me a copy of their Notice of Determination (though they should keep that for their own records). The members also do not need to contact the Division of UI to tell them they are appealing the decision. I will be preparing a letter to send to the Division of UI today appealing the decision on behalf of all IBEW 827 members employed by Verizon whose application for benefits has been denied. If you have any questions, please let me know.

Kevin D. Jarvis, Esq.

O'BRIEN, BELLAND & BUSHINSKY, LLC

1526 Berlin Road

Cherry Hill, NJ 08003

Phone: 856-795-2181

Fax: 856-795-2182

kjarvis@obbblaw.com

www.obbblaw.com