Over the past weekend, your bargaining teams finalized numerous proposals to present to the Company.  Negotiations officially opened today with statements from both the Company and the Union. The Company stressed the need to be flexible, considering many of its competitors are non-union employers.  D3 Vice President Richard Honeycutt pointed out three important principles to the Company – responsibility, respect, and loyalty.  VP Honeycutt emphasized the need for the Company to be loyal to its employees, our members, as they are the face of the Company.  VP Honeycutt also invited Rita Scott, President CWA D3 Retired Members Council to address the Company. She reminded the Company of the need to provide benefits for retirees, as their income is stagnate while their healthcare costs continue to rise.