The year of the Ponzi scheme will be followed by heightened regulation and more aggressive prosecutions, experts say. As 2010 approaches, regulators and prosecutors are scrambling to uncover and pursue more fraudsters, while lawmakers seek to close regulatory gaps and give officials more resources.

This year has been one of the most challenging we have had in years. Contracts at AT&T and Avaya expired and let us not forget Alcatel-Lucent who continues to engage in a business plan that resembles a train wreck. We have members at each of these company’s who work under conditions that are stressful and at times unbearable due to the bean counters that are daily changing quotas and measurements of productivity. What has been constant throughout the year is our ability to support our brothers and sisters in the workplace. Our strength is our solidarity.