CWA members overwhelmingly voted to ratify the tentative agreement covering 21,000 AT&T Mobility workers under the Orange Contract. Congratulations on a hard-fought contract!
The new contract offers more pay, more job security, and more work for CWA members. As we see AT&T's non-union competition eliminate thousands of jobs, close a dozen call centers, and cut back on pay, we are fighting back against these headwinds for real improvements in the wireless industry.
Although we know this agreement is not everything we deserve, we will keep fighting and are proud of what we achieved together.
Great contracts are not won at the bargaining table. They are won on the shop floor and on the streets. As more and more CWA members become active in our union, we will see our power strengthen. After 11 months of mobilization, tough bargaining and a historic three-day strike, it was you and your coworkers who proved to the company that when we stand together, we win.
After almost a year of hard bargaining and unprecedented mobilization, we have reached a groundbreaking tentative agreement for 21,000 CWA members under the Orange contract at AT&T Mobility.
Never before have we seen this level of mobilization for a fair contract, including a three-day strike that shut down hundreds of stores across the country, and never before have we won so much at the bargaining table.
For the first time at any wireless company in the country, workers have won guaranteed customer service work at U.S. call centers, representing an 80% increase in the share of total call volume over the current levels. We also won first-time job security protections and more stable pay and reduced intrusive surveillance at work.
If you took part in mobilization activities, walked a strike line, wore a button or a sticker, passed out flyers, or called your managers demanding a fair contract - this is your victory. Our bargaining team could not have achieved this breakthrough tentative agreement without the hard work that you did fighting for a fair contract.
We didn't win everything of course, but we moved forward together and will keep up the fight.
Please join us for a town hall call on Thursday, December 14 at 8:30pm ET/ 7:30pm CT/ 6:30pm MT/ 5:30pm PT to learn more about the tentative agreement. Text MobilityCall to 69866 to RSVP to the call.
Together, we showed that we can beat back regressive proposals and make improvements at work when we stick together and mobilize. Let this be a sign to all companies that put profits above workers: when we stand together, we win.
In solidarity, Dennis Trainor CWA District 1 Vice President
April 30, 2017
What is the CWA Members Relief Fund?
It is a fund that provides assistance to members and agency fee payers during sanctioned strikes. It is funded by ¼ hour of basic wages per month per member or agency fee payer eligible to strike.
How do I get striker benefits?
Strikers are required to perform strike duty. The Local determines the amount of strike duty. Strike assignments may include, but are not limited to: picket duty, phone duty, email duty, etc. If you have a medical condition or problem that would prevent you from walking a picket line, we can assign your duties. Before any strike benefits are paid a Striker Certification Form must be filled out and on file at the Local office.
What are the weekly benefits to strikers?
The CWA Members Relief Fund provides striker a strike benefit of $200 per week beginning with the 15th day of the strike, $300 per week beginning with the 29th day of the strike, and $400 beginning on the 57th day of the strike.
Are weekly strike benefits taxed?
Strike benefits are taxed similar to the way interest on a savings account is taxed. If you receive over $600 in strike benefits in one year, the Local will send you a 1099 Form.
If you have any questions, please contact the local office at (217)892-8700. If you haven't already done so, please fill out the striker certification form and email it to treasurer@cwa4202.org or fax it to (217)892-5558.
AT&T MOBILITY STRIKE FAQ - FROM WWW.CWA-UNION.ORG
May 3, 2017
What is a scab? A scab is someone who crosses a picket line and decides not to fight alongside her brothers and sisters. Scabs make it easier for AT&T to lower wages and benefits. Anyone who scabs should think about how she is selling out her coworkers for some short term crumbs from the company.
But I have a family to support. I can’t afford to strike. Striking is hard for everyone. There will be 21 thousand members across the country, many single moms with kids, who will be doing the right thing and striking if and when the time comes. Everyone is in the same boat. CWA has a multi-million dollar Strike Fund. We are a family, and we will take care of each other.
Did anyone lose their home or car during last year’s Verizon strike? No. In addition to the normal strike checks members will receive if the strike lasts longer than 14 days, CWA has special funds available to pay for members who face financial emergencies during any strike. CWA paid mortgage and rent and car payments for many members who could prove that they could not afford to cover such bills during the strike.
During the 49 day Verizon strike, not a single member lost his home, or car. Not a single member was denied necessary medical care for themselves or families.
Can I get absence points or get fired during the strike? No. Striking is a legally protected activity, and anyone on strike will not get any points or be disciplined or terminated for striking.
Is it legal for managers to ask me if I will strike? No. This is an Unfair Labor Practice, and a violation of Federal Law.
What if a strike falls during my vacation? Members who are on an approved vacation during a strike will get paid by the company, as usual.
What did we learn during the Verizon strike? We learned that customers are enormously sympathetic to labor issues these days. During the Verizon strike last year, most customers honored our picket lines. This caused the company to lose millions in revenue, which ultimately helped the union win the strike.
We also learned that Verizon retail workers especially hardly made any money in empty stores.
More on scabs. We encourage people to ask their grandparents why they shouldn’t scab. The union movement and indeed the middle class was built by workers in previous generations rising to the challenge during past labor disputes. Do you have what it takes to follow in your grandparent’s steps and fight back?
Here is a quote from Jack London, in 1904 which is as true today as it was then:
“After God had finished the rattlesnake, the toad, the vampire, He had some awful substance left with which He made a scab.
A scab is a two-legged animal with a cork-screw soul, a water-logged brain, a combination backbone of jelly and glue. Where others have hearts, he carries a tumor of rotten principles.
When a scab comes down the street, men turn their backs and angels weep in heaven, and the Devil shuts the gates of Hell to keep him out. No man has a right to scab so long as there is a pool of water to drown his carcass in, or a rope long enough to hang his body with. Judas Iscariot was a gentleman compared with a scab. For betraying his master, he had character enough to hang himself. A scab has not.
Esau sold his birthright for a mess of pottage. Judas Iscariot sold his Savior for thirty pieces of silver. Benedict Arnold sold his country for a promise of a commission in the British Army. The modern strikebreaker sells his birthright, his country, his wife, his children and his fellow men for an unfulfilled promise from his employer, trust or corporation.
Esau was a traitor to himself: Judas Iscariot was a traitor to his God; Benedict Arnold was a traitor to his country; a strikebreaker is a traitor to his God, his country, his wife, his family and his class.”
What a week! Instead of waiting until Tuesday, November 7th, which is the earliest day AT&T was available to meet face to face, they tried to go around us and directly to you. They emailed this proposal to you, our members and to the public via SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) filings and tidbits picked up by reporters. It makes us proud to say our membership stands united and won’t fall for bullshit pranks like this.
We let the company know we were available to meet face to face as soon as they were, and we are traveling to New Jersey to be prepared to meet with them this coming Tuesday.
AT&T has the audacity to go to you, the members, and ask you to tell CWA to put this offer that was not presented to the Bargaining Committee out to a vote. There is nothing to vote on. We will put out an Agreement for you to vote on when we have an Agreement that meets your needs, based on member surveys.
Today AT&T continued their dirty, sneaky campaign to peddle their funky math to you directly in an email from AT&T President of Sales and Distribution Brian Shay. Don’t believe it! When we negotiate general wage increases, they do compound on each other, but it seems that AT&T is including wage table step increases that have already been negotiated to create an illusion that is an artificially higher number. In their example, if you are at Step 10, they are including money you already have coming to you that was won in previous negotiations. If you are an RSC, they are counting in $2,000 that is not new money but money simply being moved from commissions to base pay. We would guess that these calculations even include the $1,000 they say they will offer as a signing bonus. This all looks like fuzzy math to us. We do have to thank AT&T for pointing out what we already know: That they control your commission money and as Shay says in his email “it” (the money in your base pay) is money you can count on regardless of where you land on your goals. Thanks for making our point on this Brian. They change the goals at will. What good is a commission plan if it’s not negotiated and AT&T changes it every month to take money away from you.
Next week you can count on us to review and accurately assess the company’s so called “Final Offer” when we finally get this proposal passed to us and we have the opportunity for live dialogue. We will do the math correctly!
Please check in with your Local and your mobilizers for the latest information on FYFO.
Thank you for your continued support, because when we FIGHT, we WIN!
Your CWA Bargaining Committee
CWA / AT&T 2017 “Orange” Contract Bargaining
November 7, 2017 – Bargaining Report #60
CWA and AT&T Bargaining Committees met in New Jersey today where AT&T finally properly passed us their “Final Offer” proposal package, which contains details of the so-called highlights which they have been emailing to you the membership since last week.
We had hoped AT&T was done playing games and was sincere in getting down to real
negotiating. Instead, shortly after our bargaining session today, they emailed more fake news about their employment security commitment offer to you. Here are the details they left out:
In today’s fake NEWS NOW, they said “if a call center or retail store closing results in a surplus, employees will be guaranteed a job offer in our Mobility business”. The truth is the job literally can be anywhere in the country. There is no limit on distance.
If you work in a Call Center where multiple job duties are performed, and specific functions of that Call Center are outsourced that result in a surplus of any title and the Center remains open, then no one is protected under this proposal.
If the company decides to surplus the Sales Support Representative (SSR) title, and the store remains open, no one is protected in their proposal.
Did they mention that the job offer will only be made if the “Employee is meeting expectations and must be qualified, as determined by management.”
If you are lucky to receive a job offer, they will give you 1 day to decide if you want to accept the offer or it will be considered you rejected the offer.
While today’s email states that their offer means “employees will be guaranteed a job offer;” the real truth is the proposal says: “If a job offer is not made within 6 months from the date the employee is notified of the surplus, the employee will continue under the terms of Article 14, Force Adjustment,” which means if they don’t have a job to offer you within 6 months, you take your severance and leave. This is not a guaranteed job.
They also have a section in there that says that the company retains the right in its sole discretion to cancel or suspend employment security commitment at any time due to business conditions.
Your Bargaining Committee is reviewing the entire company package and preparing a
comprehensive response that will adequately address your needs. Don’t be fooled into believing that the company’s propaganda has your best interest at heart.
Bargaining is set to resume tomorrow. WHEN WE FIGHT WE WIN!!
In Solidarity,
The CWA Bargaining Committee
CWA / AT&T 2017 “Orange” Contract Bargaining
November 10, 2017 – Bargaining Report #61
The Company has been posting misinformation to you since they decided to send out their ridiculous “final offer”. The more we discuss their final offer, the more misinformation we uncover. Your Bargaining Team has conveyed our disgust to the company over their actions, and it is comforting to see our membership standing united and not falling for their propaganda. Talks continued this week and the Union passed our full counter proposal to the company that includes all those issues you’ve identified as a priority in this round of bargaining.
The Company continues to reject proposals surrounding flexible EWP time, a fair absence plan, real job security, new work for technicians, call sharing language that would protect call center workers, language securing retail jobs and addressing the issues facing our supply/warehouse members. Rather than share their enormous profits with the workers that make them profitable, the Company would rather mislead their employees and try to convince them that less is more. Discussions at the table are scheduled to continue throughout the weekend. We are here fighting and we need you to be mobilized and angry in the workplace.
Stay strong Brothers and Sisters. When We fight, We Win!
In Solidarity,
Mike Baxter, Local 1101
Frank Oliva, Local 1298
Deb Casey, Local 2204
Jeff Reamer, Local 13000
Julie Daloisio, Local 13500
Holly Sorey, Local 4202
Glen Skeen, Local 4320
Hector Capote, Local 7250
Debbie Goulet, Local 7803
Joe Sison, Local 9412
Brandon Beck, Local 9511
Pat Telesco, District 1, Chair
Tonya Moore, District 1
CWA / AT&T 2017 “Orange” Contract Bargaining
October 20, 2017 – Bargaining Report #58
This week the CWA bargainers met to review our proposals and outstanding data
requests, and to prepare responses to AT&T’s recent proposals, which did not address
the issues that we have been talking to them about for months. CWA passed several
proposals that address working conditions in the call centers and retail stores. We have
heard you about the daily stress on the job from constant monitoring and observing and
ridiculous expectations placed on you. This week several reports came in from call
center workers who want to be the best they can be, but find the managers telling them
that if they don’t do better the center will close. Shame on AT&T for blaming you for
their mismanagement!
It is more important than ever to push for job security in the face of increased
outsourcing of our work. While the amount of Call Center outsourcing and Network
contracting is not immediately visible to the customers, the authorized retailers that now
make up the majority of the Retail stores are a constant reminder of why we need to
protect our jobs.
Thank you for the great participation on last night’s CWA Mobility Town Hall call. We
had record numbers of members join this call and stay with us for a lively Q&A session.
Well over 2300 of you dialed in and stayed with us to hear CWA District 1 Vice
President Dennis Trainor, the bargaining committee, and mobilizers answer questions.
So many of you got in queue to ask a question or make a statement that even though
the call ran long, we unfortunately could not get to everyone. We look forward to doing
another call with you soon. In the meantime, keep in contact with your Stewards and
Local leaders for the most up to date information on bargaining and mobilization.
On another note, today was supposed to be the deadline for the 2018 Benefits Open
Enrollment, but the higher than average call volumes to AT&T Benefits have made it
difficult for you to get the information you need to make your 2018 choices. Because of
this, AT&T is extending your opportunity to enroll and correct any error by two weeks.
Thanks to all of you who reported problems with the open enrollment.
If something doesn’t seem correct it probably isn’t, so don’t assume we know about it
and continue to keep the information coming in. We are in this together and when we
FIGHT, we WIN!
Your CWA Bargaining Committee
By now you have seen the company’s latest very public “final offer.” While at face value the company’s final offer may seem reasonable to some, the company has by-passed your Bargaining Committee in an attempt to sway our membership. This offer was never formally presented to your bargaining team and we believe the company is baiting you into conceding what we have been fighting for in ten months of bargaining and divide the membership. They did not share the offer with the union bargaining team before they sent it out publicly and emailed it to the entire membership. The company hopes the email will result in hundreds of calls to the union demanding we settle on the company’s terms, not ours. This is a dirty, bad faith ploy and it won’t work.
In fact, plans were already made for the Bargaining Committees to return to meet at the table in New Jersey beginning next week, which is the first date the AT&T negotiators said they would be available. The CWA has the right to bargain in person over such critical matters, but instead of making this proposal to your Bargaining Committee, they sent it out via several channels yesterday including directly to you, the CWA membership. So, why are they trying to go around your Bargaining Committee? They want you to be fooled into thinking this is a good deal and addresses your needs. They think a one-time payment of a $1,000 bonus to ratify this agreement will be enough for you to sell out.
What is in this offer?
The raise offered is less than the raises given at other AT&T tables and when balanced with the cost of healthcare is not enough.
Retail Sales Consultants are being offered a fraction of the “at risk” pay moved to their base in exchange for AT&T still being able to change the commissions when they feel like it, which history has proven is never good for the workers. If you are an RSC, you already know this.
We see they say they are offering a job guarantee, which is very interesting since we have been asking for job security language and offering up various ideas to achieve this for the past 10 months, the detail is lacking and AT&T has repeatedly told us they are not interested in this and won’t bargain job security with us.
It’s odd that AT&T goes on and on about providing good union jobs in the United States because a quick look at the data shows that our call center jobs are being sent to contractors and vendors at a record pace, and the Authorized Retailers, enjoy.com, and the newly created Integrated Sales Consultant job are all doing RSC work.
In their misleading email, notice there is:
ZERO mention of outsourcing – our Union proposals are geared at fixing the fact that only 7% of the calls are handled by the centers in the “Orange” footprint.
ZERO mention of job protections around store closings – Our Union proposals are geared at addressing that 60% of the Retail stores are now authorized dealers and this is a rising trend. The company has no interest in language that would protect our membership in fact they’ve created the Integrated Sales Consultant and Integrated Sales Support job titles outside of the Union to divert even more work from the COR stores.
ZERO mention of curbs on contracting out our technical work, and no mention of technicians and CSSL at all – Our proposals preserve and protect the bargaining unit work both existing and new technology in the future. The company wants to be free to send more of the technician work to contractors.
ZERO mention of their attendance policy – Our proposals are aimed at fixing an unfair attendance policy that has our members terminated prior to exhausting all their negotiated sick time. The company has no interest in moving on this issue.
The Company’s latest proposal fails to address many of our concerns that we have been talking to the Company bargainers about, including:
No resolution to our EWP issue – You have told us that you need to be able to take the flexible paid time in a truly flexible manner. What good is paid time off when you aren’t allowed to take it when you need it?
No resolution on our vacation issue – Our proposals would ensure our members can uses their paid vacation time when they want to by establishing minimum allowances per work group.
No observation language protections for Retail workers and a Call Center offer that falls very short of the protections you told us you needed.
No resolution on the Exchange Time issue, which Retail workers told us was especially important to them because they are suffering under the draconian attendance discipline plan and when they ask for relief via Exchange Time they are most often denied.
No resolution on inclement weather and safety language.
No resolution on the Holiday being treated properly as an extra day off in Holiday weeks when the company chooses not to open. Our proposal allows our members to actually have Holidays without a 6-day work week.
No resolution to our issue of compensating technicians when they are forced to “day trip” hours away from home.
You get the idea.
In bargaining, the company’s Chief Negotiator has repeatedly said “We have no interest in job security.” So it’s no surprise the company’s phony pledge on job security doesn’t prevent them from closing your store or call center and offering you a job in Nome, Alaska! They can brag about their 2% wage hike and signing bonus all they want, but that will do little good if they can ship even more of our jobs to the Philippines, and won’t do much good if they can close our store and open up a low wage authorized dealer store. The company also doesn’t come clean on their proposal to hike our Medical costs either.
We need decent jobs to pay for our rent and food. We can’t eat their rhetoric.
The iPhone X launch is coming up. If anyone wants a strong contract that addresses our long-term needs, we ask you show your solidarity by wearing stickers and participating in other mobilization activities coming up.
We ask that all members ask their managers to tell AT&T to talk with us at the bargaining table, and stop with the misleading propaganda! Now, more than ever, Workplace Mobilization is critical. Click here to download the flyer.
United We Bargain, Divided We Beg.
In solidarity, Dennis Trainor CWA District 1 Vice President
CWA / AT&T 2017 “Orange” Contract Bargaining
September 8, 2017 – Bargaining Report #55
The bargaining committees met this week and discussed monitoring in the Retail stores
and Call Centers, and the Company’s unilateral changes to the MI-60 assignment in the
Call Centers. We will revisit this next week when bargaining reconvenes.
As we continue to push for job security, AT&T still has not fully provided the information
we are entitled to regarding the use of contractors in Network. We let AT&T know that
we need a commitment from them with assurances to have our technicians build and
maintain the Network. We will continue to press for more details on how much technical
contracting is going on.
After reviewing some additional information received from AT&T this week, it appears
CWA’s concerns about job loss are based on hard facts as anticipated. Our share of
the work is shrinking in Retail, Call Centers and Network; with a 60% saturation in Retail
going to authorized retailers, and just a mere 7% of all calls are handled by CWA Union
Call Centers in the region covered by this “Orange” Contract which covers 35 states and
Washington, D.C., and contractors are running rampant on the Network. The need for
strong job security language in this round of bargaining is more important than ever. It is
you – the members, AT&T’s employees – who built this company and this contract fight
is for your future.
This week, Mobility workers from across the country who are covered by the “Orange”
Regional Contract met with members of Congress in Washington, D.C. to tell their
representatives how AT&T’s move to 3rd party authorized Retailers and off-shore call
center contractors threatens our members jobs and harms our communities. Thank you
for your continued support.
When We Fight, We WIN! Stay strong Brothers and Sisters!!
In Solidarity!
CWA / AT&T 2017 “Orange” Contract Bargaining
October 6, 2017 – Bargaining Report #56
AT&T passed CWA several proposals this week and our Committee spent the week reviewing the proposals along with our open data requests to see what AT&T has still failed to provide us.
As we previously reported, CWA has filed several charges against AT&T Mobility for repeatedly violating the National Labor Relations Act, including failure to provide information that we are entitled to in order to make proposals that address the issues our members will be facing over the life of the new Agreement we are negotiating. In fact, as of now, Mobility has not provided much of the information CWA has requested during this bargaining.
At this point in the negotiations, the most concerning issue is AT&T’s refusal to address growing and maintaining good jobs. They refuse to make a commitment to you, their employees.
Look for information coming out soon about our next Mobility Town Hall Call where we can discuss the latest developments in negotiations.
As a point of information: An email you received from AT&T HR on September 26th, and that an alert member sent to our Committee, has caused confusion over the statement in it that it “terminates eligibility for new hires under the program” and goes on to say that “new hires receive benefits under the AT&T Disability Income Program” which is not a program under the Orange Agreement. The Disability plans have not changed.
Thank you for your continued support. When we FIGHT, we WIN!
In Solidarity!
CWA / AT&T 2017 “Orange” Contract Bargaining
October 13, 2017 – Bargaining Report #57
This morning AT&T sent out an email to our membership that begs clarification. While
not exactly fake news, it is misleading and aimed at dividing our membership.
As we last reported, AT&T did pass proposals last week. They did not pass proposals
to address any of the issues that we have been discussing with them since May. In
May, you successfully struck AT&T and let the company know we are not accepting less
than you deserve. Our proposals still on the table reflect your priorities. Following this,
AT&T continued to refuse to provide the information we need to bargain your future for
the next four years. AT&T needs to be more forthcoming with the truth.
They refer to “formal” proposals not being passed since May, but they leave out the
why. We have outstanding requests for information that impact our ability to make
additional formal proposals. We have had proposals on the table for months that AT&T
refuses to address except to say they have no interest. AT&T would prefer we bargain
in the dark. AT&T has made requests of CWA that violate the National Labor Relations
Act and we anticipate we will hear back from the Labor Board soon.
CWA has told AT&T that we agreed to meet via phone conference for a few weeks
while we work on issues other than wages and benefits, such as working conditions.
One issue familiar to Call Center workers is MI-60. After weeks of AT&T promising to
bring an operations manager to bargaining to explain their use of the MI-60 program in
Call Centers, we were finally joined by Bradley Petrick, the AVP over ATS call centers.
The description of how this program is supposed to be used in the centers, while
enlightening, did not resemble in any way what you have told us actually occurs.
Since AT&T indicated in their morning email that they are expecting a response on what
was passed last week, CWA asked to reconvene at our mutually agreed upon
bargaining location, and guess what? They are not available as their bargaining chair is
not able to travel at the moment due to medical issues that kept him out of work. How
many attendance points do you think he received? Our guess is NONE. The CWA
Bargaining Committee had already planned on getting together this week to study the
proposals and the open issues and work on our response. We have the right under the
National Labor Relations Act to insist on face to face bargaining, and we hope the AT&T
bargaining chair is cleared to travel soon.
By now you should have received information on how to join our Town Hall Call next
Thursday evening, October 19th. We look forward to hearing from you.
Your CWA Bargaining Committee
Skip No Steps FAQ
August 15, 2017
Note: You cannot be disciplined for following management's rules. In fact, you can be disciplined for NOT following management's rules. So, if any manager complains that your work-output is too slow as a result of following their rules, ask them to put in writing which step you should skip. Unless you get something in writing from your boss, be sure to follow all their rules, even if your manager complains that things are taking too long.
What is “Skip No Steps”?
Skip No Steps is a reminder that all members should follow all work rules from management.
Why should we do “Skip No Steps” now?
While we are working without a contract, members do not have arbitration rights. Even though we still have the right to the grievance process, this lack of arbitration rights can potentially put members in increased jeopardy, especially while we are coming up on a busy sales season. One way to mitigate this risk it to make sure we are all following the rules the company has laid out for us.
Is this designed to slow down our work?
No. Skip No Steps is designed to protect our members during this stressful period when we don’t have arbitration rights.
I am a technician. Is there a specific example of a rule I should be following.
Technicians should follow all rules imposed by management. Follow the MOP (Method of Procedure). One important example is the Vehicle Safety Check and Safety Exercises. AT&T mandates that all members do an exhaustive safety check of our vehicles before each tour, and do stretches and exercise to lower the risk of injury (Pre-Driving Vehicle Inspection). Be sure to do this comprehensive safety check and exercise/stretching as per the guidelines.
I work as a Retail worker. Is there a specific example of a rule I should be following?
Retail workers should follow all rules imposed by management. Make certain you follow the “5 Key Behaviors,” and give the entire “Customer Experience” to all customers. This means making sure to check over customers’ bills for overages, data, and be sure to follow the CPNI Rule for all customers, etc.
I work at a Call Center. Is there a specific example of a rule I should be following?
Call center workers should follow all rules imposed by management. Be sure to follow My CSP procedures for all calls; be sure to follow “5 key behaviors,” including greetings, planting of the seeds, etc. Be sure to have all your tools at the ready, including MyCSP, OPUS, Clarify, Zone, and Snapshot.
Following management’s rules sometimes slows us down. Can I be legally disciplined for following all these rules?
No. Members can be disciplined for NOT following the rules imposed by management. Remember, during this stressful time, we want to make sure our members are protected. Therefore, be sure to follow all rules from management.
CWA / AT&T 2017 “Orange” Contract Bargaining
August 18, 2017 – Bargaining Report #53
This week bargaining focused on commission changes AT&T has planned for September and October. RSCs have seen an update on the “My CSP” page that describes changes including credit for some on-line sales and uncapping the Entertainment component for two months.
Under the heading of this communication, AT&T implied that the CWA Orange Bargaining Team has said “No” to any changes to the commission plan. A truer statement is that the CWA has requested to bargain over commissions and since commissions are wages and wages are a mandatory subject of bargaining, CWA has requested that the Company not make any changes until we have had an opportunity to bargain over them.
In a bargaining session that the AVP of Sales Compensation joined, we gained a better understanding of how these changes may be applied. We made additional information requests and are set up to continue our discussions next week on this issue. Your bargaining team will “SKIP NO STEPS” as we fight for a fair contract.
Your support keeps us CWA Strong and we will be here as long as necessary to get the Agreement our Mobility members deserve. When we fight, we WIN!
In Solidarity!
CWA / AT&T 2017 “Orange” Contract Bargaining
August 25, 2017 – Bargaining Report #54
The Bargaining Committee and the Company met today to continue our dialogue on the
Company’s proposed changes to Retail commissions for September and October,
which many of you saw posted previously on the My CSP. The Company had posted
that there would be changes to the plan available to everyone except for members
covered by the Orange Contract. These changes for September and October would be
positive changes including digital experience crediting and uncapping the entertainment
component. The Union made it clear that the Company would not get away with playing
games such as offering positive changes to everyone but the members we are currently
bargaining for, and we demanded they bargain the changes with us. The Bargaining
Team had discussions with the AVP of Sales Compensation and determined these
changes would be beneficial to our members and demanded the changes apply to
everyone including the Orange Contract. We are pleased to report that an agreement
has been signed as of today which gives these changes to members covered by the
Orange contract, while protecting the Union’s position – which is that we have a
standing request to bargain commissions and any and all changes to commissions must
be bargained with the Union. The mobilization and Unity of our members makes us
stronger at the bargaining table and that’s why we were able to secure this victory. The
full agreement will be available soon on your Local’s website as well as the
Unity@Mobility Facebook page.
While compensation was at the forefront this week, we still made it clear that job
security, new work, and affordable benefits are some of the issues that we will continue
to fight for until properly addressed. Bargaining will continue next week. Thank you for
your continued commitment, Unity and support during this long round of bargaining.
When We Fight, We WIN! Stay strong Brothers and Sisters!!
In Solidarity!
CWA / AT&T 2017 “Orange” Contract Bargaining
July 28, 2017 – Bargaining Report #52
The CWA and AT&T bargainers met this week via phone conference. Among the many issues we discussed was the new Leave Link process which has caused chaos with our members who need to access FMLA, Short Term Disability, and ADA accommodations to name a few. CWA has added failure to bargain the effects of this change to our long list of labor law violations and we have filed Unfair Labor Practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board.
This week we all saw AT&T’s latest earnings report which shows the company has billions of cash on hand. If AT&T cared about its employees and customers, they would get serious about a new contract instead of moving our work to vendor call centers and Authorized Retailers which is a recipe for disaster for employees, customers, and ultimately the shareholders as AT&T leads the race to the bottom.
This bargaining will be recessed as of today and will pick up again on August 14th, in order for CWA to conduct the business of the Union at the National Convention of CWA delegates, beginning next week.
Remember, the terms of our contract remain in place as we bargain for a new Agreement. Keep up the mobilization. When we fight, we WIN!
In Solidarity!
Unity@ Mobility
August 3, 2017
Be prepared for stepped up mobilization in the coming weeks.
We have all been waiting with increasing frustration for AT&T to move towards us at the bargaining table. Despite enormous profits and a successful second quarter, AT&T wants to weaken our job security, close our stores, and offshore our work. They have a plan to turn good union jobs into unstable, low-wage jobs.
But we have a plan to fight back.
We will discuss this plan with leadership, mobilizers, staff, and all members:
August 11th – call with National Staff
August 14th - call with Local Presidents
August 15th - call with Mobilizers throughout the “Orange” footprint to discuss this plan. Mobilizers will receive an email with more information about the call.
August 21st - mass Town Hall Call with all members. The call will take place at 8:30pm ET, 7:30pm CT, 6:30pm MT, 5:30pm PT. Text the word MobilityCall to 69866 to RSVP.
On these calls we will update everyone on bargaining, discuss the many Unfair Labor Practice charges we have filed with the Labor Board, give advice on how to lower the risk of unfair discipline during bargaining, and discuss what may happen in the coming weeks.
Bargaining is dragging on for too long. But we would rather get a fair contract than a quick contract. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said “The Arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice.” Brothers and sisters, lets join together to ensure that our fight with AT&T bends us towards justice!
United We Bargain, Divided We Beg!
In solidarity, Dennis G. Trainor CWA District 1 Vice President
Commission Caps August 4, 2017
On August 3rd, AT&T put out a statement on myCSP regarding commission caps. They announced that caps will be lifted for non-Orange workers.
Some background information is useful. In July, the company unilaterally placed caps across the country on commissions, including in the "Orange" footprint. The company made these changes in Orange despite warnings by the union not to make unilateral changes to commissions. Since we were in the midst of bargaining with the company in the Orange footprint, this unilateral and negative change without bargaining was a violation of federal labor law. The union filed an Unfair Labor Practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board as a result. The Board is actively investigating this issue. Under labor law, it is illegal for a company to change any "term or condition" of employment unilaterally without bargaining with the union.
While it was unfortunate we had to go to the Labor Board over their refusal to bargain on commissions, we are pleased to see that the company now seems to understand that they must bargain with the union over such changes.
We will be bargaining on August 14th, which will give us plenty of time to negotiate with the company over these commission changes, so our members can benefit from the cap removal as well.
We are still moving ahead with our planned conference calls with all the District VPs, staffs in the Districts, Local Presidents and a Town Hall call with all members to outline our plan to mobilize our members for the contract that will protect our members in the future.
In solidarity, Dennis G. Trainor CWA District 1 Vice President
CWA / AT&T 2017 “Orange” Contract Bargaining
June 30, 2017 – Bargaining Report #50
The Company continues making changes to different systems, working conditions and policies since the contract has expired. There should be no changes while we are still bargaining the contract and working under the provisions of the expired agreement. The best defense against these changes is the information we receive from the members on the job. Please remain vigilant and report to your local any changes the company attempts to make during bargaining.
During bargaining this week, we also discussed job security. The Company made it clear that they would much rather do future work with contractors; and not utilize their current employees. Contractors are cheaper, not properly trained and non-union. The small cell technology, first responder network, authorized retailers and call center work are all being done by contractors. In addition, the Company continues to funnel customer sales and upgrades to the newly created non-bargained Level 1A “Integrated Solutions Consultant” title bypassing our RSCs and our Core stores. It is imperative that we continue to fight to get all this work into the Orange Contract. The more work we secure, the more job security we have in the future. We are still far apart on all major issues, but we will fight as long as it takes. Keep up the mobilization, stay unified and stay angry. When we fight, we WIN!
Stay Strong Brothers and Sisters!!
In Solidarity!
July 5, 2017
Dear AT&T Mobility members,
I am writing to update you about the status of our bargaining.
As you know, we have been bargaining for more than five months to negotiate improvements to our collective bargaining agreement. This has been a frustrating process, but not a surprising one. We are insisting on a contract that isn't "business as usual," and the company is very reluctant to address the needs of our members.
Here are the key things we are fighting for, and what the company's response has been so far.
Offshoring. More and more call center jobs are being sent to vendors around the world. When calls get routed to vendors, members lose their jobs. We are insisting on reasonable measures to protect our work and our members. The company doesn't want to agree to anything which curbs their ability to outsource.
Authorized Dealers. More and more COR stores are closing down and being replaced by Authorized Retailers. When COR stores close down, members lose their jobs. We are insisting on reasonable measures to protect our work and members. The company doesn't want to agree to anything which restricts their plans to close COR stores.
Commissions. The union is insisting that retail sales members have fair commissions and fair compensation. In recent years, our commission checks have been going down. The company wants the right to lower our commission whenever they want.
Absence Control. The company's absence control plan is unfair, cruel, and violates our previous contract. The company uses the plan to get rid of dedicated and hardworking members. The union wants to address this issue and make improvements, but the company likes things the way they are.
Sick Days. The company is trying to add wait days before we can take sick days and decrease the number of sick days for new hires. We are fighting back against these unfair limits on our ability to take care of our health.
Information at Bargaining. Under U.S. labor law, the union has the right to information so we can bargain intelligently. The company has refused to fulfill their legal obligation to supply the union with information on outsourcing of work, and other key pieces of information. We have filed charges against the company at the Labor Board.
Unfair Labor Practices. The company has committed many other Unfair Labor Practices, including interfering with our right to strike and unilaterally changing terms or conditions of employment. The union has filed a number of charges against the company with the Labor Board. The Board is currently investigating our charges, and we expect complaints to be issued against AT&T.
This Ain't Our First Rodeo! Although we are disappointed in the pace of negotiations, we aren't surprised -- this is what happens when we fight for something more than the status quo. If you take away one thing from this email, please realize,the union has a plan to get a good contract. We are following our plan. A big part of this plan is to make sure that our members are mobilized to show the company that we are unified in our demands.
Another part of the plan was to do a short strike to let the company know what we are capable of. We also knew we would need to have the Labor Board investigate all the company's illegal activities.
In the past two months, we have gone public with our concerns by exposing the company's offshoring of jobs and the questionable practices by their Authorized Retailers (check out the new web site: www.ATTConsumerAlert.org and share with your friends).
And remember, as bargaining drags on, it is illegal for the company to change their commission structure, which makes it harder and harder for them to run their business.
We can’t make every detail of our plan public for obvious reasons, but brothers and sisters, CWA has negotiated against major employers before, and sometimes bargaining takes a long time. Last year at Verizon, bargaining dragged on, and then -- to the shock of the company -- we struck and won a standards-setting contract for the industry.
We could settle for a sub-par contract tomorrow, but we would rather fight with you for a contract that addresses the needs of our members. We ask that everyone keep up with mobilization activities, keep engaged with your local, and know that we all win when we work together.
United We Bargain, Divided We Beg,
Dennis Trainor, Vice President, District 1 & ATTM Mobility Lead VP
& The Bargaining Team
CWA / AT&T 2017 “Orange” Contract Bargaining
July 20, 2017 – Bargaining Report #51
There have been no meetings scheduled with the Company this week. This doesn’t mean that your Bargaining Committee has taken a break; in fact, quite the opposite. We have been busy working on the numerous Unfair Labor Practice Charges that have been filed against the company as a result of the unilateral changes the company continues to make. Remember, while we are working without a contract the company cannot make changes to any terms and conditions of employment. Please continue to notify your Local if you uncover any changes that are being made.
We have also been educating the public about our concerns associated with outsourcing of jobs and the increased use of authorized dealers and third party vendors. AT&T vendors and authorized dealers are driving down standards for customers and workers with poor customer service and shady practices like failure to quote terms and enrolling customers in expensive packages they did not request.
We know this process has been long and frustrating but we will not let the company break us. We will continue to focus on the issues that you, our members have identified as ones that need to be fixed during this round of bargaining and we will take as long as we need in order to do just that. We need you to remain focused and committed as well. We are extremely far apart on all major issues! Mobilizations must continue. Let your voices be heard. Tell Management you deserve a fair contract and are willing to do whatever it takes to get one.
When we fight, we WIN! Stay Strong Brothers and Sisters!!
In Solidarity!
CWA / AT&T 2017 “Orange” Contract Bargaining
June 9, 2017 – Bargaining Report #47
This week has been another week of nothing from AT&T. Other than a brief meeting earlier in the week to discuss multi-lingual differential, the Company has shown no interest in getting to a fair and equitable contract. The Union stands on our demands and will not back down. We are in this for as long as it takes.
There was an overwhelming response from the members about the Company trying to change policies and harass people since the strike. Since the last bargaining report, we have been investigating all the issues you have brought to us, and we will not let the Company get away with anything. We are still going over data, looking into pension accruals and part time benefit costs. We are aware that a long round of bargaining like this can be frustrating, but we will not rush to get a contract. Mobilization must continue so the company knows we will fight until we get the contract we deserve. When we fight, we WIN!
Stay strong Brothers and Sisters!!
In Solidarity!
CWA / AT&T 2017 “Orange” Contract Bargaining
June 15, 2017 – Bargaining Report #48
The Union has spent this week reviewing data received from AT&T as well as all the information we have received from members highlighting the ongoing issues of wrongdoing by management. AT&T continues to get caught trying to make illegal changes to policies, scheduling illegal mandatory meetings and instructing managers to intimidate employees. The Union, with the help and support of the membership, are catching these improper activities and responding with grievances, mobilization and board charges.
The Company canceled the meetings we had scheduled this week and appears to have focused their time on making changes in their upper management structure.
We know the slow nature of this round of bargaining is frustrating to some members, but we will not rush this contract. We will bargain as long as it takes to get a fair and equitable contract regardless of the stall tactics and attempted intimidation by the Company. Stay strong, stay mobilized and stay angry. Keep in touch with your Local for mobilization activities. When we fight, we WIN!
Stay strong Brothers and Sisters!
CWA / AT&T 2017 “Orange” Contract Bargaining
June 22, 2017 – Bargaining Report #49
The Union and Company met today and discussed several issues that have come up over the last several weeks. The first issue is the Company’s attempt to create non-
bargained sales jobs. These jobs known as Integrated Sales Consultants are being used to up sell customers right in their homes after online sales or a DTV installation and a support job called Integrated Sales Support Specialist that is equivalent to our SSRs. We made it clear to the company that they are doing bargained for work and this must stop immediately. We are intent on getting job security and jobs for the future. We also pressured the company to supply the information we requested for small cells and the first responder network. The Company’s greed is on full display when the discussions turn to absence. They treat talks about absence with disdain and want to roll back protections for their employees who get sick. We will continue to fight for fair benefits that protect you when you and your family are not well.
If you are a part time employee who recently had your hours cut without your approval, you need to speak to your manager and contact your local if they don’t fix it immediately. The Company assured us that any cut in hours would be voluntary. And finally, if your manager sets up a meeting or training outside of your scheduled hours, your attendance is voluntary. If they tell you otherwise, they are incorrect, and you need to contact your Local immediately. Stay mobilized, stay unified and stay angry! When we fight, WE WIN!
Stay strong Brothers and Sisters!!
In Solidarity!
CWA / AT&T 2017 “Orange” Contract Bargaining
May 25, 2017 – Bargaining Report #45
Since returning from the strike, and because of your courage, the company has been filling many of the open information requests. It took a strike and Unfair Labor Practice charges to get the information but we are getting it. However, the company continues its greedy demands and they continue to spread misinformation about bargaining. The Union will not back down and we urge you to contact your Local if you are hearing anything that does not sound correct. If there is any harassment or intimidation going on that needs to be reported as well.
Mobilization needs to be ramped up to keep the pressure on, and we need to be prepared to bargain for as long as it takes. Despite the company's lies, the strike closed hundreds of stores nationwide, left call centers unstaffed and critical network tickets not dispatched until Monday. Keep up the fight, One day longer, one day stronger. When We Fight We Win!!
Stay strong Brothers and Sisters!!
In Solidarity!
CWA / AT&T 2017 “Orange” Contract Bargaining
June 2, 2017 – Bargaining Report #46
The Company has not offered any new proposals since the strike. While we are happy to receive some of the data we requested, the Company continues to insist on concessions and offers nothing to get us closer to an agreement. The Union has our demands on the table and we will not back down.
Currently, CWA has filed National Labor Relations Board charges against AT&T regarding: 1. the Company's refusal to provide information relevant to bargaining 2. the Company's refusal to bargain regarding the commission plan 3. threats made by management regarding pointing strikers for attendance 4. surveying workers regarding terms and conditions of bargaining and 5. unilateral change of terms and conditions of bargaining (scheduling in ATS centers).
Along with the NLRB charges, the Union is currently investigating the following situations: changes in schedules for part timers; changes in the goals under the commission plans; soliciting employees to resign from the Union; and threats and retaliation following the strike. Each District will be filing charges associated with the above as needed. We know that this can be a long and frustrating process, but we are committed to fighting as long as it takes to get a fair contract. We need mobilization to continue, please stay in touch with your Local for upcoming mobilization activities. When we fight, we WIN!
Stay strong Brothers and Sisters!!
In Solidarity!
After the Strike June 3, 2017
As the dust is settling on our historic strike, some things are coming into view clearly.
It is crystal clear that management was absolutely stunned that so many people went on strike to demand a fair contract (special props to our great mobilizers and picket captains who did great work maintaining those picket line).
AT&T underestimated the anger we all feel as our commissions checks have declined, as our jobs have become more insecure, and as more and more work is being offshored. We have every reason to be angry, especially as the top executives give themselves huge pay increases at our expense.
We have clear plan to negotiate a contract we can all be proud of. The company now knows we are capable of launching an effective strike. It is dawning on them that their arrogance is now coming back to haunt them.
Our lawyers have been filing many Unfair Labor Practice Charges (ULPs) against the company at the National Labor Relations Board. We have accused the company of failing to provide necessary information to the union during bargaining, of making illegal threats to members during and after the strike, and perhaps most important, we have filed a ULP because management has unilaterally changed our commissions without bargaining. And the last point is critical. It is illegal for AT&T to make any changes unilaterally to any of our "terms or conditions" of employment without bargaining. In many ways, this puts us in the driver’s seat during this period.
Each day that passes, it is harder and harder for the company to operate in this ever-changing industry without having the ability to make certain changes. And so as we bargain, time is on OUR side. Each day without a contract brings more pressure on the company. In addition, we are waiting for all the ULP charges to be investigated by the labor board. Once they conclude the investigation, we believe complaints will be issued by the government against AT&T. Again, more pressure.
And of course, nothing prevents us from calling another strike. More pressure.
Management knows all this, and they have tried desperately to break our unity; recently, they have encouraged people to resign from the union. And you know what happened after they starting this campaign? We saw something unprecedented: Right after the strike, more and more Mobility employees have joined the union instead!
We will soon be announcing more mobilizing activities which will further pressure this greedy company to begin bargaining fairly. Keep in close contact with your mobilizers, your stewards, picket captains, and local officers.
Getting any contract is easy. Getting a contract we deserve will take unity and mobilization. Keep up the great work, and know that we have a plan, we are following the plan, and the company must come to their senses and begin to address our issues at the bargaining table.
Tick tock.
In unity,
Dennis G. Trainor CWA District 1 Vice President
CWA / AT&T 2017 “Orange” Contract Bargaining
May 11, 2017 – Bargaining Report #42
One of the key issues the Bargaining Team is focusing on is Job Security. As the company looks toward the future, so does the Union. Job Security can take shape in many forms, but any way you look at it, it is a major issue. As many of you hear out in the field, the company wants to offshore or outsource Call Center jobs, open more authorized retailers and let technology and contractors chip away at the Technicians head count. The Union addresses these issues every time we meet with the Company, but the Company continues to bury their heads in the sand and make believe none of this is going on. The Union is going after new Tech work such as small cells and The First Responder Network, as well as protecting our members in the Call Centers from outsourcing/offshoring of work and demanding the Company come to the table with their long-term plan for the retail stores. While all issues on the table are important, job security is right at the top and is a strike issue.
We need mobilization throughout the Orange footprint to escalate, and your managers need to know you will do whatever it takes to secure a good contract. We remain far apart, but with the support and unity of the membership we can close the gap. The Company needs to hear us loud and clear and know that if they don’t bargain a fair contract WE WILL STRIKE! The Bargaining Team is committed, and we know you are too. When we fight, We WIN! Stay strong Brothers and Sisters!!
In Solidarity!
CWA / AT&T 2017 “Orange” Contract Bargaining
May 18, 2017 – Bargaining Report #43
Since CWA notified AT&T that a strike was imminent without significant movement at the bargaining table, the Company has rejected all of our proposals for title upgrades and offered nothing that would get us to a deal. The Union has continued to work toward a contract that would keep and improve the jobs our members have at AT&T. The Company has offered nothing but expensive benefits proposals, unfair absence plans, offensive wage increases, and they have refused to bargain a fair commission plan or any type of job security.
Tomorrow at 3 PM Eastern Time, CWA will be on strike against AT&T’s corporate greed unless there is significant movement between now and then. Stay in touch with your Local for additional details. We will walk out with our heads held high and fight for the fair contract we deserve. This is a historic moment for mobility workers covered by the Orange Contract. CWA has a long history of fighting for good American jobs and tomorrow the fight continues. The Bargaining Team thanks you for your support throughout this process and we will continue bargaining after the strike for as long as it takes to get a fair and equitable contract. When we fight we WIN, One day longer, One day stronger!
In Solidarity!
CWA / AT&T 2017 “Orange” Contract Bargaining
May 22, 2017 – Bargaining Report #44
First and foremost, The Bargaining Team would like to thank and congratulate the Membership for their historic participation in this weekend’s strike! The picket lines and rallies throughout the country were strong and sent a clear message to the Company. Finally, after months of stalling, the company started filling the data requests that had been left unanswered until the strike. The Company has been put on notice that if they don’t start bargaining a fair contract, we can strike again at any time.
If there is any intimidation, retaliation, discipline or encouragement to leave the Union, you need to report it immediately to your Local. Just because the strike is over doesn’t mean the fight is over. The strike has unified the members like never before and that should carry over into your respective work areas. Mobilization must continue, so we can show this company that this will not end until we get a fair and equitable contract. This is a fight for good American jobs and when We Fight We Win!
Stay strong Brothers and Sisters!!
In Solidarity,
Mike Baxter, Local 1101
Frank Oliva, Local 1298
Deb Casey, Local 2204
Jeff Reamer, Local 13000
Julie Daloisio, Local 13500
Holly Sorey, Local 4202
Glen Skeen, Local 4320
Hector Capote, Local 7250
Debbie Goulet, Local 7803
Joe Sison, Local 9412
Brandon Beck, Local 9511
Pat Telesco, District 1, Chair
Tonya Moore, District 1
CWA / AT&T 2017 “Orange” Contract Bargaining
April 28, 2017 – Bargaining Report #39
As you are aware, the Union gave the company 72 hour notice today to terminate the contract as per the extension agreement. The Union did this because the Company refused to come to the table and bargain. After receiving notice, the Company came to the table and we had extensive conversations, but we remain far apart. AT&T is standing by their greedy proposals and looking to slash benefits and outsource jobs while they make over a billion dollars a month. We know many of you will have questions about the 72-hour notice so here is a link to the FAQ sheet:
The Bargaining Team is strengthened by the support and mobilization of the membership. There were protests at the AT&T shareholders’ meeting and mobilization events around the country. Let AT&T hear loud and clear that you demand and deserve a fair contract! Stay unified, mobilized and angry! When we fight, We WIN!
Stay strong Brothers and Sisters!!
In Solidarity!
CWA / AT&T 2017 “Orange” Contract Bargaining
April 30, 2017 – Bargaining Report #40
Since giving the 72 hour notice to terminate the contract, the Union has had extensive meetings with the Company. We remain extremely far apart at this time, but we will continue to bargain as long as we believe progress is being made. The President of CWA can call a strike anytime after the contract expires tomorrow morning, but as of now bargaining is set to resume tomorrow.
We need the membership to remain mobilized and unified, so the Company knows we will strike whenever necessary. AT&T is an extremely wealthy and profitable corporation and our demands at the table are fair and just. The Company could easily do the right thing by you AND remain highly profitable. You built this Company, you drive the profits and you must share in the success! Please stay in touch with your Local and the unity@mobility facebook page for updates! When we fight, we win!
Stay Strong Brothers and Sisters!
In Unity!
CWA / AT&T 2017 “Orange” Contract Bargaining
May 3, 2017, 2017 – Bargaining Report #41
The Union and Company have continued meeting since the contract expired on Monday morning. There has been some positive movement, however, all major issues remain on the table. To recap, here is what we are fighting for: affordable benefits, fair wages, flexible time off including vacation scheduling, EWP time usage, exchange time, fair commissions, job upgrades, sick time and absence, and job security protections against contractors in Network, contracting out work and offshoring Call Centers and opening authorized retailers. This is a long list of issues and the Company refuses to offer fair proposals on any of them. Many of these issues are strike issues. The Bargaining team is here to improve this contract, and we will not leave until we accomplish our goal.
We have been receiving reports from the field that managers have been spreading false information. It is important to have mobilization continue and escalate. It’s also important to understand that management’s goal with misinformation is to undermine mobilization which could have a negative impact on bargaining. If it sounds wrong, it probably is, and you should check with your Local. If, and when, the CWA President calls a strike, rest assured, you cannot be pointed or fired for Striking. You cannot be disciplined for picketing, and the Company cannot discipline you when you return to work after the strike. Any misinformation being spread should be grieved by your stewards and should be reported to your Local. CWA has a long history of taking care of their own during a strike and that will continue in the event of a strike at Mobility. This is the time for Mobility members to stand up and fight back and leave their historic mark on the labor movement. When we fight, We Win!!
In Solidarity!
CWA / AT&T 2017 “Orange” Contract Bargaining
April 13, 2017 – Bargaining Report #36
As Bargaining continues, it is clear the company is standing behind their greedy demands, and they have no intention of compensating the employees that built the company. The company is standing firm on exorbitant medical costs, reduced sick time and unfair scheduling practices. It is imperative that you have some flexibility when using your bargained for time off to care for unexpected life events.
Many issues were discussed today, and we spent significant time focusing on call center issues including scheduling and monitoring. The CWA Bargaining Team is determined to improve the daily work lives for our members in the call centers and make sure that any monitoring will be done fairly. We also focused on full time benefits for part time workers since the company is hiring so many part timers in the retail stores. Job security for all groups remains a priority as well. We remain far apart, but we will bargain as long as it takes to get a fair contract. Mobilization remains a key to our strength at the table and together we will win!
Stay strong Brothers and Sisters!!
In Solidarity!
WA / AT&T 2017 “Orange” Contract Bargaining
April 18, 2017 – Bargaining Report #37
Two months into bargaining and more than a month after contract expiration, the Company shows no desire to bargain a fair and equitable contract for their employees. The Union spent the day going over all proposals and demanding the Company addresses the concerns of our members. The Company continues to insist on more costly benefits and 5 sick days for new hires while also refusing to negotiate fair wage increases, bargain a fair commission plan, discuss job security improvements or address any of the critical issues for current employees.
The Union is here to bargain a fair contract and will fight as long as it takes. We will not back off the demands the membership told us were most important to them. We know this is a long, frustrating process, but we need mobilization to escalate and send a clear message that we are united. Together we will win!
Stay strong Brothers and Sisters!!
In Solidarity!
CWA / AT&T 2017 “Orange” Contract Bargaining
April 19, 2017 – Bargaining Report #38
For the first time in a while, bargaining had some positive dialogue. The Call Centers are a high stress work environment, and we will do whatever it takes to make improvements. We met in a sub-committee to address call center issues including call flow, monitoring and schedules. There were also more general discussions for all groups about title upgrades, commissions, transfers, absence and sick time. While we remain far apart, we are optimistic about today’s meetings.
The Bargaining Team is sure the positive changes are a result of the mobilization activities of the membership. The Company hears you loud and clear, and they know we are more unified than ever before. Keep up the fight and together we will win!
Stay strong Brothers and Sisters!!
In Solidarity
CWA / AT&T 2017 “Orange” Contract Bargaining
March 29, 2017 – Bargaining Report #33
Bargaining continued today and some small improvements have been made including a tentative agreement on work boots for supply chain/warehouse workers. While we are happy with any positive movement and dialogue, we stress that we remain far apart on major issues. In every bargaining session, we continue to discuss the need for improved wages, affordable benefits and job security. The Company knows we are not going anywhere without achieving these goals.
Last night’s Town Hall call was a great success with thousands of members from across the country participating. The continue participation of the membership in mobilization gives great strength to the bargaining team and sends a very clear message to AT&T that we are united. Keep up the fight, keep up the mobilization and together we will win!!
Stay strong Brothers and Sisters!!
In Solidarity
CWA / AT&T 2017 “Orange” Contract Bargaining
March 31, 2017 – Bargaining Report #34
The Bargaining team continues to demand a fair contract at the bargaining table, but the Company’s actions are far louder than their words. With the launch of the new Samsung Galaxy S8, the Company steers customers to online pre-orders and offers some of the COR employees meager commission payments that end up on a MY-REWARDS card which is not the same as a cash payment. This is similar to what the Company did with Direct TV and other popular products and a perfect example of why we need to negotiate a simple, fair and equitable commission plan and wage structure in retail. We did get an agreement on prescription safety glasses for supply side/warehouse workers which is a positive gain, however we remain far apart.
We can’t stress enough how much the continued mobilization and unity is helping the Bargaining team at the table. Keep up the fight and together we will win!
Stay strong Brothers and Sisters!!
In Solidarity
CWA / AT&T 2017 “Orange” Contract Bargaining
April 6, 2017 – Bargaining Report #35
As we have been telling you since the beginning of bargaining, the company is refusing to provide all the information the union has requested. It is impossible to formulate certain proposals with missing information. The Union has filed an Unfair Labor Practice with the National Labor Relations Board to force AT&T to give us the information. Without all of the requested information, bargaining is being delayed and we will not allow the company to continue stalling.
We passed a counter proposal today on employee access to personal records and how the company notifies the Union about discipline. We also had discussions on network safety issues including flammable materials in company provided shirts, and the company adding duties to Call Center jobs. We remain far apart even though minor progress has been made on some issues. Mobilization is more important than ever because we need to keep pressure on the company. Keep up the great work and together we will win!
Stay strong Brothers and Sisters!!
In Solidarity
CWA / AT&T 2017 “Orange” Contract Bargaining
March 20, 2017 – Bargaining Report #30
Bargaining resumed today, and we had extensive conversations about commissions. Over the last decade, AT&T Mobility’s profits have soared. The employees who work in stores, maintain the network and service customers in the call centers are a major contributing factor of that success. It makes no sense that while profits soar, the company continues to manipulate commissions, so the people responsible for their success make less. Rather than reward the employees who are making the company successful, AT&T continues to look for more ways to line the pockets of executives and shareholders.
The Bargaining Team is disgusted with AT&T’s corporate greed, and We know the members are too. Stay mobilized, stay unified and stay ANGRY!
Stay strong Brothers and Sisters!!
In Solidarity
CWA / AT&T 2017 “Orange” Contract Bargaining
March 23, 2017 – Bargaining Report #31
As negotiations continue, the Union stresses the improvements we need in the contract. We have had extensive discussions around career paths and employee development. We also continue pushing for a fair and lucrative commission plan. You deserve a commission plan that is easy to understand with achievable goals and allows you to earn a fair wage. We have received numerous calls, from around the country, about the Ultimate Prospector Tool. We have verified with the company bargaining team that this tool is completely voluntary and any calls or procedures associated with it are optional.
We also continue discussions around safety which is an area where dialogue remains positive and some movement has been made. However, we cannot stress enough that we remain very far apart. We appreciate your continued support and mobilization.
Stay strong Brothers and Sisters!!
In Solidarity
CWA / AT&T 2017 “Orange” Contract Bargaining
March 27, 2017 – Bargaining Report #32
As Bargaining continues, the Company’s response has been more of the same greed and stall tactics. Multiple information requests by the Union remain partially or completely unfulfilled. The Company is showing no urgency toward bargaining a fair contract. The Union has made over 30 proposals to date but many of them cannot be fully addressed because of the Company’s delays. We continue discussions around wages, commissions, benefits, safety and other important issues, but we remain extremely far apart on all major items.
Over the last several days mobilization events have continued with great enthusiasm and turnout. The Bargaining team thanks you for your extraordinary efforts. Stay mobilized, stay unified and together we will win!
Stay strong Brothers and Sisters!!
In Solidarity
CWA / AT&T 2017 “Orange” Contract Bargaining
March 13, 2017 – Bargaining Report #27
The Union passed proposals on more title upgrades, fair treatment in the Team Colors program, improved safety language for techs and warehouse workers, increased tuition reimbursement and changes to the Manager in 60 program that would make it fair and more inclusive.
Today the company had members of their commission team on a conference call to clarify many issues the Union has with the company’s unfair and greedy commission plan. The improved dialogue goes right out the window when we address the greediness of AT&T. The Company continues to stand by their greedy commission policies and they believe it’s a good thing to cut people’s compensation even as their profits continue to soar. Randall Stephenson’s pay rose 13% last year to nearly 30 million dollars, but the company continues to cut commissions and outsource jobs. We are in for a long fight!! Stay mobilized, stay unified and together we will win!!
Stay strong Sisters and Brothers!!
In Solidarity
CWA / AT&T 2017 “Orange” Contract Bargaining
March 15, 2017 – Bargaining Report #28
Bargaining continued today with the Union passing proposals for substantial wage improvements, better commissions, improved transfer language and job security improvements. Aside from passing proposals, we continue to discuss all issues important to our members every time we meet with the company. As we have stated before, the dialogue has improved at times and small improvements have been made. However, when the most important issues come up, the company stands firm on their greedy demands. We will continue to demand better pay, better treatment, job security, training and everything necessary for the members to share in the continued growth and success of this company.
We remain committed to bargain as long as it takes to get a fair contract and with a unified and mobilized membership standing strong with us, we will win!!
Stay strong Brothers and Sisters!!
In Solidarity.
CWA / AT&T 2017 “Orange” Contract Bargaining
March 16, 2017 – Bargaining Report #29
Bargaining resumed today, and we had extensive conversations covering all issues. The Bargaining Team went over every proposal we have passed since bargaining began. We explained the importance of each proposal and reiterated that we demand a fair and equitable contract for our members. We also reviewed all the outstanding data requests and the need for them to be filled to move bargaining along.
The Company has made small incremental movements, but we are fighting for a lot more than incremental improvements. We know that this is a long and slow moving process and can be frustrating, but as long as the membership stays mobilized and unified we will win!!
Stay strong Brothers and Sisters!!
In Solidarity
CWA / AT&T 2017 “Orange” Contract Bargaining
March 6, 2017 – Bargaining Report #24
Bargaining resumed today and once again the dialogue was productive. We are still very far apart, but we continue to move forward. The Union passed a counter proposal strengthening the Force Adjustment language and increasing severance pay. We also made it crystal clear to the Company that we expect a fair benefits package that treats current employees and new hires the same. The Company passed a counter proposal for our Letter of Agreement 1- Personnel Files proposal that addresses some of the Union’s concerns but it still needs work.
The Bargaining Team is encouraged by the movement that has occurred over the last several days. However, mobilization is critical to show the Company that we are committed to getting a fair and equitable contract.
Stay Strong Sisters and Brothers!
CWA / AT&T 2017 “Orange” Contract Bargaining
March 8, 2017 – Bargaining Report #25
The Bargaining Team and Company met today to discuss a number of outstanding issues. No official proposals were passed by either side, but we clarified many of our previous data requests and the importance of those requests being filled quickly and completely.
While the tone at the table remains positive, we remain far apart. There is a lot of work to do. We continue to get information from our members across the country about AT&T looking to downsize, contract work, outsource jobs and otherwise engage in anti-union behavior. The mobilized and unified membership's involvement has been a key factor in the tone change. This is a long, slow process, that can be frustrating to everyone involved and we are so excited by the membership involvement we see at rallies, picketing and on social media. Keep up the fight, and with your support, we will WIN!!
Stay strong Sisters and Brothers!!
In Solidarity
CWA / AT&T 2017 “Orange” Contract Bargaining
March 11, 2017 – Bargaining Report #26
Bargaining resumed today with positive dialogue, and there has been some movement at the table, but we can’t stress enough that we remain far apart. We spoke about issues affecting every group today and told the company we remain committed to the issues our members highlighted as most important in the bargaining surveys.
The Company passed some language in regards to RSC pay treatment for transfers and Network rebalances. The language needs improvement but the Company is clearly hearing our concerns.
Mobilization remains a key part of this process and we are strengthened by what you are doing in the field. The Bargaining Team thanks you for the overwhelming participation in activities this past week. Keep up the fight!!
Stay strong Sisters and Brothers!!
In Solidarity
CWA / AT&T 2017 “Orange” Contract Bargaining
March 2, 2017 – Bargaining Report #21
Bargaining resumed today, and the Company continued their appalling behavior. The Bargaining team reiterated that our members need better benefits, wages, working conditions and job security. We pointed out that our concerns are more important than ever because the Company, despite their huge profits, still wants to outsource and downsize good union jobs. The Bargaining Team told them we will continue bargaining as long as it takes to get the contract you deserve.
Other than a brief demonstration of the Cricket commission plan, the Company had no proposals for the Union today and did not respond to any of the multiple proposals we passed yesterday. Bargaining will resume tomorrow. We need all our members unified and mobilized to let the company know we will not accept less than we deserve!!
Stay strong Sisters and Brothers!!
CWA / AT&T 2017 “Orange” Contract Bargaining
March 4, 2017 – Bargaining Report #22
Bargaining resumed today and, for the first time in a while, there was some meaningful dialogue. While we remain extremely far apart, the tone was a little different today. The Union passed more title upgrade language and had extensive discussions around the Company asking people to do more work without adding to their compensation or upgrading their titles.
The Company gave counter proposals on Union-Company Relationship and Force Adjustment. While neither proposal is what we are looking for, the language was starting to move in the right direction. We also broke off into a small off the record group to discuss some issues affecting the network and supply groups. Hopefully today will set a trend of increased dialogue, however, we need all members to stay mobilized and keep up the fight!!
Stay strong Sisters and Brothers!!
CWA / AT&T 2017 “Orange” Contract Bargaining
March 5, 2017 – Bargaining Report #23
The Union and Company resumed bargaining today and again the dialogue was productive. While we must stress that we remain extremely far apart, the last couple days have been encouraging. The Union continued to outline several job titles which have had responsibilities increased and deserve upgrades in title and pay.
The Company passed a Benefits proposal which was a small improvement but something we can build on. They also passed a counter on safety which is an improvement to the current contract language but still needs some work.
There is still a very long way to go but, with the continued support of a mobilized and unified membership, we will get what we deserve!!
Stay strong Sisters and Brothers!!
CWA / AT&T 2017 “Orange” Contract Bargaining
February 15, 2017 – Bargaining Report #18
The Union and company remain miles apart on all major issues. The company continues to make greedy and retrogressive demands despite their huge profits. The Union will not accept these demands and the discussions have become more contentious over the last several days. The Union is here to get a fair contract, and with the continued backing of the membership, we will win!
The Union and company agreed today to a brief “cooling-off” period, so we can comb through the piles of data received from the company. We will reconvene within the next two weeks. This is a chance for the membership to ramp up mobilization and show the company when they get back to the table, they need to bargain a fair contract! Thank you for your continued support. Stay mobilized, stay unified and stay ANGRY!!
As we continue to fight for good jobs, please encourage co-workers, family and friends to visit our website: http://goodjobsatt.org/
Stay strong Sisters and Brothers!! In Unity!
CWA / AT&T 2017 “Orange” Contract Bargaining
February 28, 2017 – Bargaining Report #19
After concluding the short week and a half break from the table, the Union and the Company resumed talks today. While the faces were the same for our Union Bargaining Team, the Company’s original team of 7 was cut down to 4. When asked where the rest of their team was, their reply was they returned to attend to other projects and this was the new Company bargaining team going forward. This reduction in team members is a direct reflection of the Company’s low priority they have placed on this round of bargaining and shows they aren’t interested in those issues over 21,000 of our members have deemed Priority #1. The rest of today’s session was spent reviewing and discussing the many open issues still on the table including the data still outstanding that the Company still must provide. Discussions were held on Wages, Commissions, their unfair and unethical Attendance Policy, Job Security for all titles, among the many other issues still open on the table. Strong involvement from the membership is making a difference! Our mobilization efforts need to be scaled up going forward to change that low priority Company mindset. Let them know in your ENPS Surveys, show them with your information picketing, rallies and solidarity.
Let them know we aren’t going anywhere without a fair contract!!
Stay strong Sisters and Brothers!
CWA / AT&T 2017 “Orange” Contract Bargaining
March 1, 2017 – Bargaining Report #20
The Bargaining team met with the Company today for an extended period. First, we put on a presentation on commissions and how they have been diminished even as AT&T’s profits soar. The presentation was met with silence that spoke volumes. The Company couldn’t figure out a way to justify their greed, so they said nothing. The Union also made proposals for improved monitoring language for Call Center and Retail workers.
Several proposals were made by the Union for title/pay upgrades to make sure that our members who are being asked to do more are compensated for it.
The Company took all our information and proposals and had nothing new to offer us. The Company continues to stall, delay and make no meaningful movement at the table. We need our members to stay mobilized and let the company know we will keep fighting until we get a fair contract.
In latest bargaining round for nationwide AT&T wireless contract,
AT&T Workers Hold the Line on End to Outsourcing and Offshoring, 38,000 Wireless and Wireline Workers Unite Fight for Good Jobs
Sen. Sherrod Brown and Reps. Pocan, Schakowsky and Norcross call on AT&T executives to support good jobs in USA
NATIONWIDE – As AT&T workers refuse to back down from their demands that the company end offshoring and outsourcing, wireless, wireline and DirecTV workers across the country announced they will unite their fights for good jobs. For AT&T, that means more than 38,000 workers nationwide are together calling on the company to invest in its core workforce that helps it bring in over $1 billion a month in profits.
Under a contract extension that can be terminated with 72 hours’ notice, workers will continue to bargain with the expectation that AT&T executives will come to the table with good faith proposals that protect family-supporting American jobs and invest in the country where customers have made the company a $250 billion telecom giant.
“To date, AT&T executives have been making proposals that are insulting to American workers and customers alike,” said James Stiffey, a retail worker from Pittsburgh, PA. “We’re ready to do whatever it takes to win a fair contract that protects us from cuts to the jobs and benefits our families rely on and call on AT&T to come to the table with contract proposals that show they are serious about good jobs and quality customer service.”
After AT&T wireless workers voted by a 93 percent margin to authorize a strike if it becomes necessary, hundreds of retail and call center workers and field technicians joined rallies outside stores and call centers in 36 cities this weekend. In cities from New York to Chicago to Sacramento, AT&T workers called on the company to support their workforce with a fair contract that ends offshoring and outsourcing and supports high quality customer service.
While AT&T’s profits keep growing, it has cut more than 8,000 call center jobs and offshored thousands of jobs to Mexico, the Philippines, India, the Dominican Republic and other countries. In the past few years, AT&T has also outsourced the operation of more than 60% of its wireless retail stores to low-wage, low-quality 3rd party dealers.
“Our communications workers keep Ohioans connected with their families, neighbors, and the rest of the world,” said U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (OH), whose state hosts a large wireless call center in Boardman, Ohio, and 16 retail stores run by more than 860 workers. “I urge AT&T and the Communications Workers of America to reach an agreement that will keep jobs in the U.S. and ensure customers continue to receive the same standards of service.”
Reps. Mark Pocan (WI), Jan Schakowsky (IL) and Donald Norcross (NJ) said on Friday, “AT&T wireless workers are helping AT&T earn more than $1 billion a month. Strangely, these workers are being asked to swallow significant benefit cuts, and have their paid leave days cut. That’s not what a leading, profitable U.S. company does. We hope that all sides will bargain in good faith and that an equitable outcome for these workers is achieved.”
More than 17,000 workers in California and Nevada who support landline phone and broadband internet have been working without a contract for nearly one year. After voting to go on strike with more than 95 percent support, AT&T wireline workers have gathered at major state freeway overpasses to protest the company’s ongoing attempts to squeeze customers and employees.
“AT&T workers – whether they work for the wireless, wireline or DirecTV divisions – are calling on AT&T to support good, family-supporting jobs. It is a righteous fight that we are proud to support,” Dennis Trainor, Vice President of CWA District 1. “Workers are making it clear and uniting together as one movement—we won’t rest until AT&T stops outsourcing and offshoring thousands of call center, retail and technician jobs in communities and cities across the country.”
Last year, CWA members at Verizon were on strike for 49 days, finally gaining a strong contract that created and protected good jobs. During the strike, Verizon’s approval ratings were at a three-year low while analysts and media regularly remarked on the reputational damage facing Verizon.
CWA / AT&T 2017 “Orange” Contract Bargaining
February 13, 2017 – Bargaining Report #16
The Union and the Company met today and the Union passed proposals on job security, vacations, absence, transfer language, exchange time, holidays, benefits and basis of compensation. Heated and contentious discussions occurred surrounding the Union’s notice to the Company of our intent to bargain commissions and the Company’s unwillingness to give up their flexibility to change it when their greed suits them. Your bargaining team has placed this Company on notice that we will be here as long as it takes and that our membership has driven this agenda and we will not waiver. The line has been drawn in the sand and we are not going anywhere until we achieve our goal of bringing back a fair contract for the membership. Continue your mobilization efforts and let your voices be heard to management that you are on the same side of that line as your bargaining team. Your bargaining team has been energized by the show of support and solidarity displayed through this past weekend’s mobilizations, rallies, practice pickets and job actions. Scale it up!
Stay strong Sisters and Brothers!!
In Solidarity
CWA / AT&T 2017 “Orange” Contract Bargaining
February 14, 2017 – Bargaining Report #17
The Union and the Company met today and the Company opened the meeting by outright rejecting many of our proposals including Job Security and also continued to state that they have no interest in bargaining commissions for Retail Stores, Cricket Stores and Tele-sales employees. They rejected our Benefit proposal and continue to demand that employees pay about one third of the cost of their healthcare. They rejected our Absence proposal and continue to demand additional “wait days” before being paid. The Union continues to demand the end to their unfair, unjust attendance policy. There was no love shown by this GREEDY Corporation on this Valentine’s Day for their employees who have built this Company into what it is today. Our membership is the reason why this is a profitable Company, not the inadequate managers they have on the payroll. Your Bargaining Team informed the Company that there will be NO agreement reached in this round of bargaining without our key issues being addressed. We will be here as long as it takes and do whatever it takes to ensure those issues are cared for. Continue to scale up your mobilization efforts to let AT&T Mobility know we are all in this together! If you haven’t gotten involved up to this point, STAND UP and GET INVOLVED!
It’s YOUR future we are fighting for. Stay strong Sisters and Brothers!!
CWA / AT&T 2017 “Orange” Contract Bargaining
February 08, 2017 – Bargaining Report #13
Bargaining resumed today and the Union passed proposals on absence, benefits, job security and other language to protect our members and improve your working conditions! We had heated discussions today and made it clear that job security and improved work conditions are the only path to an agreement. So far, we have made proposals related to wages, benefits, flexible time off, over time, call out pay, on-call pay, weekend differential, commissions and more. The company, however, has made only a handful of proposals and they are mostly concessionary. On top of their concessionary proposals, they continue to stall on giving the Union some of the information we have requested. The company is not only greedy, they are stalling and making no effort to get a contract by expiration. There are rallies happening throughout the Orange contract footprint over the next few days, everyone should be there and let the company know you demand a good contract and will do whatever it takes to get it!
Stay strong Sisters and Brothers!!
In Solidarity
CWA / AT&T 2017 “Orange” Contract Bargaining
February 10, 2017 – Bargaining Report #14
The company wasted no time today showing their greed and hostility at the bargaining table. They are still insisting on no pensions for new hires, and they rejected our benefits proposal. They want you to pay an outrageous amount of your medical costs. The good news is the company left our 10 sick days intact, the bad news is they want you to wait a lot longer to use them and NO ONE, regardless of seniority, gets paid on day one of their illness. Their wage proposal was offensive and does not keep up with the cost of living, and it doesn’t address our need to bargain fair commissions. We didn’t think it was possible, but they are greedier and more out of touch than we thought. Obviously, none of this is acceptable to you or your bargaining team! With only one day left, the company still has not supplied all the data requested over a month ago. This bargaining team will fight as long as it takes to get a fair contract, and we will not settle for their concessionary demands. Keep up the fight, stay mobilized and stay angry!!
Stay strong Sisters and Brothers!!
In Solidarity
CWA / AT&T 2017 “Orange” Contract Bargaining
February 11, 2017 – Bargaining Report #15
The Union and company remain very far apart on all issues important to our members. The Bargaining Team is not here to settle, we are here to fight and we feel energized by all the mobilization we see across the Orange Contract footprint. AT&T is greedy and their proposals are unfair and appalling.
We met with the company today and signed a temporary contract extension, so all the provisions of the contract remain intact while we continue to bargain. While this is the best scenario for our members at this time, this extension still allows the Union to call a strike by giving 72 hours’ notice to the Company of a cancellation of the extension. We stress to you that we hear your concerns and we will bargain as long as it takes to get a fair contract! AT&T needs to remain on notice that the membership is mobilized, unified and pissed off! You deserve better and we are here to make sure you get it!
The Bargaining Team met with the company today and received a demonstration of the call monitoring system used in our call centers. As usual, the demonstration created more questions than it answered. The amount of monitoring our call center members are subjected to creates a high stress environment and we are working on language to improve the working conditions at the call centers.
We also made it very clear to the company that we had no interest in their greedy and offensive benefits proposal or taking away pensions for new hires. We remain focused on all the issues important to our members, and bargaining will resume tomorrow.
In Solidarity
CWA / AT&T 2017 “Orange” Contract Bargaining
February 04, 2017 – Bargaining Report #11
The Union passed many proposals today covering some of the most important issues for our members. We passed language in regards to wages, commissions, transfers, holidays, job openings, scheduling, call out and on-call pay, overtime and differential. AT&T is a multibillion dollar corporation and it’s about time they start acting like it and sharing some of those profits with their employees.
The Bargaining Team is determined to negotiate improvements to the Orange Contract and we are working off the issues you identified in your surveys. AT&T’s greed is no match for the strength and unity of our Union! The Bargaining Team thanks you for your support. Keep up the great job with mobilization. Bargaining is set to resume on Monday.
Stay strong Sisters and Brothers!!
In Solidarity
CWA / AT&T 2017 “Orange” Contract Bargaining
February 06, 2017 – Bargaining Report #12
The Union and company resumed bargaining today with both sides having multiple clarifying questions. As stated in the last bargaining report, the Union passed language last Saturday on multiple major issues. The company, as expected, had multiple questions about our proposals. Our proposals are fair and reasonable but the company is too greedy to accept anything that would help our members, their employees.
The Union had many questions after reviewing data the company provided related to the technicians and call centers. The company has trouble providing information when it’s to improve working conditions for their employees but no trouble when it’s used for discipline or negative impacts. We still have outstanding data requests for retail, network and call center workers. Stay mobilized and stay angry!! Bargaining resumes tomorrow.
Stay strong Sisters and Brothers!!
In Solidarity
CWA / AT&T 2017 “Orange” Contract Bargaining
January 31, 2017 – Bargaining Report #7
One week into bargaining and AT&T continues to use stall tactics at the bargaining table. The Union has open information requests going back weeks and the company continues to stonewall and play dumb when it comes to information. The bargaining team is here to bargain and will do whatever it takes to get the information so our proposals are based on the most accurate and current information. As always, the Union will be here one day longer and one day stronger than the company.
The Union did pass proposals about safety and non-discrimination. The company forces employees, under the threat of discipline, to come to work when State and Local governments close the roads and transit systems due to inclement weather. If the State and Local government declares a state of emergency, we know that even AT&T can figure out it’s not safe to get to work and workers should not be penalized for it!
Stay strong Sisters and Brothers!!
In Unity!
CWA / AT&T 2017 “Orange” Contract Bargaining
February 01, 2017 – Bargaining Report #8
With Groundhog Day rapidly approaching, the Bargaining Team saw a lot of the same old nonsense from greedy AT&T. The company continues to fill information requests at a snail’s pace and large portions of pertinent data are missing! This is a classic stall tactic and we believe they are so embarrassed by their own actions and behaviors that they don’t want to pass the information!
The Union will not tolerate the company’s tactics. We spent the day huddled with our legal team combing through the data we already received and planning our next moves! AT&T’s greed is on full display at bargaining and their hostility towards their employees is appalling. Mobilization will be accelerating leading up to contract expiration. The Bargaining Committee continues to focus on job security, wages and better benefits! We need all members covered under the Orange Contract- MOBILIZED, UNIFIED and ANGRY!
Stay strong Sisters and Brothers!
In Solidarity!
CWA / AT&T 2017 “Orange” Contract Bargaining
February 02, 2017 – Bargaining Report #9
The Company finally supplied the Union with a huge amount of data related to Call Center monitoring. While we did not meet with the Company today, the Bargaining Team spent most the day analyzing the data received and formulating our proposals. We are scheduled to reconvene with the Company tomorrow. The Bargaining Team will be getting a demonstration of the call monitoring system. Call monitoring is a significant issue because of the stress and discipline associated with it in our Call Centers. The Bargaining Team remains committed to address all the important issues facing our members.
We will join everyone tonight on the Town Hall call at 8 PM EST. We will begin calling people who registered shortly before 8 PM. If you have not registered or do not receive a call, you can dial in on 1-855-269-4485.
Stay strong Sisters and Brothers!!
CWA / AT&T 2017 “Orange” Contract Bargaining
January 28, 2017 – Bargaining Report #4
The Company and Union met today over several issues. The company made a benefits proposal that is extensive and at first glance is riddled with givebacks. The bargaining team asked many clarifying questions and requested additional information connected with the proposal.
The bargaining committee discussed scheduling issues with the company and made it clear that our members need more flexibility and must be allowed to take their bargained for time when it works for them not the company. The company loves to use the term flexibility and we agree, our members need more flexibility. The Union passed our proposals on Vacations, EWP and Exchange time.
The Bargaining Team is strong and resolute, and we see the membership standing strong and supporting us. Mobilization is one of the most important ways we can show the company we are United and ready to fight for a fair contract. If you are not willing to take givebacks from this Company, Now is the time to STAND UP and GET INVOLVED to send that message to AT&T!
Stay strong Sisters and Brothers!!
In Solidarity
CWA / AT&T 2017 “Orange” Contract Bargaining
January 29, 2017 – Bargaining Report #5
The Bargaining Team met the company today with the hopes of working toward a fair and equitable contract. The Company wasted no time in showing that they have absolutely no respect for the employees that built their company. They passed an absence proposal that was completely insulting and totally unacceptable. The greed of AT&T was on full display. Sitting with the company, you realize that they don’t view their employees as hardworking people, they view them as the enemy. All members of CWA covered by the Orange contract need to mobilize and fight back against this corporate greed.
The Bargaining team is intent on improving working conditions, wages and all the issues important to our members. This is a fight for good middle class jobs! No matter how greedy AT&T is and no matter how disrespectful they are to their employees, we are here to fight and with the support of the membership behind us WE WILL WIN!!
Stay strong Sisters and Brothers!!
In Solidarity!
CWA / AT&T 2017 “Orange” Contract Bargaining
January 30, 2017 – Bargaining Report #6
AT&T wasted no time showing how greedy they are and how little they care about their employees. Since bargaining began, they have done nothing but demand givebacks and attack worker’s benefits. The company wants to eliminate pensions for all new hires and in 2021 they want all bargained for employees to pay 32% of their medical benefits. AT&T’s greed did not stop there, they want to reduce employees sick time to just FIVE days per year while increasing wait time to up to 3 days! AT&T is in the TOP 10 on the Fortune 500 list but continues to try and take more and more from the employees that built the company! We will not let them!
The Bargaining Committee is still waiting for several information requests to be filled by the Company. They are probably so ashamed of their own horrible and greedy behavior that they are embarrassed to share the information with us. We are in this fight to win and with your support we will win! Stay mobilized, stay united and GET PISSED OFF!
Stay strong Sisters and Brothers!!
In Solidarity!
CWA / AT&T 2017 “Orange” Contract Bargaining
January 25, 2017 – Bargaining Report #1
The CWA Bargaining Committee met with AT&T today to kick-off bargaining for a successor “Orange” Regional Agreement covering over 20,000 employees in CWA Districts 1, 2-13, 4, 7, and 9.
In an opening statement, the Company expressed that “the relationship with CWA is valued and they are proud to be the only Union wireless carrier.” The CWA team said we couldn’t agree more, and our members have always been proud to be Union members working for AT&T, but that the workers have not been feeling valued. While AT&T says they need to keep work rules “flexible,” we told them that they have abused the flexibility in this Contract.
In an opening statement, CWA Bargaining Chair Pat Telesco said, “AT&T has been very greedy. This bargaining is about survival of the middle class. This is about job security,” Telesco said.
AT&T has reported huge profits in 2014, 2015 and 2016 over the term of this Agreement. We are here to fight for our share and we let AT&T know that we have a solid, mobilized membership behind us in this fight.
Bargaining will resume tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. Thanks to all the members who sent in pictures and messages of support!
In Solidarity
CWA / AT&T 2017 “Orange” Contract Bargaining
January 26, 2017 – Bargaining Report #2
The Orange Contract Bargaining Committee met with the Company today and continued negotiating for a fair contract for at&t mobility members. There are several information requests that remain open and the bargaining team made it clear we expect them filled immediately. The company made some proposals regarding the grievance and arbitration procedure but these proposals only gave rise to mor...e questions and information requests from the bargaining team. The bargaining team is incredibly pleased with the support we are receiving throughout the Orange contract footprint. We have received emails, calls and texts of encouragement and support. We have also received pictures and videos from all over the country showing how mobilized and ready to fight our members are to get a fair and equitable contract. Please keep it up!! Your bargaining team is here and ready to fight and with a mobilized membership, We will WIN!!
In Solidarity
CWA / AT&T 2017 “Orange” Contract Bargaining
January 27, 2017 – Bargaining Report #3
The Orange Bargaining Committee was anticipating meeting with the Company today but was informed by the Company’s Bargaining Chair early this morning that they were not prepared to meet today. The Committee did however, receive a portion of the data that we have been waiting on and spent the day analyzing that data and formulating our bargaining proposals based on your bargaining survey priorities. Bargaining with the Company is anticipated to resume tomorrow. Keep up those unprecedented mobilization efforts as they are no doubt sending the message to this greedy corporation that our members are ready, unified, educated on the issues, and all-in for this fight! STAY MOBILIZED!!
In Solidarity
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