cwa at&t bargaining bulletin 15 3/19/2012

CWA D-9 AT&T West Bargaining Bulletin #15
Tuesday March 20, 2012

The Union started off today’s session with letting the Company know that our Members have a right to join in concerted activity, like wearing red shirts. Seems that some managers have taken exception to the Techs wearing red shirts on Thursdays even though they have been wearing them for years…..Keep up your concerted activity including wearing red shirts!

The Union rejected Company proposal #22 Contract Distribution; we want our members to have a copy of the Contract readily available. The Union rejected Company proposal #27 Charge for West Region Parking.We told the Company that we are outraged that the Company wants the members to pay to come to work, it’s just overly greedy! We rejected Company proposal #29 Personal Appearance MOA. Our members are clean and professional, if the Company had issues they should have brought them forward. This proposal is just a smokescreen!

The Union presented five (5) bargaining demands today. Union proposal #32 Successorship, this language protects the bargaining unit in case of a sale, conveyance, assignment or transfer which involves bargaining unit work or employees subject to the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Union proposal #33 Metro Pass provides for the reimbursement of employees for any public transportation expenses incurred by employees traveling to and from work. Union proposal #34 Parking Tickets, the employer will payforparking tickets the employees incur while performing any work for the employer during their shift. Union proposal #35 Term and Loan Positions which would provide that the Company issue Regular Requisitions for all current term positions and issue Regular Requisitions for all jobs that have been filled with “Loans” for six months or longer. Union proposal #36 Quality of Work Life establishes a Quality of Work Life program.

The Company did not offer any proposals today, they did reject four (4) of the Union’s proposals.

The Company rejected Union proposal #7, Upgrade the Premises Tech to (WS12). The Company feels the proposed wage increase is not reflective of the current market; however they are willing to work together on a comprehensive proposal for the Premises Techs. We will keep you posted on the facts! Union proposal #16 Overtime and Callouts, the Company stated “the employees are highly compensated and increasing costs would put us at a complete disadvantage”. Union proposal #25 Monitoring was rejected because the Company is not interested in accepting the limitations of the Unions proposal. Union proposal #26 Movement of Work, the Company is not interested in giving up its rights to move work as they determine. Additionally the Company maintains they must retain the flexibility to have work performed where they deem it necessary. So much for AT&T taking the high road to keep good middle class jobs in America. Our concern for the continued outsourcing and off-shoring jobs is falling on deaf ears. AT&T is a profitable and successful company, thanks to the hard work and dedication of the employees who do the work and are the “front line” providing quality service to the customers.

We have been in bargaining with the Company for four (4) weeks now with 18 Days to contract expiration!We have had no significant movement at the table! You have to support your bargaining team and get out there and mobilize at your work places.

The Locals across the Four Districts bargaining with AT&T are conducting Strike Votes. Your Local will be contacting you soon. A strong Strike Vote sends a clear message to AT&T that we will do whatever it takes to fight for a good contract! We are not interested in concessionary bargaining. A Strike Vote does not mean we are going on Strike. A strong Strike Vote helps your bargaining team at the table to achieve a better contract. Vote “Yes” and support your bargaining team!

We are fighting to keep the American Dream Alive!

Keep current on the Bargaining information by going to the District 9 website, facebook and the National Union website at CWAatATT.com.

In Unity, Your Bargaining committee,
Bill Demers
Art Gonzalez
Marisa Remski
Pam Suniga
Tom Runnion
Ellen West

“Although it is true that only about seven percent of American Workers are in Unions, that seven percent sets the standards across the board in salaries, benefits and working conditions. If you are making a decent salary in a non-union company, you owe that to the Unions. One thing that corporations do not do is give out money out of the goodness of their hearts.”
- Molly Ivins