CWA D4 AT&T Midwest Bargaining Report #83

Bargaining continued yesterday with a meeting of the full committee, as well as some informal discussions.  Over the past week, we have made meaningful progress at narrowing the gap between the two sides.  However, we advised AT&T that we believed it would be in the best interest of the bargaining process to give the committees a short break over the holiday weekend to spend a few days with their families.  Negotiations will resume on Monday and it is our hope that we will pick up where we left off.   

We understand that members are frustrated with the length of time that this has taken.  Rest assured that our bargaining committee shares that frustration too and appreciates all the support that they have gotten through this difficult fight.  We remain confident that if we stay strong and united, we will win a fair contract for our members.

Mobilization News:   In Akron, Ohio, Local 4302 welcomed technicians loaned from Michigan with a message of solidarity and stressed that AT&T is trying to drive a wedge between us and we won't be divided!

Across the Midwest today, members are wearing red to show their support for our bargaining committee to win our fight for a fair contract at AT&T.

Contact your Local's mobilization coordinator or officers to find out about your Local's activities.

If you haven't already gotten everyone you know to sign on to the petition to support AT&T workers, here is the website: StandUpForWorkers

The next report will be Monday, July 6, or sooner should developments warrant.

CWA D4 AT&T Midwest Bargaining Report #82

Our bargaining committee spent Tuesday in caucus reviewing AT&T's latest offer and discussing our response.  There were no meetings with AT&T yesterday.

Mobilization News:  Local 4900 members in Anderson, Indiana, are busy spreading the word all around town for AT&T to "STOP CORPORATE GREED!"  Yesterday, they held informational pickets outside of an AT&T Mobility Store.

Contact your Local's mobilization coordinator or officers to find out about your Local's activities.

If you haven't already gotten everyone you know to sign on to the petition to support AT&T workers, here is the website: StandUpForWorkers

The next report will be Thursday, July 2, or sooner should developments warrant.

CWA D4 AT&T Midwest Bargaining Report #81

Talks continued yesterday late into the night.  We continue to make progress on a number of unresolved issues and narrow the gap between both sides.  However, a number of important issues remain unresolved.  Talks will continue today. 

Mobilization News:  CWA members converged on our nation's capitol calling on AT&T to stop the attack on middle class jobs. 

CWA activists lobbied their Senators and Congressional representatives to send letters to CEO Randall Stephenson to stop the attack on our standard of living.  So far, in District 4, we have 31 letters.  Locals will continue to meet with their representatives to gain more support.

Contact your Local's mobilization coordinator or officers to find out about your Local's activities.

If you haven't already gotten everyone you know to sign on to the petition to support AT&T workers, here is the website: StandUpForWorkers

The next report will be Wednesday, July 1, or sooner should developments warrant.

CWA AT&T Midwest Bargaining Report #80

6/29/2009

Negotiations continued throughout the weekend with progress on a number of issues further narrowing the gap between CWA and AT&T.  While we understand that our members would like to hear many more details about this progress, it is especially true, at this stage of negotiations, that many issues are interconnected; and it is not helpful to have a public discussion on the progress made or unresolved issues left.

It is also particularly important, at this point, that we maintain our solidarity and show unity.  Sticking together is what has helped moved us forward and sticking together is how we will win.

Mobilization News:  CWA members continue to mobilize across the Midwest.

On Saturday, Local 4300 members in Youngstown, Ohio greeted technicians from Michigan who are loaned to Youngstown. Here is what they had to say:  

We know it’s tough being loaned out, but we are all CWA and we’re all in this fight together.  Everyone needs an alternative to working and being in the hotel.  We’re available to picnic, bowl or fish.  After a long 8 hour day we want them to see us as their home away from home. 

Contact your Local’s mobilization coordinator or officers to find out about your Local’s activities.

If you haven’t already gotten everyone you know to sign on to the petition to support AT&T workers, here is the website: www.standupforworkers.com

The next report will be Tuesday, June 30, or sooner should developments warrant.

CWA D4 AT&T Midwest Bargaining Report #79

Informal talks continued in the Midwest on Thursday with a comprehensive review of unresolved issues.  While we made some progress, there are still critically important issues that remain unresolved.  Talks will continue today and throughout the weekend.

Meanwhile, local leaders and activists from District 4 converged on Capitol Hill this week and met with Senators and Congressmen throughout the Midwest. 

We got a growing number of Members of Congress and the Senate to commit to send letters to Randall Stephenson encouraging AT&T to get a fair contract with CWA.  Out of approximately one hundred members of Congress and the Senate from across the country, nearly three dozen from our District have already sent letters to AT&T. 

Our elected leaders got an earful from CWA activists about how a profitable company like AT&T, that should be leading the way out of this recession was, instead, not willing to commit to preserve middle class jobs. 

The intense lobbying over the last few days will continue when these politicians arrive home for the Congressional recess next week.  Our elected officials of both parties understand that we need to preserve good jobs in the Midwest.

The next report will be Monday, June 29, or sooner should developments warrant.

CWA D4 AT&T Midwest Bargaining Report #78

Talks continued on Wednesday with a focus on unresolved issues around Prem Tech and employment security. 

There is no progress to report from yesterday's discussions.  These are extremely critical issues that will need to be resolved in order to reach an agreement. 

Talks today will focus on other unresolved issues as we continue to attempt to narrow the gap.

The next report will be on Friday, June 26, or sooner should developments warrant.

CWA D4 AT&T Midwest Bargaining Report #77

Informal talks continued on Tuesday and there was some progress on Evolving Technologies. 

Today, talks are expected to focus on a broader range of issues.

The next report will be on Thursday, June 25, or sooner should developments warrant.

CWA D4 AT&T Midwest Bargaining Report #76

Informal discussions continued on Monday, including discussions on the issues of card check and evolving technologies. 

We continue to narrow the differences between the company and union positions.  Our committee continues to be available to meet and work hard on resolving the remaining issues.

The next report will be on Wednesday, June 24, or sooner should developments warrant.

Why We Wear Red On Thursdays

It began as a movement out of love for a brother who lost his life to a SCAB during the NYNEX strike of 1989. It was resolved that every Thursday we would show the Company that we are a UNITED and strong work force. That we would neither tolerate the injustice of Gerry’s death nor the disrespect the Company shows us each day...Not just at contract time...Not just when we are challenged with new or unfair policy...but every single day we come to work...especially on Thursdays.

Tricia McNamara, the SCAB, had to get to work and drove her car through the line of picketers outside of her work area. In her haste, this summer SCAB struck down a strong union member, Brother Gerry Horgan.

Gerry Horgan gave his life for what he believed in, for what he loved, for what he lived for. He wanted what we all want, a good life for his wife, his children, and his friends.

Local 1103 in Westchester County N.Y. lost a Brother that day. A wife lost her husband and two little girls lost their daddy to Corporate GREED. This GREED still exists today. The members of that Local wore RED for the first time in UNITY for Brother Gerry Horgan. That display of UNITY is what CWA members are supposed to be all about.

Is it too much to ask that we wear RED on Thursdays, to say with a color or your voice "I'm Proud To Be A Union Member, I'm Proud To Be With CWA!".

Remember, wear RED on Thursday , and please remember Brother Gerry Horgan!

LOCAL 4700 MEMBERS ARE STILL NOT

 IN THE VOLUNTEER SPIRIT!!

 BUT...WE CONTINUE TO PERFORM

QUALITY WORK....SAFELY!!