AT&T SW BARGAINING REPORT #14

February 20, 2017

Your CWA Bargaining Committee met with the Company on February 17, 2017, and then continued meeting over the weekend. The Union questioned the Company on their package proposal of February 16, 2017, to fully understand what the Company had presented. In addition, the CWA Committee had long discussions with the Company regarding:

The contracting out of work that could be performed by bargaining unit employees.

New Technologies utilized for the deployment of satellite communication

Premises Technicians receiving a pay upgrade

The Employment Security Commitment

At this juncture in negotiations, the CWA Committee needs to clarify a matter regarding the Bargaining Reports we are sending out. Early on, we sent out Bargaining Reports that listed everything that either your Bargaining Committee presented, or the Company’s Retrogressive first package proposal to the Union contained. Since those first Bargaining Reports, the Union Committee has not, and will not, continue to send out each and every item that either the CWA Committee or the Company Committee presents at the negotiating table. The reasons for this are two-fold:

Your CWA Bargaining Committee has no intent to negotiate with the Company in the public domain. Successful negotiations cannot occur with hundreds of people involved on an ongoing basis.

Negotiations constantly change, both with the dialogue spoken at the bargaining table and with proposals and counter proposals. It is impossible to ensure the complete ongoing snapshot of these types of reports, without mass confusion ensuing for those reading the summaries of ongoing negotiations.

We have written paragraphs 1 and 2 above in response to many of the Social Media postings that members of the CWA Bargaining Committee have observed. It is obvious that employees are reading the Bargaining Reports. That is a very good thing. However, to read a report and not see a bargaining item that we did not include in the summary and to reach a wrong conclusion is counterproductive and a waste of emotion. Because an item is not listed, does not mean both Committees are not negotiating on a later date on the matter, or that it has not been included with another demand. Do not read and jump to conclusions or form opinions of what is actually taking place at the Negotiating Table. Events are changing during negotiations every day, sometimes multiple times in a day. The finished product of a tentative contract will look much different than the ongoing dialogue of everyday negotiations. The Committee does appreciate the energy and commitment to mobilize that is taking place at your worksites. Keep it up.

Your Committee worked late into both Saturday and Sunday night in preparation of a Union Proposal package to present to the Company. The Committee would like to recognize Local 6222 for forwarding dozens of cards, with hundreds of signatures of Members, to us. The cards thanked the CWA Bargaining Committee for their hard work and more importantly the hand written messages stated that Local 6222 was standing tall with Members from every CWA Local in District 6 in support of a good contract. Thank you, Brothers and Sisters.

We Feel Your Support – Continue The Mobilization Activities

AT&T SW BARGAINING REPORT #13

February 17, 2017

The CWA Bargaining Committee met with the Company on February 16, 2017. The Company presented a complete package proposal to the Union. The Union Committee worked late into the evening analyzing the Company’s package of proposals. There was a little movement in reaching an agreement but the Company’s proposal is nowhere close to addressing many of the Union’s demands. There are still dozens of retroactive proposals that the Company has presented to your Union Bargaining Committee. Listed below are some of the Company’s proposals but the following lists are in no way inclusive.

Positive Proposals Presented by the Company:

Add Wage Progression Schedules for the titles of Office Coordinator, Administrative Assistant and Warehouse Assistant
Renew the Success Sharing Plan
Replace two Floating Holidays with three Floating Holidays
Renew the MOA – Four Day Workweek
Renew the MOA – Recommendations of the Revenue Management Representative Working Group
Renew the MOA – Service Leader
Renew the Motor Vehicle Usage Program
Renew the MOA – Uniformed Services Leave of Absence
Renew the MOA – On Employees Entering Active Military Duty

Retrogressive Proposals Presented by the Company:

Employee Contributions for the Medical, Dental, Vision, Disability, Care Plus, and Life Insurance shall be at the following percentages:

An inadequate wage increase to base wages for the years, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020
A day in waiting for all Employees before a paid illness day
Employees hired after April 8, 2017 shall not be any paid illness days
Double time paid after working 16 hours in a day
Delete Article V – Cost of Living Allowance
Amend the MOA on the Employment Security Commitment (JOG)
The Company shall have sole discretion to assign Appendix J employees to participate in the AT&T Home Dispatch Program
Premise Technicians – Eliminate the seventeen hour limit for overtime
Premise Technicians – Delete the thirty-two hours of work guarantee
Premise Technicians – Delete Carry-over Vacation
Delete the Day after Thanksgiving for all employees

As stated in the report earlier, the lists are not all inclusive but they characterize how far apart the two sides are. Your CWA Committee appreciates the Mobilization that the Locals and the Members are performing. Keep up the pressure on the Company.

AT&T SW BARGAINING REPORT #12

February 17, 2017

Your CWA Bargaining Committee on February 15, 2017, spent the day studying data the Company had provided in previous negotiation sessions. The Company had presented a bargaining demand regarding a new Home Dispatch Program for Premise Technicians. The Union Bargaining Committee also studied the Summary Plan Descriptions for both the AT&T Savings Plan and the Pensions and Savings Benefit Plans.

The CWA Bargaining Committee and the Company Committee remained in contact during the day to answer questions on the presented proposals from each Committee. The Company notified the Union that they would be prepared to meet late in the afternoon of February 16, 2017. The Company will be presenting another proposal at that time.

Mobilize Mobilize Mobilize