AT&T SW BARGAINING REPORT #8

February 13, 2017

The CWA Bargaining Committee met with the Company on February 9, 2017. The Company presented a complete package proposal to the Union. The Union Bargaining Committee spent Friday, February 10, 2017 and the entire weekend meeting with the Company, as well as analyzing the package to fully understand the totality of the Company proposal. To characterize the Company’s proposal as retrogressive would be sugar coating the description. Listed below are the “lowlights” of the Company’s package proposal.

A 1.5% wage increase to base wages in each year of 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020.
Deletion of Article V – Cost of Living Allowance
The elimination of the Night Differential
The elimination of Article IV, Section 6, paragraph b. pay treatment for Cable Splicing Technicians
The Union will no longer be notified of major incentive plans that will be implemented
Employees may be excluded from any Incentive Plans for any reason
The elimination of Overtime at Two Times the Basic Hourly Rate
The elimination of Severance Payments for any reason
All employees will have only five paid illness days
A day of waiting for all employees before being eligible for a paid illness day
All employees hired after April 8, 2017 shall not be eligible for any paid illness days
Leverage Service Representative change – 50% wage rate in base pay, 50% in the target incentive
Leverage Service Representative – target incentive shall be capped at 250%
The elimination of the Leverage Service Representative Sales Committee
Refusal of a lateral transfer from a Service Representative to a Leveraged Service Representative position in a surplus condition shall now be considered a job declination
The elimination of displacement rights for a Service Representative
The elimination of pay protection for Customer Services Technicians who were forced into the Premise Technician title because of a surplus condition
The Day after Thanksgiving shall be removed as a Holiday and replaced with a Floating Holiday
Only one week of vacation may be carried over into the following year
Transitional Leave of Absence language in the surplus process – from no earlier than 28 days to no earlier than day 14
Temporary Employees – change maximum length of employment from 18 months to 36 months
Reduce the time an employee may file a grievance from 45 days to 30 days
Reduce the number of employees that might be paid for attending a grievance meeting from three to two
Effective January 1, 2018, Current Employees who participate in the Southwest Program of the AT&T Pension Benefit Plan will not be eligible for future pension band increases
Effective January 1, 2018, the lump sum optional form of payment of the AT&T Pension Benefit plan will only be available for the benefit accrued prior to January 1, 2018
Effective January 1, 2018, for those employees eligible for the Bargained Cash Balance Program #2 of the AT&T Pension Benefit Plan, (BCB2), will only be available for benefit accruals prior to January 1, 2018
Effective January 1, 2018, all 2017 New Hires shall not be eligible to participate in any AT&T sponsored pension plan or policy

Benefits

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

(2018 – 29%)(2019 – 30%)(2020 – 32%)(2021 – 32%)

Replacement of the AT&T Medical and Group Life Insurance Plan – Custom Care with the Southwest Medical Program
Replacement of the AT&T Dental Plan with the AT&T Dental Program
Replacement of the AT&T Vision Plan with the AT&T Vision Program
Replacement of the AT&T Medical and Group Life Insurance Plan – Group Life Insurance with the AT&T Group Life Insurance Program for Active Employees
Replacement of the AT&T Disability Income Program for Southwest Bargained Employees (52 week plan) with the AT&T Disability Income Program (26 week plan)
Replacement of the AT&T Employee Assistance Plan (AT&T Employee Assistance Program*) with the AT&T Employee Assistance Program
Amend – that the Company may unilaterally modify or discontinue Insurance Plans and the AT&T Voluntary Benefits Platform without further discussions with the Union
Eliminate the Benefit Committee

The follow Memorandums of Agreement shall be deleted:

CWA Internal Appeal Process

Extended Employment Opportunity Period

Facilities Locate Work

Hometown Job Security Commitment

Surplus Leaves of Absence

Informal Surplus

Modified Procedures for Expedited Arbitration

National Transfer Plan

Presidential Council

Regarding Neutrality and Card Check Recognition

Recovery of Wage or Benefit Overpayments

The following Task Forces shall be deleted:

Communications Consultant Joint Leadership Forum

Global Positioning System

Revenue Management Representative Working Group

Service Representative Review Committee

Two Hour Notification

The CWA Bargaining Committee has not completed analyzing the Company’s proposals for Appendix J employees.The Committee will send out a bargaining report later today with those Company demands.After reading this report Members are now aware of the fight we are in at the negotiating table with the Company.Your Committee will not give up until we have a good contract for all of our Members.We need your support, step up the Mobilization activities.

AT&T SW BARGAINING REPORT #7

February 10, 2017

The CWA Bargaining Committee met with the Company on February 9, 2017, for a long negotiating session during the afternoon. The CWA bargaining chair, Mike Neumann, provided answers to the Company on previous questions they had regarding the Union’s proposals.

The Union Bargaining Committee presented the Company with two data requests regarding the Materials Distribution Center in Lancaster Texas and the Regional Distribution Center locations.

The Company presented their first bargaining proposal to the Union. The Company presented what they characterized as an integrated package to the Union. The package includes:

Wage Compensation
An amended Article XI – Absences From Duty
A proposal on Article XVII – Severance Payments
The Success Sharing Plan
A proposal on Article V – Cost of Living Allowance
An amended Appendix J Supplemental Statements
An amended Article XVII – Force Adjustment
An amended compensation for Leveraged Service Representatives
An amended Article XV – Temporary Work in Higher Positions
An amended Article VIII – Holidays
An amended Article IX – Vacations
An amended Article XIII – Job Vacancy
An amended Article XVII – Force Adjustment
An amended Article II – Classification of Employees
An amended Article XIX – Grievances
An amended Article X – Technology Change
An amended Article XXIV – Safety and Health
Complete changes to the Health and Welfare Benefit Plans

The Union Committee worked late into the night analyzing the Company’s bargaining proposal. The Committee began work early this morning continuing to study the Company proposal and to formulate questions in order to totally comprehend what the Company has proposed. The CWA Bargaining Committee thanks all the Local Presidents and Mobilization Coordinators that were on the Mobilization call last night. We feel your support.

We are United in Achieving a Fair Contract

AT&T SW BARGAINING REPORT #6

February 9, 2017

The CWA Bargaining Committee and the Company remained on-call February 8, 2017. The Union Committee continued to study data that the Company had presented regarding the pension plans and bridging of Net Credited Service. The Company informed the Union that they were continuing to work on their first bargaining proposals. The CWA Bargaining Committee and the Company have tentatively scheduled a meeting for February 9, 2017 to resume negotiations. We will keep you advised as developments occur. The CWA Bargaining thanks everyone for their continued Mobilization activities. Let your Managers know that you deserve a good contract.

MOBILIZE! MOBILIZE! MOBILIZE!

AT&T BARGAINING REPORT #5

February 8, 2017

The CWA Bargaining Committee met multiple times on February 7, 2017, with the Company to continue presenting Union bargaining proposals. After long periods of discussions with the Company, your Bargaining Committee then recessed for the day to go back to prepare new proposals and data requests. The Union Bargaining Committee has now completed presenting our Member’s bargaining proposals. The Company Committee recessed for the day to study the Union’s proposals and informed the CWA Bargaining Committee that they will present the Union with their bargaining proposals. Both Committees remain on hold.

The following proposals were presented to the Company:

Add Article XI, Section 7, Leveraged Service Representative title shall be pay protected and compensated at 100% of their wages for all contractual time off
Temporary Leave of Absence, (TLOA) – increase company paid Medical, Dental and Vision coverage to 24 months
Mandatory post-retirement bargaining for future Retiree’s Pension and Healthcare Benefits
Improve Pension and other Retirement-related benefits
Improve Dental Plan
Improve Employees Life and Dependent Life Insurance
Extend the two Union Benefit Representative Positions
Negotiate watermark of 100% headcount at the expiration of the current 2013 Agreement through the duration of the new labor agreement
Negotiate Formal Training for jobs of the future
Extend all Memoranda of Agreement, Memoranda of Understanding, Letters of Understanding, Letters of Agreement between CWA and AT&T
Article XVIII – Severance Payments – Improve Contract Language
Bridging of Service in any AT&T subsidiary for all prior AT&T service
Article XXV- Contract Work – Improve Contract Language
All training shall be paid by the Company – hourly wages
General Application – Article VI – Leaves of Absence for Union Representatives on Union Business Section 3, increase aggregate intervals
MOA-CWA Internal Appeal Process Negotiate Improvements
Joint National 20/20 Committee with representatives of each bargaining unit. All costs and expenses to be paid by the Company

We appreciate all the support and Mobilization that the Locals and Members are engaged in throughout the District. The Committee feels your support and requests that you keep your activities going to let the Company know that we are STRONG and DETERMINED to get a fair and just contract.

Please Keep Up Your Mobilization Activities!!!

AT&T SW BARGAINING REPORT #4

February 7, 2017

During the weekend, your CWA Bargaining Committee studied data the Company had provided, and continued to question the Company on that data. The Committee prepared for Monday’s negotiating session and presented our Member’s bargaining demands on Appendix J items. On Monday, February 6, 2017, your CWA Bargaining Committee presented the following bargaining demands to the Company.

Increase the Wage Schedule in Appendix J for Administrative Support Assistant Support Assistant, Office Coordinator and Warehouse Assistant
Change time in title for Premises Technician to 15 months & 12 months’ time in location
DirecTV work to be transitioned to regular full time Premises Technicians instead of the continual use of contractors
Include Premises Technicians in the GPS Monitoring Agreement
Premises Technicians included in two-hour notification
Improve Layoff Allowance for Premises Technicians
1 ½ times Overtime Pay treatment after 8 hours per day for Premise Technicians
Improvements to the Travel Allowance for Premises Technicians
Increase in the Per Diem for the Premise Technicians
Reduce Mandatory Overtime for the Premise Technicians

We appreciate all the support and Mobilization that the Locals and Members are engaged in throughout the District. Make no mistake this Committee feels your support and know you are with us at the Bargaining table. A special shout out to Local 6502, the CWA Committee appreciates your care package that was delivered yesterday.

STAY STRONG SISTERS AND BROTHERS!!!

AT&T SW BARGAINING REPORT #3

February 6, 2017

The CWA Bargaining Committee met with the Company on February 3, 2017. The Committee presented numerous proposals to the Company. During the negotiation session, the Union Committee received three responses from the Company regarding data requests.

The following proposals were presented to the Company:

Return contracted out work back to the Bargaining Unit
Improve the National Transfer Plan
Article XVII- Force Adjustment-Improve Contract Language
Remove 2004 Qualifier for JOG
Eliminate Temporary Managers
Extend benefit coverage for surviving spouse, eligible dependents, and registered domestic partner
Modify the Rule of 75 – add age 60 and 15 years of service
Extend Vision Plan to all retirees
Newborn Child Care Leave- increase paid time from 6 weeks to 12 weeks
Establish a Leverage Service Representative Task Force Agreement
Remove the Clean Desk Policy
Eliminate TACR/CR!FT
Eliminate Scorecards

The Union Committee worked throughout the weekend to further prepare negotiating demands to present to the Company. The Committee analyzed the data responses provided by the Company. The CWA Committee Chair and the Company Committee Chair were in contact all weekend. The CWA Bargaining Committee appreciates the support from the Membership and CWA District 6 Locals.

PLEASE KEEP UP YOUR MOBILIZATION ACTIVITIES!!!

AT&T SW Bargaining Report #2

February 3, 2017

The Union Bargaining Committee met multiple times on February 2, 2017, with the Company to continue discussions of the bargaining proposals. Our chairperson, Mike Neumann, presented numerous proposals to the Company. After long periods of discussions, your Bargaining Committee then recessed for the day to go back to research the voluminous information that the Company had provided as part of our data request concerning the Bridging of Service process.

The following proposals were presented to the Company:

Significant wage increase
Article VI- Hours of Work
Article VII- Work Schedules
Article IX- Vacation
Article X- Excused Work days
Article XVI- Travel
Article XXIV- Safety and Health
Article IX- Vacation Reserve Week
Improve 401k Saving and Security Plan
Improve Medical Plan
Extend Medicare Plan Part B and include individuals on Long Term Disability
Increase the Define Dollar Benefit Cap
Improve Pension Plan/Pension Band
Defined Benefit Pension for all employees
Improve Vision Plan for all current employees
Move all Premise Technicians from Appendix J to Appendix C
Upgrade Premise Technicians to Appendix C Group 2A wage scale

PLEASE KEEP UP YOUR MOBILIZATION ACTIVITIES!

FEBRUARY EXECUTIVE BOARD AND MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS

The E-Board and Membership meetings will be held on Tuesday, March 7, 2017.

Executive Board meeting 5:30pm

General Membership meeting 6:30pm

Please mark your calendar & make a commitment to attend the monthly union meetings. As members we all have the privilege to attend and speak at these meetings. It is not just for officers and stewards,we all( officers, stewards, all members), make up the “union”. We are getting closer to the CORE contract expiring! Please come to hear updates regarding our upcoming CORE contract bargaining and company proposals. Bring any questions, comments or concerns that you may have. We will have a few topics to cover and provide updates.

JANUARY EXECUTIVE BOARD & MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS

The E-Board and Membership meetings will be held on Tuesday, February 7, 2017.

Executive Board meeting 5:30pm

General Membership meeting 6:30pm

Please mark your calendar & make a commitment to attend the monthly union meetings. As members we all have the privilege to attend and speak at these meetings. It is not just for officers and stewards,we all( officers, stewards, all members), make up the “union”. We are getting closer to the CORE contract expiring! Please come to hear updates regarding our upcoming CORE contract bargaining. Bring any questions, comments or concerns that you may have. We will have a few topics to cover and provide updates.

JOE BEIRNE FOUNDATION’S SCHOLARSHIP

Dear Members:

This is to advise you that the application process for the CWA Joe Beirne Foundation’s scholarship for the 2017-2018 school year is being announced.

The Foundation’s Board of Directors has approved the awarding of fifteen (15) partial college scholarships of $3,000 each for Two (2) years. Eligible for the scholarships are CWA members, their spouses, children and grandchildren, including the dependents of retired, laid-off, or deceased members. Applications will be available solely online for submission on the Foundation’s website at http://cwa-union.org/beirne-application.

Full program details can be found on the website at http://www.cwa-union.org/pages/beirne_scholarship_application. You will also find a copy of the Beirne Foundation Scholarship rules

This valuable scholarship program is made possible by the funding of CWA locals.