AT&T Mobility and CWA Contract Time

AT&T Mobility Employees: Contract time is upon us once again. Our time to bargain better wages, job conditions and benefist is rapidly approaching. The current contract will expire on February 24, 2012 and early bargaining will begin in November, 2011. It is more important than ever to stengthen our union. Better Union Membership Means a Better Contract – If you are not a member, join today! In the coming months you will see mobilizing/organizing activities at the Mobility call center. Be sure to stop, ask your questions and express your concerns. As always, you may reach us at the union hall 806-793-6203 for an organizing update or any other issue or concern you may have. Please log onto our website for additional information and upcoming organizing events.  Our membership meetings are held on the 1st Tuesday of each month at the Union Hall at 405 50th Street, Lubbock, TX 79404.

Thank you,

David Patton, President,  CWA Local 6203.

AUGUST MONTHLY MEETINGS

Our monthly Executive Board and Membership Meetings will be held on Tuesday, 08-02-11. Please come out and join us so that you can receive the latest updates. Also, if you have questions, problems and/or issues that need to be address we will be glad to provide feedback or assistance. Also, we are gearing up for the Mobility Contract that will expire on February 24, 2012 and welcome the help and support of all of our members. The meeting times are shown below.

E-Board Meeting 5:30pm

Membership Meeting 6:30pm

JUNE MONTHLY MEETINGS

The meetings for June will be Tuesday, June 7, 2011. The times are shown below:

E-Board Meeting 5:30pm

Membership Meeting 6:30pm

Please come out & get updates of what is going on. If you have problems, questions, or concerns please come to the meeting. The officers look forward to seeing you there!

OPPOSING BILL HB 2986

THE TEXAS AFL-CIO IS INFORMING US OF BILLS THAT ARE BEING PRESENTED FOR PASSAGE. PLEASE READ BELOW AND CALL YOUR STATE REPRESENTATIVES & SENATORS.

PLEASE HELP OPPOSE HB 2986, A BILL BY REPRESENTATIVE TAN PARKER, R-FLOWER-MOUND, THAT WOULD MUZZLE LABOR UNIONS WHO WANT TO TAKE PART IN THE LEGISLATIVE AND POLITICAL PROCESSES.

HB 2986 IS A PARTISAN, ONE-SIDED ATTACK THAT WOULD DENY UNIONS, BUT NOT CORPORATIONS OR CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE, THE RIGHT TO PROMOTE THE VIEWS OF WORKING FAMILIES IN THE POLITICAL ARENA. THE BILL WOULD FORCE UNIONS TO SPEND LARGE AMOUNTS OF DUES MONEY TO OBTAIN ANNUAL WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM MEMBERS TO ENGAGE IN OUR REGULAR BUSINESS. AND IT WOULD STOP TEACHERS, FIREFIGHTERS AND OTHER PUBLIC EMPLOYEES FROM VOLUNTARILY ALLOCATING A PORTION OF THEIR PAYCHECKS TO A POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE.

AS YOU KNOW, UNIONS USE NO DUES MONEY TO CONTRIBUTE TO POLITICAL CANDIDATES. THAT IS HANDLED THROUGH VOLUNTARY POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEES LIKE THE TEXAS AFL-CIO’S $250 COPE CLUB. BUT HB 2986 WOULD MAKE IT A CRIMINAL OFFENSE TO USE DUES MONEY TO LOBBY ANY GOVERNMENTAL BODY, INCLUDING THE LEGISLATURE, SCHOOL BOARDS AND CITY COUNCILS. HB 2986 WOULD STOP UNIONS FROM PUBLISHING A POLITICALLY-RELATED NEWSLETTER OR FLYER FOR PUBLIC CONSUMPTION WITH DUES MONEY AND WOULD EVEN PREVENT UNION MEMBERS FROM ATTENDING EVENTS WITH OFFICE-HOLDERS

STIFLING OUR VOICE IS NOT THE AMERICAN WAY. PLEASE TELL YOUR REPRESENTATIVE AND SENATOR TO VOTE AGAINST HB 2986.

MARCH MONTHLY MEETINGS

Our monthly Executive Board and Membership meetings for March will be held on March 1, 2011. We have quite a few things to cover so please come out and join us so that you can be updated. If you have questions and concerns, as always, please bring them. The meeting times are shown below.

Executive Meeting 5:30pm

Membership Meeting 6:30pm

JOIN THE FIGHT – NATIONAL CALL ON WEDNESDAY

OUR CWA STAFF REP, DONNA BENTLEY, IS REQUESTING ALL THAT CAN TO PLEASE READ THE MESSAGE BELOW FROM BETH ALLEN, OUR “ONLINE” MOBILIZATION COORDINATOR, AND JOIN IN ON THE CALL.

MESSAGE:

Across the country, Americans are standing up and fighting for their collective bargaining rights. Photos and videos from Wisconsin have been thrilling. More than 100,000 people have taken to the streets and filled the rotunda of the State Capitol.

CWA members are responding in every state where collective bargaining rights are under attack and we need your voice in this fight. On Wednesday, February 23rd at 7:30pm EST, please join CWA President Larry Cohen and the CWA National Executive Board for a virtual town hall and hear directly from local leaders in Wisconsin, Ohio and New Jersey. During the call you will learn more about how we are responding and what you can do and have an opportunity to ask questions.

You can register at: http://www.cwa-union.org/cwacall

Our movement is spreading. Sign up for the virtual town hall today with your preferred phone number and we will call you on Wednesday to connect you to the meeting. If you plan to participate using your mobile phone, you can also register by texting CWACALL to 69866.

It couldn’t be easier, or more critical, to participate.

E-BOARD & MEMBERSHIP MEETING RESCHEDULED

Due to the weather the Executive Board & Membership meetings were canceled for Tuesday, 02-01-11. The meetings are rescheduled for the following Tuesday, 02-08-11, with same time frames as shown below:

Executive Board 5:30pm

Membership 6:30pm

We look forward to seeing you there.

UNION PLUS SCHOLARSHIP DEADLINE APPROACHING

Union Plus Scholarship

A good education is more important now than ever. Some 121 union members and union family members were awarded $150,000 in scholarships this year, ranging from $500 to $4,000. Make sure your members get in on the action next year: The deadline is January 31, 2011, for the 2011 Union Plus Scholarship applications.

The scholarship program is open to students attending or planning to attend a college or university, a community college, or a technical college or trade school; applicants are evaluated according to academic ability, social awareness, financial need, and appreciation of labor.

SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS

There are several scholarships available through AT&T Foundation Scholarship Program. Three (3) are mentioned below with the links. The program is designed to assist students attending two-year and four-year colleges with amounts up to $2,500.00. Some of the requirements are shown below; however, go to the websites to get the full details.

Scholarship America– – apply at
Eligibility criteria: Be 25 yrs or younger as of February 15, 2011
Have a minimum cumulative gradepoint average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
Children of officers or senior managers are not eligible

HSF/AT&T Foundation Scholarship Program– – apply at
Eligibility criteria: Must be of Hispanic heritage
Children and step children of senior managers and officers are not
eligible
Must be a United States citizen or legal permanent resident
Must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale.
Applicants must enter COUPON CODE: ATT11

UNCF/AT&T Foundation Scholarship Program – – apply at
Eligibility criteria: Applicants must be of African American descent
Applicants must be children or stepchildren, of a full-time actively employed
employee* of AT&T Inc. or its U.S. subsidiaries
Applicants must have a minimum 3.0 cumulative grade point average on a 4.0 scale
Children and step children of senior managers and officers are not
eligible

CHRISTMAS GET-TOGETHER

It’s that time of year and the Holidays are upon us!

There will be a Christmas get-together on Wednesday, December 8, 2010 at the Union Hall at 7:00pmwith supper being served at 7:30pm.

J&M Bar-B-Que will be catering and we are having a Pot-Luck Dessert, so bring a plate or pan of you favorite goodies to share!

All members are invited.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Mack Ray at the address and numbers below.

Mack Ray (806) 744-4062
405 50th Street (806) 744-7852 (fax)
Lubbock, TX 79404 (806) 773-2646 (cell)