Wireless Bargaining Update #14

Your CWA Bargaining Committee met with the Company on Saturday, February 16, 2008.  The Union presented revised bargaining demands to strengthen language on Recognition and Establishment of the Unit, new grievance and arbitration language, tour scheduling, job vacancy and transfers, call out, on-call, commission and quota relief, time off for funerals and Holidays.  During this bargaining session Richard Kneupper, Assistant the District 6 Vice President, gave a strongly worded statement accusing the Company of surface bargaining and not listening to our Member’s demands.  Richard told the Company that they don’t care about the constant revolving door of employees leaving the Company and trying to find ways to keep trained people on the payroll.

There are seven days until the contract expires and we are long way away from reaching an agreement.  The Company has done little to address the Union’s demands on bridging of service, force adjustment, force rearrangement, quota and commission relief, scheduling of tours, GPS, severance pay and many other CWA bargaining demands.  AT&T Mobility is a very profitable Company, the largest Wireless Company in the Country.  It’s time they started acting like it, by fairly compensating the employees who have been instrumental in making the Company a powerhouse wireless provider.

Due to this lack of movement at the bargaining table the CWA District 6 will be conducting a strike authorization vote with the Members this week. The Committee strongly urges you to vote “Yes” for strike authorization.  Tell your Managers that you are demanding a good contract and that you will accept no less.  We need to stay strong, stick together and Mobilize in the work place.