Wireless Bargaining Update #16

Your CWA Mobility Bargaining Committee met twice with the Company yesterday, February 19, 2008.  Progress at the table was very slow.  The Company rejected revised Union demands for a Monitoring Agreement, and a Motor Vehicle Usage Plan for Technicians.  Little progress has been made on the collapsing of the wage progression bands from 7 years to 4 years, scheduling of tours in the retail stores, bridging for service and retirement purposes, Intersubsidiary Movement and a permanent transfer request.  The Company presented their second economic proposal.  The Union rejected the wage raises as inadequate.  The Company is still proposing a separate Pension Plan for new hires and cutting short-term disability benefits from 52 weeks to 26 weeks.  The CWA Bargaining Committee proposed revised bargaining demands on Management Rights, a Four Day Work Week and the Commission Plan for Retail Sales Consultants.  The Committee will meet with the Company again on Wednesday, February 20, 2008 to present revised bargaining demands.  The time has grown short to reach an agreement by the expiration of the contract.  Tomorrow is Thursday, remember to wear red and participate in all Mobilization activities.  Support your Bargaining Committee and tell your Managers that you are demanding a good contract that reflects the skills you bring to the Company and the hard work you perform.
District Six Website: Bargaining

Wireless Bargaining Update #15

Your CWA Bargaining Committee met with the Company on Monday, February 18, 2008. The Company rejected all the Union’s revised bargaining demands regarding contracting work, management’s rights, and the commission and quota plan for Retail Sales Consultants. The Company presented an economic proposal to the Union. The wage package was woefully inadequate. The Company proposed that short-term disability be cut from the present 52 weeks to 26 weeks, and that newly hired employees fall under a new pension plan. The Bargaining Committee rejected all the Company’s economic proposals. The CWA Bargaining Committee will meet with the Company on Tuesday, February 19, 2008. There are six days left before the contract expires on Sunday, February 24, 2008. The Company needs to get serious at the bargaining table. CWA Members have built AT&T Mobility into the largest cellular Company in the Country with record profits last quarter. The time has come for the Company to treat our Members with respect and negotiate a contract that ensures job security, decent wages and a voice in the workplace.
District Six Website: Bargaining

Strike Vote Requested

The District has requested each Local to conduct a strike vote. This does not mean that we are going to strike. It simply means that if the majority of CWA member votes are yes, we are willing to strike if the company does not offer a fair and equitable contract. As of this date the reasoning for this action is as follows:

As of this date the company has shown very little movement on key issues dealing with:

• scheduling problems, management control
• content of work, contracting out
• quota relief and commission relief
• force adjustment, severance pay and recall
• bridging of service and successorship protection
• NO ECONOMIC PACKAGE HAS BEEN OFFERED

We will have Union Tables setup 2/20 in Mod B, D & E Breakrooms and 2/21 in the Cafeteria Conference-Room to take your votes. Please come by and cast your vote. You can also vote at the Union Hall. (806-793-6203)

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.

Wireless Bargaining Update #13

Your CWA Bargaining Committee met with the Company on Friday, February 15, 2008.  The Company presented counter proposals on the Force Adjustment Article, the Working Relations Committee, on-call pay and Holidays.  The Company rejected the Union’s revised bargaining demands on a Successorship Clause, the Job Offer Guarantee, the Management Rights Article and a Benefit Representative.  The CWA Bargaining Committee presented a revised bargaining demand on Article 21 – Absences.  The Union also discussed service bridging and the Pension Plan.  The Committee continues to study documentation on the Pension Plan and the Sales Commission and Sales Quota plan.  The Bargaining Committee will present revised demands to the Company on Saturday, February 16, 2008.

Wireless Bargaining Update 12

Your Bargaining Committee met with the Company yesterday February 14, 2008.  The Union presented revised bargaining demands on Holidays, Vacations and Intersubsidiary Movement.  The Company presented counter-proposals on Force Adjustment, Funeral Leave and Civic Duty.  The Committee is studying the Company’s counter-proposals.
District Six Website: Bargainin

Wireless Bargaining Update 11

Your Bargaining Committee met with the Company in two negotiation sessions on Wednesday, February 13, 2008.  The Union presented revised bargaining proposals on the Grievance and Arbitration procedures, Holidays and Job Vacancies.  The Company presented counter-proposals on Holidays, Excused Days with Pay.  The Bargaining Committee is studying the Company’s counter proposals.  We will meet again on Thursday, February 14, 2008.  The Committee wants to thank everyone for wearing red today.
District Six Website: Bargaining

Wireless Bargaining Update 10

Your Bargaining Committee met with the Company on Tuesday, February 12, 2008.  The Company presented counter proposals to the Union on Holidays, work assignments, seniority, classification of employees, funeral leave and arbitration of grievances.  The Bargaining Committee thanks all of the Members participating in Mobilization activities.  The Union is studying all of the Company’s proposals and will meet again on Wednesday, February 13, 2008.

District Six Website: Bargaining 

Wireless Bargaining Update #9

Today your Union Bargaining Committee met with the Company and presented revised bargaining demands on a four day work week, an Intersubsidiary Movement Process and a Sales Compensation Plan. The Company presented counter proposals on the Grievance and Arbitration Articles and classification of employees. The Bargaining Committee continues to study the Company proposals. The Committee will meet again with the Company tomorrow, February 12, 2008.

From the District Six Website: Bargaining