Bargaining Begins!

Kicking Things Off

District 6 Bargaining begain at 10:00 AM today, January 31st, 2012. Locally, Cora Ward got us off to a start first thing this morning, signing up new members and helping to provide information to our membership. We had several others on hand to help as the day went by and all in all it was a good start to the process for us.

As of 4:30 PM we have signed up nine new members, a great start to bargaining!

One of our concerns is that the company may push to include a Leveraged Service Representative title in this contract, something we are deeply opposed to. We have reached out to every local in the district to express our concern, and the response has been largely in agreement with our position.

Unfortunately, we have had less luck getting a commitment — or even a response — from the district on this important issue. We have reached out to District 6 Vice President Claude Cummings and are anxiously awaiting a reply.

There will be a special meeting tonight at 6:30 PM for the Core Leveraged Service Reps. Members are welcome to come listen in to find out about the working conditions these members endure and hear about their concerns.

Mobility Bargaining Begins Tuesday, 1/31/2012!

Mobility bargaining begins Tuesday, 1/31/2012. If you work in the Mobility call center, make an effort to wear red tomorrow. We will have stewards available at a table in the hallway throughout the day and out Local President, David Patton, will be present for several hours to address your questions and concerns. If you don’t have one already, stop by to get a red bracelet and remind AT&T that we stand united for a good contract! We will also have sheets for the membership to sign which we will be faxing to the bargaining committee to assist them in demonstrating that we stand behind the bargaining efforts!

Special LSR Meeting

We are hosting a meeting for our Leveraged Service Representatives on 1/31/2012 at 6:30 PM, to be held at the Union Hall at 405 50th Street. While the meeting will be addressing issues of specific concern to Leveraged Service Representatives, all members are welcome to attend.

Conference Call Reminder

As a reminder, members and non-members alike are welcome to join us at the Union Hall, 405 50th Street this Sunday 1/29/2012. We will open the doors at 6:30 PM, the conference call begins at 7:00 PM and is expected to last an hour. We will have discussion afterwards, including some information about Union activities to be held at the call center next week for the start of bargaining.

If you cannot make it to the hall but want to hear the conference call, you have two other options. You can text UPDATE to 69866 from your mobile phone, or you can sign up or listen to the call online at district6.cwa-union.org/mobilitycall.

Come out and see us!

Bargaining Rumors

At the Mobility Organizing Table today it was brought to my attention several times that there is a rumor being spread that The Union intends to strike at the end of our contract and that we intend to “fine” members who do not participate in the strike.

Politely, these are false rumors which are being maliciously spread. Bargaining has not even started. In the event that we have not reached a new agreement by the time the current contract expires, there are several possible outcomes. We could work per the current contract while The Union and The Company continue to bargain, we could work “without a contract” for a time or yes, we could strike.

I cannot stress enough that the bargaining process has not yet even begun. In the event that there is a call for a strike, it will be voted on by the membership; this is a democratic process that requires the will of the majority of members to proceed.

The best way to keep up to date with this information is to be involved. Attend our next bargaining conference call, to be held Sunday July 29th at 7:00 PM. You can listen in from your own phone or join us at the Union Hall to listen and discuss as a group!

Our membership meetings are held the first Tuesday of each month at 6:30 PM. Attend if your schedule allows it!

Keep in touch with your stewards, keep an eye on this web site, and never hesitate to call any of us; my cell phone is 806-786-5192 and is available to our members 24/7. Call or text, if I don’t answer please leave a message and I will get back to you ASAP.