CWA 6201 AT&T Mobility Bargaining Page
 CWA: Taking a Stand
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CWA/AT&T Mobility Benefits Bargaining Report
July 1, 2008
Yesterday your CWA National Bargaining Committee spent a majority of the day preparing a counter proposal that is very fair to our members and to the Company. It was our intention to reach a new agreement by yesterday's deadline. Unfortunately, for our members, the Company returned to the table without the same intention.
During our meeting, the Company reviewed our counter proposal, and then simply stated that they would not have another proposal even though there was still more than five hours left before expiration of the agreement. An hour after both sides left to go home, the Company called and said they had changed their minds; they did have a counter, and asked us to meet at 10:30 p.m.
It would have been great if we could report that this last proposal the Company presented late last night moved away from their high premium, deductible and out-of-pocket plan they have been proposing the entire time we have been bargaining with them but, we can't. The Company proposal had only minimal changes and still also includes a new hire component that would make health care out of reach for many years. This shows no respect for our members who work to produce the double-digit quarterly growth that keeps them as the number one wireless company. The Company continues to think that our members should pay up to double-digit percentages of their income in premiums and deductibles before their proposed plan would pay a dime in benefits. They continue to think that our members should willingly accept this hardship and without the Company even sharing any of the savings they would begin seeing! This is what they think of their employees!
If the Company had only used this time to really work with us to reach an agreement that doesn't rob our members of their hard earned income and simply shifts more money into their bank accounts, we might have reached a tentative agreement.
The next step in this process is to meet together with a Mediator who will attempt to facilitate us reaching a tentative agreement. Mediation will begin on July 14 and continue up to ten days. Mediation is an "off-the-record" process that is not binding to either party. Discussions during this period may not be used by either party in the event that no agreement is reached.
The CWA Bargaining Committee thanks you for your continued support during this very difficult round of negotiations.
CWA/AT&T Mobility Benefits Bargaining Report #6
June 30, 2008
After being ready to meet with the company all day Saturday, we were called late in the evening and advised that the Company was not prepared to meet with us.
The Union and Company committees did meet several times on Sunday afternoon and evening. We raised multiple concerns over the Company's counter proposal that they put across the table.
It is unbelievable, but their counter is actually worse than their first proposal! The Company still cannot justify their proposed cost shifting and the financial burden they want to place on our members.
We only have one more day to meet, and we are still VERY far apart from reaching a Tentative Agreement.
CWA/AT&T Mobility Benefits Bargaining Report
June 28, 2008
Bargaining resumed yesterday with a counter proposal from the Union aimed at maintaining our arguments that the Company has the ability to provide a quality Health Benefit package for our members.
The Company threw out a lot of numbers but had no data to substantiate their claims. Since the first day of bargaining, the Union Committee has repeatedly requested copies of their alleged sources -- but the Company cannot provide it.
We made our point clear that we are willing to work with the Company to look into ways to contain their health care costs, but not by simply shifting the cost onto our members.
Time is ticking and the Company's tunnel-vision approach is preventing us from potentially reaching an agreement. As CWA President Larry Cohen said while speaking about health care during the convention, "The Company needs to get off our backs and get beside us."
We’ll be back at the bargaining table subject to the Company's call.
Thank you for all your support.
AT&T Mobility Benefits Bargaining Report #4
June 16, 2008
The Bargaining Committee met again with the Company on Friday with demands that they provide outstanding data still owed to us. It is still apparent that we are the only ones who came to this table to look for possible solutions to what the Company says, but can't show, are problems with the current health care plan. Instead, the Company wants us to simply put forward another proposal with "shot in the dark" ingredients of retrogression! But we are not interested in giving into the astronomically impacting demand the Company proposed on June 4!
The Company's suggestion that, for a family, an employee who earns the average salary within Mobility today should have to pay out more than 17 percent of their annual income before the plan kicks in is insane, let alone unreasonable and immoral! We feel that the Company has wasted enough time avoiding the questions and they need to get serious if we have any chance at reaching a tentative agreement! They need to DO THE RIGHT THING!
The Bargaining Committee appreciates all of the support you have shown!!
Bargaining has been recessed and will reconvene on June 27.
AT&T Mobility Benefits Bargaining Report #3
June 13, 2008
The Bargaining Committee met with the Company late into the night with questions and challenges about some of the data they have thus far provided. But the Company's responses continue to be meager and evasive and have yet to substantiate a financial need to shift a significant amount of health care costs onto the backs of our hard working members! In spite of us continually asking the question, they have yet to even identify anything specific in the current plan they believe to be their problem high cost areas. All they can say is that the Union's proposal goes in the wrong direction!
We have come to these negotiations with the goal of reaching an agreement by June 30, but it appears that the Company did not. Could it be they are hiding behind the buzz on health care to simply force our members to pay more?
We say it's time, AT&T, that you put your money where your mouth is. Start working with us and give us the tools we need in order to find viable solutions to possible problems. . . .we have never been afraid of a little hard work!
AT&T Mobility Benefits Bargaining Report #2
June 11, 2008
The CWA Bargaining Committee met with the Company yesterday in another intense session of negotiations. In spite of several hours of questioning the Company on some of the data they have provided us, we are still not hearing anything that substantiates their claim that the Union's proposal puts an insurmountable financial burden on them.
The Union still has many more questions that need to be answered by the Company. Bargaining will resume again today.
The Committee appreciates your continued support.
AT&T Mobility Benefits Bargaining Report #1
June 5, 2008
On Tuesday, your committee passed a proposal that we believe is fair, equitable and affordable for our membership.
The Company's response yesterday was that our proposal would be a 60 percent increase in cost to them. Instead of backing up their claim with supporting facts and data, they chose to simply pass a proposal that will increase our premiums by up to 540 percent! In addition to that, the Company proposal includes increases in out-of-pocket expenses which could be as much as 1/3 of the annual base wage for the average employees salary!
The proposal passed by the Company is an insult and shows a total lack of respect for CWA and our membership! It is clear that the new AT&T has no appreciation for the employees who made them the number one wireless company.
Needless to say, we have a long tough battle before us!!
The Bargaining Committee thanks everyone for their continued support!
CWA, AT&T Mobility to Open Health Care Talks
May 30, 2008
Bargaining gets underway June 3 for the national health care plan covering more than 40,000 workers at AT&T Mobility. The settlement negotiated in 2004 expires June 30.
"CWA is determined to reach a fair agreement on health care that reflects the company's profitability in what is the fastest-growing segment of the business," said CWA Executive Vice President Jeff Rechenbach.
If a tentative agreement is not reached by June 30, both parties have agreed to take the dispute to mediation, then arbitration, if necessary, to resolve differences. If a tentative agreement is reached, it will be presented to the membership for ratification and take effect next year.
Members of the CWA bargaining team are Betty Witte, chair, District 3; Paul Klaebel, District 3; Holly Sorey, District 4; Jim Murray, District 6 and Joe Sison, District 9, and John Alphonse, CWA staff representative, District 1.
Ratification Vote - 2008 CWA/ATT Mobility Tentative Agreement
March 28, 2008
The tentative agreement was ratified by the membership with a 68% positive response.
AT&T Mobility Tentative Agreement Summary
February 25, 2008
Compensation
Wage Increases
2008 - 3.00% Effective 2/24/2008
2009 - 2.50% Effective 2/22/2009
2010 - 2.50% Effective 2/28/2010
2011 - 2.75% Effective 2/27/2011
Compounded total of 11.19%
Employees will receive a $500 lump sum payment as soon as practical after ratification.
Increases the on-call pay to $32 per day.
Establishes call-out pay, of one hour minimum at basic rate, for network employees.
Establishes provision for overtime pay after 11 consecutive hours worked.
Upgrades
o Overall 92% of Customer Service Representatives, more than 5000 employees, are upgraded:
o Upgrade Customer Service Representative I – All Other and Customer Service Representative II – All Other by $38.50 per week at top pay.
o Upgrade Business Customer Service Specialist I and Business Customer Service Specialist II by $38.50 per week at top pay.
o The Customer Service Representative I – All Other title, Customer Service Representative I – Dallas title and Business Customer Service Specialist I title will be combined into one wage schedule.
o The Customer Service Representative II – All Other title, Customer Service Representative II – Dallas title and Business Customer Service Specialist II will be combined into one wage schedule.
Pensions and Disability
Pension band increases of 1.5% increases each year in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 for current employees.
Company will offer a lump sum payment option for current employee in the banded plan.
New hires hired 1/1/2009 or after will be covered under the BCB2 cash balance pension plan.
Current employees and new hires retain the existing 52-week short term disability provisions.
Contract Improvements
Adds increased flexibility for funeral leave.
Adds Registered Domestic Partner as a member of the immediate family.
Establishes a seniority tie-breaker based on Social Security Number.
Removes 30-minute travel rule for temporary assignments. Time spent traveling on a temporary assignment, in excess of normal commute, will be paid as time worked.
Improves part-time calculations for Vacations, Excused Days with Pay and Holidays. Calculated on time worked not time scheduled.
Establishes a letter on call quality observation for Call Centers. The results of the observation must be covered with the employee within five (5) business days.
Increases the notification to employees of a surplus for groups 50 or larger.
Increases severance payment due to surplus to a minimum of $600 per year of service.
Increases the amount of time that a former surplus employee has rehire rights to 3 years.
Establishes a force rearrangement provision for Company owned retail locations, requiring that Seniority be utilized.
Enhances the pay treatment for a voluntary transfer.
Establishes a Four Day Work Week scheduling procedure.
Establishes a letter reducing the charge back time to 91days for discipline in DMDR centers and Retail Stores.
Establishes a District committee to discuss issues on scheduling in Retail Stores.
Establishes a panel of arbitrators that will be jointly administered by the Company and the Union.
Increases the notification to employees on schedule changes to 48 hours.
Increases the amount of Union time and the number of Union representatives that can be off to conduct Union business.
Increases the size of the Working Relations Committee to one representative from each local with a minimum of 4 Union representatives.
Establishes a provision where the Union and the Company can establish committees to address concerns of mutual interest.
Enhances the Non-Discrimination language.
Eliminates the day before and day after rule for Floating Holidays and Designated Holidays (Unless Designated Holiday is scheduled by the Company).
Enhances the amount of time a job vacancy must be posted to at least seven (7) days over a two (2) week period.
Establishes a letter that the Union and the Company will meet in the Strategic Alliance Committee twice a year and may establish committees to address areas of mutual concern.
AT&T Mobility Bargaining Report #22
February 25, 2008
Tentative Agreement was reached at 1:25 a.m. this morning
Details will follow as soon as possible. The Committee appreciates the support of the Membership through this difficult round of bargaining.
In Unity your CWA Bargaining Committee
AT&T Mobility Bargaining Report #21
February 25, 2008 Midnight
The Parties continue to work late into the night. We are close to an agreement. Further details will follow in the morning.
AT&T Mobility Bargaining Report #20
February 24, 2008 Midnight
Your CWA Bargaining Committee met with the Company on Saturday, February 23, 2008. The Union presented revised bargaining demands to the Company on the Motor Vehicle Usage Plan, the Recognition and Establishment contract article, Hours of Work, a successorship clause and a new revised bargaining proposal on Enhancement of Contractual Provisions. The Committee will meet with the Company again today on February 24, 2008 attempting to reach an agreement. The contract expires at 11:59 p.m. tonight. Continue to watch this site for further developments.
AT&T Mobility Bargaining Report #19
February 23, 2008 Midnight
Your CWA Bargaining Committee met with the Company on Friday, February 22, 2008. The Union presented revised bargaining demands to the Company yesterday on GPS and Work Assignments. The Committee received hundreds of cards and messages of support from Members working in Oklahoma City, Local 6016. We wish to thank Local 6016 and all the other Locals for their support. While both sides still remain far apart on some issues, the Bargaining Committee continues to work to reach an Agreement by 11:59 p.m., Sunday February, 24, 2008.
AT&T Mobility Bargaining Report #18
February 22, 2008 Midnight
Your CWA Bargaining Team met with the Company on Thursday, February 21, 2008. Progress at the negotiating table was slow. The Union had presented many revised bargaining demands on Wednesday. The Company addressed very little of the Union’s demands on Thursday. The CWA Bargaining Committee have numerous bargaining demands that need to be addressed including, bridging of service, tour scheduling, management rights, commission and quota relief, a Team Performance Award, a GPS Agreement, the Motor Vehicle Usage Plan, the benefit representative, a successorship clause and 401k plan improvements. The Company has not proposed a significant wage increase, and continues to bargain a retrogressive short term disability plan. The Union has made major movement in trying to reach an agreement. The Company has not been serious in addressing the Members demands at the bargaining table. The CWA Bargaining team will be meeting with the Company today, Friday, February 22, 2008. Time is growing short to reach an agreement by the expiration of the contract, February 24, at 11:59 p.m.
AT&T Mobility Bargaining Report #17
February 21, 2008 Midnight
Your CWA Bargaining Committee met with the Company on Wednesday, February 21, 2008. The Union proposed revised bargaining demands including changes in Hours of Work, Work Assignments, an Intersubsidiary Movement Process, Surplus, Force Rearrangement, and recall language, a Job Offer Guarantee, an Employment Security Commitment, Basis of Compensation, on-call and call out language, Absences, funeral leave, a Motor Vehicle Usage Plan and GPS.
There are four days left to negotiate before the contract expires at 11:59 p.m, Sunday, February 24, 2008. It’s time the Company got serious at the bargaining table. Wear black on Friday, participate in all Mobilization activities at your work center and continue to tell your Managers that you are demanding a good contract.
AT&T Mobility Bargaining Report #16
February 20, 2008 Midnight
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.
AT&T Mobility Bargaining Report #15
February 19, 2008 Midnight
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.
AT&T Mobility Bargaining Report #14
February 18, 2008 Midnight
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.
AT&T Mobility Bargaining Report #13
February 18, 2008 Midnight
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.
AT&T Mobility Bargaining Report #12
February 15, 2008
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.
AT&T Mobility Bargaining Report #11
February 14, 2008
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.
AT&T Mobility Bargaining Report #10
February 13, 2008
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.
AT&T Mobility Bargaining Report # 9
February 11, 2008
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.
AT&T Mobility Bargaining Report #8
February 8, 2008
Your Bargaining Committee met with the Company on Friday, February 8, 2008. The Committee met with a Company subject matter expert to fully understand the commission plan. The Union presented a revised bargaining demand on a Team Performance Award. The Committee is studying the documentation that the Company produced regarding how the commission plan is implemented.
AT&T Mobility Bargaining Report #7
February 8, 2008
Your Bargaining Committee met with the Company on Thursday, February 7, 2008. The Committee presented revised bargaining demands on new overtime language, a call out provision, and enhanced "on call" payments. The Committee presented bargaining demands for an MOA on Monitoring, an expanded Multilingual Differential, and an Employment Security Commitment (ESC) for surplus employees. Many revised bargaining demands on job upgrades were presented to the Company.
The Committee will meet again with the Company today, Friday, February 8, 2008.
AT&T Mobility Bargaining Report #6
February 6, 2008
Your Bargaining Committee met with the Company on Wednesday, February 6, 2008. The Committee presented revised bargaining demands on force rearrangements and force adjustment language. The Union presented demands on pensions, enhancing the 401k Company contributions, Scheduling of work tours, a motor vehicle usage plan and a Memorandum of Agreement regarding the Company's use of Global Positioning System (GPS) in Company owned vehicles. The Committee also bargained for a Successorship Clause in the event the business should be sold.
The Committee will meet again with the Company today, Thursday, February 7, 2008
AT&T Mobility Bargaining Report #5
February 5, 2008
Your Bargaining Committee met with the Company today. The Committee presented demands on Vacations, Travel and Leave of Absence language for Members serving in the Armed Services. The Union also discussed some of its proposed upgrades for employees.
The Committee proposed language to create ad-hoc Committees to address, flex-time, emergency time and appointment time for Customer Service Representatives. The Union presented a revised bargaining demand to create a Job Vacancy Article so that employees can file permanent requests for placement in addition to the current Company provided transfer system.
The Committee appreciates the support from all the Locals and Members regarding the Mobilization all over the District. Support the Bargaining Committee by participating in Mobilization events. Sign-up a non-member today. The Committee will meet again with the Company on Wednesday, February 6, 2008.
AT&T Mobility Bargaining Report #4
February 4, 2008
Your Bargaining Committee worked through the weekend studying the Company’s proposals and preparing for negotiations. Today, the Committee met with the Company and presented revised Union proposals. Union Bargaining proposals discussed, included an improved grievance and arbitration procedure, improved holiday language as well as strengthened contract language protecting full-time and part-time employees. The Committee also proposed enhanced non-discrimination contract language.
The Bargaining Committee will meet with the Company again on Tuesday, February 5, 2008.
AT&T Mobility Bargaining Report #3
February 1, 2008
Today, your Bargaining Committee met with the Company and continued presenting bargaining demands. The Company presented the Bargaining Committee with documentation we had requested and a bargaining demand. The Committee appreciates all the mobilization taking place around the District. We have been receiving photos of the activities, keep up the pressure.
AT&T Mobility Bargaining Report #2
January 31, 2008
Your bargaining committee met with the Company again today, and continued the CWA bargaining proposals. We have heard good things from around the District regarding the mobilization activities that kicked off bargaining. We appreciate the support. Keep signing up those non-members so we can get the best contract possible.
In Solidarity,
Your Bargaining Committee
AT&T Mobility Bargaining Report #1
January 30, 2008
Today, the Union met with the Company to kickoff negotiations with AT&T Mobility. Bargaining Chair Richard Kneupper, Assistant to the District 6 Vice-President gave the opening statement for the Union. Richard cited the record profits for AT&T stating that the company is, “doing well, very well, and the time has come to share the success with our members.” He said, that churn is a major concern for the Company and the Union and good wages, good benefits and good working conditions are all important components to a good contract.
Your bargaining committee, which consists of Richard Kneupper, Mike Neumann, Jim Murray, Eva Sustaita and John Richie presented the Company with a package of bargaining proposals and discussed them with the Company. Your bargaining committee has been made aware of the mobilization and support we are receiving. This is the very thing that will help your bargaining committee bring in a good and fair contract. KEEP IT UP!!!
In Solidarity,
Your Bargaining Committee
