Bargaining Update

AT&T Mobility

After giving AT&T the required 72-hour notice of contract termination last week, Mobility members have been working without a contract. CWAers are gearing up mobilization actions across the country, making sure that AT&T knows that a strike could come at any time at a date set by CWA President Chris Shelton.

A new report released today by CWA provides an unprecedented window into the company's sprawling web of 38 third-party call centers in eight countries that are driving a race to the bottom for low wages and compromising quality service for millions of AT&T customers.

The report draws on interviews and surveys of hundreds of workers in the U.S. and the global call center workforce, who detailed the harmful impact of AT&T's offshoring on workers and customers. The study also highlights the stories of U.S. communities that have been devastated by call center closures, including Ridgeland, MS; Atwater, CA; and Pittsburgh, PA.

Learn more and read the full report here.

The orange contract covers 21,000 Mobility workers. Negotiations are continuing. Read those bargaining reports here.

150 people gathered in Columbus, OH this week to let AT&T know that we are ready to do what it takes.

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AT&T West

AT&T West members are building on the momentum of last week's actions. As part of Lobby Day in Sacramento, CWAers met with members of the state legislature and staff on AT&T's failure to provide high-speed broadband in the communities it serves. Now, legislators are being asked to sign on to a letter calling on AT&T to improve its high speed broadband buildout and take steps to provide better landline service to rural areas.

Negotiations are continuing. Read updates here.

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CWA members from across our union demonstrated at the AT&T annual meeting in Dallas.

AT&T

CWAers turned out for the AT&T annual meeting in Dallas last Friday, putting shareholders and company executives on notice that workers are the backbone of the company and deserve a fair contract.

More than 100 CWA members from District 6, District 9, Mobility, DIRECTV, and Telecommunications and Technologies, including Vice President Lisa Bolton, leafleted and rallied outside the meeting, then went inside to vote for resolutions to improve AT&T's corporate governance.

Vice President Lisa Bolton and Telecommunications and Technologies members show their solidarity in the fight for fair contracts at Mobility and AT&T West.

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VICE Canada

The 170 workers at VICE Media, who voted overwhelmingly last year to join the Canadian Media Guild, now have a first contract.

The agreement provides for annual wage increases of 7 percent over the contract term, plus immediate wage increases averaging 9 percent. Some members will receive wage increases as high as 52 percent, based on the new salary grid.

Other improvements include pay equity provisions, protections for editorial independence, additional vacation and paid sick days, improved parental leave benefits, new protections for contract employees, fair arbitration and dispute resolution procedures, and other gains.

The agreement covers all VICE employees across Canada working in editorial, marketing, production, and post-production for the outlet’s network of digital channels, TV network, production studio, magazine, and creative services agency.

Read more here.