Bargaining Update

AT&T

In an historic weekend, CWA members at AT&T wireless, wireline (CA, CT, and NV), and DIRECTV technicians (CA and NV) walked off the job from coast to coast. From Philadelphia to Oregon, many elected officials – including Sen. Jeff Merkley (OR), Rep. Tim Ryan (OH), Reps. Dwight Evans and Bob Brady (PA), Congressman Ro Khanna (CA), Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf, Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney, NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio, Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown, California Assemblymember Kevin McCarty, Seattle City Councilmember Kshama Sawant, and others – supported AT&T strikers' fight for a fair contract.

In their first strike, AT&T wireless workers walked off the job in unprecedented numbers – marking likely the largest national retail strike in U.S. history. Hundreds of stores closed across the country, while many others closed early during the strike.

Sarrah Nasser, an AT&T wireless call center representative from Paramus, NJ, said, "CWA is looking forward to returning to the bargaining table with the expectation we see genuine proposals that protect good jobs and quality service from AT&T. We are organized – with the support of our families, neighbors, elected leaders, and customers – and if AT&T doesn't do what’s right, we’ll keep doing what we need to win. AT&T: it's your move."

The strike, picket lines, and rallies caught the attention of major media outlets including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Reuters, Associated Press, Fortune, CBS MoneyWatch, Buzzfeed, VICE, Chicago Tribune, New York Daily News, LA Times, St. Louis Post-Dispatch and many others.

Check out all the action here, here, and here.

Across the country, CWAers at AT&T stood together for fair contracts. Clockwise, from top left: Members of CWA Local 4603, Milwaukee; Local 9415, Hawaii; Local 1298, Connecticut, and Local 9412, Reno, Nevada.

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CenturyLink

District 7 CWAers at CenturyLink (legacy Qwest) joined a tele-town hall call this week about the tentative contract. Locals will share the contract explanation materials with members and conduct a ratification vote. The vote must be reported to the D7 office by noon MDT, June 16.

The tentative agreement extends the current contract for three more years and provides for substantial wage increases, among other changes. It has been unanimously recommended by the bargaining committee.

Read more here.

CWA members at CenturyLink stand together for a fair contract. Above, members of Local 7803 in Renton, Wash. Below, CWAers from Local 7101 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

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CenturyLink Florida

CenturyLink workers approved authorization for a strike.

The local has launched a website CenturyLinkDoesNotCare.com, which explains the workers' issues and brings attention to the 12 NLRB charges and 1 UC Petition filed against the company. The local also continues to hold weekly pickets through the central Florida area.

All updated information can be found by going to www.cwa3176.org.

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State of New Jersey

CWA is challenging Gov. Chris Christie's illegal action denying public workers the pay increments due after contract expiration. Christie did this to bully CWA members into accepting inadequate pay increases.

"CWA will not be bullied," the bargaining committee said. The state also is demanding extreme concessions that CWA has rejected in the areas of arbitration rights, discipline, layoff and recall rights, and more. "Although we will pursue negotiations with the administration, we reject the demands to gut our contract of respect and dignity language, due process protections, overtime and leave rights, layoff and job security rights, and other issues," the committee said.

CWA public worker members in New Jersey will be joining a telephone town hall call on Wednesday, May 31, at 7 p.m. ET, for an update on the latest in contract bargaining.

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Members of Local 1040 put the school district on notice that workers will fight for job security.

Camden City School District

Camden City, N.J., School District custodian and maintenance workers, members of CWA Local 1040, are mobilizing for job security as part of contract negotiations. More than 40 workers delivered a petition to Superintendent Rouhanifard calling for job security. Members are receiving strong support from CWA locals and other unions, as well as clergy and local activists.