Jun 13, 2024 - AT&T Retirees Join Together to Protect Pensions

On Tuesday, the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) announced the approval of the CWA/ITU Negotiated Pension Plan’s application for special financial assistance, ensuring that more than 24,000 CWA-represented workers and retirees will receive the full pension benefits that they earned through a lifetime of work.

PBGC will award over $545 million to the CWA/ITU Negotiated Pension Plan, which has nearly 24,300 participants nationwide. The funds are available as a result of the Butch Lewis Act, passed in 2021 as part of President Biden’s American Rescue Plan, which allows the U.S. Treasury to provide financial assistance to severely underfunded multiemployer pension plans to ensure retirees receive the entirety of their earned pension benefits. These plans are often in crisis due to factors beyond the plan’s control. Without this grant, the plan was projected to become insolvent by 2029.

“Today’s announcement ensures that, for over 24,000 hard-working people, their retirements will be protected as promised,” said CWA Secretary-Treasurer Ameenah Salaam. “It also reminds us why the PBGC’s guarantees are so important. We know that many companies want to do anything and everything they can to save a buck, no matter what the consequences for their workers. That’s why CWA and our union brothers, sisters, and family fight so hard to make sure that our benefits are protected.”

“If it weren’t for President Biden and worker champions in Congress like Congressman Norcross and Senator Sherrod Brown, the Butch Lewis Act would have never been enacted, and thousands of our retirees would have started facing significant cuts in their benefits in just a few short years,” said Dennis Trainor, CWA District 1 Vice President. “This is what our government is all about—making sure that hard-working people don’t fall through the cracks all due to some economic circumstances they had no control over.”

Last week, more than 1,000 AT&T retirees joined CWA President Claude Cummings Jr. for an online town hall to discuss efforts to protect their pensions after the recent AT&T-Athene pension stripping transaction. AT&T has transferred pension benefits covering over 96,000 retirees and beneficiaries from the AT&T Pension Plan to a life insurance company called Athene Holding, Ltd.

“Protecting retirement security has always been one of the most important priorities for CWA and our members, and we are working to find new, innovative ways to empower retirees to stand up and fight to protect their hard-earned benefits,” said President Cummings. “The struggle for workers to enjoy a secure retirement with dignity is ongoing, and I'm proud that CWA has been able to establish a coalition of experts and retiree activists who can work together to fight for justice for our retirees.”

Retirees heard from Eddie Stone, the Executive Director and general counsel of Retirees for Justice, a practicing lawyer who has been working for years with retiree groups to challenge the offloading of pensions by big corporations and advocate for protections for retirees. Stone is currently representing AT&T retirees in the class action complaint they have brought against the Athene transaction.

Teresa Gilarduci, a professor of Economics and Policy Analysis at the New School for Social Research, explained to retirees how AT&T’s transaction with Athene is only the most recent example of the erosion of retirement security for workers. These experts are working with CWA and AT&T retirees to find new ways to fight back against corporate greed and protect hard-earned pensions.

If you’d like to stay informed on the AT&T-Athene transaction and the class action complaint filed by CWA retirees, please fill out this survey and provide your contact information.

If you are not sure if you were affected by the AT&T-Athene pension stripping transaction, AT&T advises retirees to call the Fidelity Service Center at 800-416-2363 to confirm their status. For more information, a recording of the webinar is available here.

The CWA bargaining committee met with Piedmont management last week to continue bargaining for a fair contract for passenger service and ramp agents.

As the bargaining committee prepared to pass its first wage and economic proposal, CWA members at Piedmont mobilized to show their support and tell the company that passenger service and ramp agents need a contract that provides fair pay. At four airports across the country—Oklahoma City, Philadelphia, Charlotte, and Fresno—mobilizers printed out fake dollar bills that read: “Liveable Pay, Liveable Life.” The CWA economic proposal would provide a livable wage, cut the number and length of pay scales, increase pay when working mandatory overtime, and increase holidays and vacation time.

The bargaining committee has reached a critical point in negotiations and is urging every CWA Piedmont member to get involved and join the fight for a fair, strong contract.

The next bargaining session is scheduled for July 16-18.

Last week, CWA President Claude Cummings Jr. took time to sit down, virtually, with Next Gen Lead Activists from several CWA districts and sectors. The CWA program, which is directed by Vice President Lisa Bolton of the Telecommunications & Technologies sector, is designed to identify, train, and promote the future movers and shakers of the Labor Movement. Next Gen participants are aged 35 and younger and are paired with mentors who provide guidance and resources.

President Cummings shared insights into his own journey, from humble beginnings at CWA Local 6222 to his current position as the leader of one of the most powerful unions in the country. In typical fashion, Cummings listened intently to the young leaders and took questions ranging from how to support striking union siblings to the best way to motivate young voters. The virtual rap session lasted well over an hour.

Axel Hawkins, Next Gen Lead Activist for the Public, Healthcare, Education Workers (PHEW-CWA) attended the virtual meeting with President Cummings and was recently featured in a newsletter story on her scholarship win.

For more information and to sign up for updates, visit CWA.org/NextGen.

 
CWA President Claude Cummings Jr. joined Next Gen Leaders for a virtual rap session. Cummings shared advice and took questions from the group.

Last week, members of CWA Local 7799, AFL-CIO allies, and other pro-worker advocates gathered at the Colorado Capitol to voice their outrage at Colorado Governor Jared Polis’ vetoes of three pro-worker bills. The bills include HB 1008 (to protect workers in the construction industry from wage theft), HB 1260 (which would protect workers from retaliation for opting out of anti-union “captive audience” meetings or religious speech from an employer), and HB 1307 (which would improve air conditioning and heating in public schools).

Prior to the late-night vetoes, CWA President Claude Cummings Jr. sent a letter to Governor Polis outlining the need for HB 1260 to protect workers from coercive tactics by anti-union bosses.

CWA Local 7799 President Jade Kelly, who testified and advocated for this bill, said, "If Governor Jared Polis thinks a last-minute veto will silence the workers of Colorado, our rally showed just how out of touch he is with working people. We built this state, and we aren't going anywhere." Jade and Jim Walsh, also with CWA Local 7799, both spoke at the rally and highlighted the need for worker solidarity and fighting back at this moment.

The labor activists, estimated at over 500 strong, were joined by 19 Colorado Democrats, including House Majority Leader Monica Duran (D), sponsor of both HB 1008 and HB 1260. The rally was led by Colorado AFL-CIO Executive Director Dennis Dougherty.

Ending “captive audience” meetings has been a priority for CWA with our most recent win in Washington State in April. Illinois is set to become the next state to pass similar legislation.

 
Members of CWA Local 7799, along with AFL-CIO allies and Colorado Democrats, rallied at the Colorado State Capitol to express their anger at Governor Jared Polis’ late-night veto of legislation designed to protect workers and children.

Last week, members of the United Paizo Workers (UPW-CWA Local 7800) learned they had been selected as finalists for the prestigious Diana Jones Award for Excellence in Gaming. UPW-CWA Steward Alex Speidel described the award as “the ‘Nobel Prize’ for the tabletop gaming industry.”

UPW-CWA member Rue Dickey was also selected individually for leading a fundraising campaign that included 254 tabletop roleplaying game creators and raised over $280,000. The money was donated to charity partners Zebra Group, which provides services to LGBTQ+ youth between the ages of 13 and 24, and the Transinclusive Group, which advocates for equality for LGBTQ+ people in South Florida.

In an interview for game entertainment news site Polygon, UPW-CWA Local 7800 Steward Alex Speidel said, “The United Paizo Workers are delighted and honored to be a finalist for the Diana Jones Award this year. To be recognized among such industry luminaries is a testament to the power and importance of worker solidarity in this industry. We hope this nomination shows others in the industry that not only is advocating for yourself and collective action in the workplace possible, but that doing so is a mark of honor among your peers.”

This year’s winner will be announced on July 31.

After five long years of negotiations between Alden Global Capital and a joint bargaining committee, NewsGuild-CWA members at eight Tribune publications voted overwhelmingly to ratify a historic first contract.

Newsrooms covered by the contract include: Orlando Sentinel, Tidewater (The Virginian-Pilot, Daily Press, The Virginia Gazette, and Tidewater Review), Morning Call, Suburban Chicago Tribune (The Beacon-News, The Courier-News, The Naperville Sun, and The Daily Southtown), Design and Production Studios, Hartford Courant, and Tribune Content Agency.

The joint bargaining committee, with involvement from 62 NewsGuild members over five years, secured a two-year contract that guarantees raises, protects the 401(k) match, increases job security, and much more.

The deal comes four months after Tribune journalists participated in a 24-hour strike.

Journalists at the Omaha World-Herald (NewsGuild-CWA Local 37074) ended the month of May with a new two-year contract. The publication is owned by Lee Enterprises, which owns 10 other publications and employs 250 media workers with NewsGuild-CWA.

The new contract, ratified unanimously, guarantees immediate wage increases, multiple future wage increases, and protections from the use of artificial intelligence to replace worker-generated content. Artificially generated content, going forward, will be labeled as such, protecting workers and readers.

 
After five years of negotiations, CWA members of NewsGuild-CWA Local 3108 celebrated winning a contract with employer Alden Global Capital.

AT&T In-Home Experts

Last week, 47 AT&T In-Home Experts (IHX) in Mississippi joined the 1,400 IHX workers already part of CWA. The campaign was led by a strong internal committee and bolstered by skilled staff organizers and union presidents from across the state. CWA District 3 Campaign Lead Sheila Sawyer-Reed and Senior Campaign Lead Akeyia M. Johnson helped guide the effort, with aid from several Local Presidents including CWA Local 3511 President Jermaine Travis, CWA Local 3519 President Josh Drinkard, CWA Local 3509 President Mike Hodges, and CWA Local 3517 President Shane Scruggs.

The unit won certification under the terms of the AT&T Voluntary Recognition and Neutrality Agreement. The new IHX members will join CWA Local 3511 in Jackson, Miss.; Local 3519 in Ocean Springs, Miss.; Local 3509 in Hattiesburg, Miss.; and Local 3517 in Tupelo, Miss.

This win could not have happened without unity, collaboration, and skillful organizing. Congratulations to our new In-Home Experts!

Should workers be charged to park at their place of employment? Members of Utah Health Workers United (UHWU-CWA Local 7765) were fed up with the practice and demanded that the University of Utah Health and Clinics (UUHC) provide compensation to cover parking. Members delivered a petition with thousands of signatures to UUHC management late last month, which also addressed concerns over pay transparency and inadequate sick leave.

Parking has long been an issue of contention at UUHC. Workers at the main University of Utah campus paid over $6.4 million in parking expenses to their employer in fiscal year 2023. The UUHC administration has agreed to distribute stipends to all eligible hourly employees beginning July 1, a win for the union. However, organizers warn that this does not address the current plan to raise parking fees annually through fiscal year 2028.

“Admin will claim they gifted us this stipend out of the goodness of their own hearts, but in reality it’s simply a reaction to our budding collective power. Had they cared about the egregiousness of the parking system, it would have been implemented decades ago. We, the employees, through our union and collective voices, made them care,” said Ashley Boyd, a UHWU-CWA member who works at Huntsman Mental Health Institute.

CWA President Claude Cummings Jr. stopped by the AT&T Mobility store in Eastpointe, Mich., to meet with CWA Local 4100 members while he was in Detroit for the CWA District 4 Meeting earlier this week. The members shared their concerns with President Cummings and also helped him replace his phone’s broken screen and camera lens protector.

Workers at the National Audubon Society, a bird conservation organization, have been in contract negotiations for two years as Audubon continues to delay. The organization has denied union members raises while giving them to non-union staff, following a history of pay inequity, especially for women and staff of color.

Help your CWA siblings win a fair contract with the rights, benefits, and compensation they deserve.

Stand with Audubon workers, sign the petition, and tell the company that CWA is united behind these members!

In celebration of Pride Month, the AFL-CIO is highlighting the contributions of LGBTQ+ workers to the Labor Movement in the United States.

CWA Local 7000 Vice President Desi Navarro has been selected for her work both inside the union and across the state of Arizona, where she resides. Navarro, a senior clerk with the City of Tucson, sits on the CWA Women’s Committee and is a member of the CWA Pride Caucus and Arizona Pride At Work.

Navarro lives with her wife, Amanda, and their daughter, Poppy. She enjoys spending time with her family and exploring the Arizona desert.

 
Andrew Goldstein (TNG-CWA Local 38061) leads a protest against the unlawful actions of his employer, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. (PHOTO CREDIT: Steve Mellon, Pittsburgh Union Progress, TNG-CWA 38061)

Name: Andrew Goldstein
Local: The Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh, TNG-CWA Local 38061
Workplace: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Title: Education reporter
Experience: 9.5 years
Strike time: 1.5 years
Quote: "I've been on strike for a year and a half because I strongly believe in the importance of local news, yet I refuse to sit by quietly while my friends and colleagues get treated like garbage by a greedy, ungrateful company that seems hellbent on gratuitous cruelty."
Inspiration: "I am inspired by my colleagues in the Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh, who, under great duress, have risen to the occasion every time they've faced a challenge in the last year and a half, as well as the working people of Pittsburgh, who are the ones that truly make this city a special place to live."

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