Alcatel-Lucent 2014 Bargaining Report #1

Bargaining Report #1  

Alcatel-Lucent Installation

Today was the first day of bargaining with Alcatel-Lucent.  Both sides read opening statements, which laid out what each party wants to see coming out of this round of bargaining.  This was our statement of our bargaining chair, Laura Unger, Assistant to VP for Telecommunications and Technologies:

Every bargaining starts with the assumption that this will be the toughest one ever. We clearly feel that way this year.  Having not bargained a full agreement since 2004 we certainly recognize that our jobs have changed, this Company has changed and our numbers have diminished.  In 2004 we were also in dire straits following several years of tremendous downsizing.  The company was in trouble then and it is in trouble now.

One thing has not changed, however.  The members of the CWA expect their Union to get them the best agreement we possibly can.  Mostly they want jobs. They look around and see millions unemployed and those getting new jobs are getting them at significantly lower wages and benefits.  That is not where they want to be. They want to keep working for Alcatel-Lucent.  The terms and conditions in this contract were fought for and gained over 50 years of bargaining and paid for by our members and retirees.  We will not part with them easily.  If there was no work it might be a different story but there is a huge amount of work - more work than our installers can do without large amounts of overtime, even with large numbers of outside contractors working all over this country. Of course we understand that might change in the future but it is NOT the situation now.   

We live in the real world and we know the challenges this Company faces.  Our charge is to get the best contract we possibly can under the conditions we currently face.  No less.  We have made sacrifices already with the loss of thousands of jobs over the last few years.  We know Alcatel-Lucent does not believe that is enough but we cannot stand idly by and both give up more jobs to outside contractors AND at the same time, significantly impact the working conditions and benefits of those who remain.  Our members will not stand for it. This bargaining team will not stand for it. We will not let this company SHIFT the result of years of bad business decisions and mismanagement onto the backs of our members.  We are fighting for a place in the future of this company and will continue to fight for it throughout these negotiations.

Your bargaining team,

Laura Unger

Martha Flagge, Staff Representative

Mike Klein, Local 4050/4090

Rick Mulledy, Local 4390