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AT&T Bargaining Mobilization in Full Swing
Early in February when AT&T staged conference calls for all employees in an attempt to sell them on an extension of the current contract, the word flew to all locals via telephone and e-mail.
“Our mobilization network got a real test and passed with flying colors,” said CWA Representative Bill Bates, national mobilization coordinator. “The locals’ response was immediate, in real time. They leafleted members in all business units, correcting half-truths that AT&T was spreading.”
As AT&T moves toward merging its Broadband operation with Comcast, locals are distributing a petition, asking members to sign on to a request to the CEOs of the regional Bell operating companies to buy what’s left of AT&T.
AT&T bargaining is scheduled to begin March 11, and CWA has activated an unprecedented mobilization campaign for a contract that will offer both job security and improved wages and benefits.
“The CWA Executive Board has pledged its unanimous support for our efforts,” said Ralph Maly, CWA vice president for Communications and Technologies. “We will have the full resources of this union behind our effort to secure a fair contract.”
On Feb. 2, about 40 local leaders and CWA staff leafleted at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. The eight-day, televised golf classic paired well-known professionals with celebrities Michael Bolton, Samuel L. Jackson, Clint Eastwood and many others.
Their leaflet applauded the tournament’s contribution of a large portion of proceeds to a national center for the study of renowned American author John Steinbeck, but lamented AT&T leadership’s lack of understanding of the ideals Steinbeck upheld in his famous novel, “The Grapes of Wrath,” about grassroots struggle for survival.
“We just wish AT&T’s leadership had understood the book,” the leaflet proclaims. “We are in the fight of our lives. As AT&T gets sold off in pieces, we see that CEO C. Michael Armstrong will have a job in the newly merged AT&T Comcast.”
CWA leaders at Pebble Beach wore golf caps bearing the CWA logo and t-shirts emblazoned with “CWA, the backbone of AT&T.”
Armstrong played in the Pebble Beach tournament, part of a foursome that included golf pros José Maria Olazabal and Greg Kraft.
“We met Mr. Armstrong and his foursome at the first hole, and we assigned groups to each hole,” said Local 4250 President Steve Tisza, from Chicago. “At hole two, four people would meet him and follow him to the next hole where there would be more people waiting for him. At the end, we had all 40 people at the 18th hole.”
“I believe we had Michael Armstrong quite nervous,” said David Blackburn, secretary-treasurer of Local 7050 in Tempe, Ariz. He had one security person with him on the first hole. By the time he finished, he had five.”
Armstong’s team finished 22nd or 23rd out of 25 teams that played the final day of the tournament, Tisza said.
An Ad Hoc Committee of presidents from strategic locals around the country organized the Pebble Beach action. Blackburn, who traveled to Pebble Beach with Local 7050 President Annie Hall, gave particular credit to Dan Danaher, Local 4998 president, who arranged hotel rooms for the entire CWA contingent and for the umbrellas, t-shirts and hats that helped get the union’s message across to spectators.
Bates said the committee continues to provide ideas for a much broader mobilization. Working with Bates at CWA headquarters are Hetty Scofield, director of mobilization for the executive vice president’s office, and Local 1150 President Laura Unger, co-chair of the committee who is also working with the CWA research department. One or more mobilization coordinators have been appointed for each CWA district.
Training on bargaining issues and mobilization techniques for stewards and mobilizers in all AT&T locals began in July, with themes changing each month. Mobilization will include legislative activities and pressure on regulators as well as solidarity actions, Bates said.
Other recent activities include:
“Our mobilization network got a real test and passed with flying colors,” said CWA Representative Bill Bates, national mobilization coordinator. “The locals’ response was immediate, in real time. They leafleted members in all business units, correcting half-truths that AT&T was spreading.”
As AT&T moves toward merging its Broadband operation with Comcast, locals are distributing a petition, asking members to sign on to a request to the CEOs of the regional Bell operating companies to buy what’s left of AT&T.
AT&T bargaining is scheduled to begin March 11, and CWA has activated an unprecedented mobilization campaign for a contract that will offer both job security and improved wages and benefits.
“The CWA Executive Board has pledged its unanimous support for our efforts,” said Ralph Maly, CWA vice president for Communications and Technologies. “We will have the full resources of this union behind our effort to secure a fair contract.”
On Feb. 2, about 40 local leaders and CWA staff leafleted at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. The eight-day, televised golf classic paired well-known professionals with celebrities Michael Bolton, Samuel L. Jackson, Clint Eastwood and many others.
Their leaflet applauded the tournament’s contribution of a large portion of proceeds to a national center for the study of renowned American author John Steinbeck, but lamented AT&T leadership’s lack of understanding of the ideals Steinbeck upheld in his famous novel, “The Grapes of Wrath,” about grassroots struggle for survival.
“We just wish AT&T’s leadership had understood the book,” the leaflet proclaims. “We are in the fight of our lives. As AT&T gets sold off in pieces, we see that CEO C. Michael Armstrong will have a job in the newly merged AT&T Comcast.”
CWA leaders at Pebble Beach wore golf caps bearing the CWA logo and t-shirts emblazoned with “CWA, the backbone of AT&T.”
Armstrong played in the Pebble Beach tournament, part of a foursome that included golf pros José Maria Olazabal and Greg Kraft.
“We met Mr. Armstrong and his foursome at the first hole, and we assigned groups to each hole,” said Local 4250 President Steve Tisza, from Chicago. “At hole two, four people would meet him and follow him to the next hole where there would be more people waiting for him. At the end, we had all 40 people at the 18th hole.”
“I believe we had Michael Armstrong quite nervous,” said David Blackburn, secretary-treasurer of Local 7050 in Tempe, Ariz. He had one security person with him on the first hole. By the time he finished, he had five.”
Armstong’s team finished 22nd or 23rd out of 25 teams that played the final day of the tournament, Tisza said.
An Ad Hoc Committee of presidents from strategic locals around the country organized the Pebble Beach action. Blackburn, who traveled to Pebble Beach with Local 7050 President Annie Hall, gave particular credit to Dan Danaher, Local 4998 president, who arranged hotel rooms for the entire CWA contingent and for the umbrellas, t-shirts and hats that helped get the union’s message across to spectators.
Bates said the committee continues to provide ideas for a much broader mobilization. Working with Bates at CWA headquarters are Hetty Scofield, director of mobilization for the executive vice president’s office, and Local 1150 President Laura Unger, co-chair of the committee who is also working with the CWA research department. One or more mobilization coordinators have been appointed for each CWA district.
Training on bargaining issues and mobilization techniques for stewards and mobilizers in all AT&T locals began in July, with themes changing each month. Mobilization will include legislative activities and pressure on regulators as well as solidarity actions, Bates said.
Other recent activities include:
- A challenge to the Securities and Exchange Commission by the Ad Hoc Committee: “How can Mr. Armstrong be named chairman of AT&T Comcast and be allowed to remain CEO of AT&T during the transition? This creates a clear conflict of interest.” Their letter points out that AT&T Broadband and Comcast are direct competitors and inquires about safeguards to protect stockholders.
- Letters requesting an inquiry by the National Security Telecommunications Advisory Council to investigate the training of foreign nationals from India to perform the work of 165 represented workers who were fired Dec. 14, 2001. “Did AT&T inform U.S. security agencies? In light of 9-11, should AT&T be allowed to give access to the communications infrastructure to foreign nationals?” Signers included Colleen Downing, unit vice president, Local 6450, Kansas City, and Steve Tizsa, president, Local 4250, Chicago.
- Mobilizers distributed red balloons and posted signs in bathrooms, Jan. 29, asking management to not flush AT&T employees or the company. The next day, workers displayed balloons throughout their customer service center. Said Marianne Minarsich, executive vice president of Local 7050 in Tempe, Ariz., who saw managers popping balloons, “We asked management if they had fastened their seatbelts, be cause if that is how they were going to respond they were in for a very interesting 110 days.” The current AT&T contract expires at midnight, May 11.