AT&T "Legacy T" Bargaining Report #13

Yesterday the bargaining team met with the Company in subcommittees to have more in-depth discussion about some of the key issues.

At today's full session the Company presented proposals on Article 32 (Messaging Applications Services) and 20 (Absence).  As in the past with other functional articles (the blue pages), the Company continued to offer less than what we currently have.

It was the same with Article 20 – they want employees to wait three years to get paid for any sick time, and then it is only after the second day of illness.  From 5 years to 8 years service, employees would be paid after the first day of personal illness.  Only those with over 8 years of service would get paid for their first day of illness absence.  Needless to say, the Union raised a ton of questions about the Company proposals, which are based on the assumption that our members are not really sick when they call in and they could make it in if they just wanted to badly enough (like if they were not getting paid).  That is an assumption we are not prepared to agree to.

The Union presented several proposals on the AT&T Transfer System, all of which attempt to fix problems with the system that have come up over and over again during the last few years.  Fortunately, our ATS Oversight Committee has been able to help with many of the problems that we face with ATS, and our new proposals should make it even more effective.

Bargaining will resume on Monday.

The strike vote is being counted this afternoon.  If the members approve a strike, that means the membership has given the CWA Executive Board the right to call a strike if and when they think it is appropriate.  Mobilization and strike preparation is always critical these last few weeks.  The best chance of avoiding a strike is when the Company knows we are ready for one, and all of you are participating in mobilization activities.