AT&T "Legacy T" Bargaining Report #21

Today's bargaining started with a small improvement in Article 44 (CNSC), ATS/ARS and Article 10 (Arbitration).  The rest of the session  was business as usual.  After telling us to expect a new proposal on our benefits, the Company showed up with EXACTLY the same proposal they gave us on March 27th – the same high costs, the same two tiers ("new hires" and "current"), the same outrageous deductibles – not one improvement.  Their new wage and pension proposal was equally insulting.  They are proposing a five year agreement with two years of lump sums that don't go into the base.  Their wage proposal for the initial increase is .5% - that's ½ of one percent.  That wouldn't cover Randall's yearly tips to his barber.  On pensions they went from a proposal with zero improvement to today's proposal - 1% a year increase in the traditional Pension bands and the band credits for the CBA.

Despite our constant protests across the table, the Company is refusing to enter into any discussion about benefits for our current retirees.  On issue after issue they cannot answer our questions or even clearly explain their own proposals.  At this rate there is NO chance we will reach an agreement by tomorrow night.  It is now after 9:00 PM and we are waiting to start another session, which we will report on tomorrow.

By now you should all be ready for tomorrow night.  Keep checking this site and with your Locals for updates and keep up the pressure.