AT&T Legacy T Bargaining Report #33

The Bargaining Teams met today.  We discussed the Company’s lack of responsiveness on a data request we made concerning the Company’s plans for the next 10 years.  This is particularly important in light of their rejection of our Successorship proposals while the Company has already started selling off parts of the business.  Just last week they announced:  “We have reached an agreement to sell our AT&T Advertising Solutions and AT&T Interactive business units to an affiliate of one of the nation's largest private equity firms, Cerberus Capital Management.  The transaction is expected to close in mid-year 2012.”  It is completely relevant to our bargaining that we are given information about their business plans.

After that discussion, we resubmitted our proposals to protect and expand JOG and to protect our employment security language, including our “watermark” of jobs and our “limited layoff” clause.  The Company has rejected our proposals and is seeking to eliminate both of those sections of the contract.

We followed with more subcommittee discussions on absence.

Last night we had a very good call with Local officers around the country.  Participation on the call was VERY high.  Not only did we share reports from your bargaining team and mobilizers, but Jim Weitkamp, VP of District 9, which is currently bargaining the “West” contract, spoke on the call and pledged the continued unity of the bargaining teams.  We also were joined by Claude Cummings, CWA Vice President of District 6 (Southwest), who also committed to doing whatever they can to assist us in our fight.  Their Contract is up in 2013.

The main message of the call was to continue to ramp up our Mobilization efforts, on the job and off, and to build alliances through the “99% Spring” to help build our common fights.

Your bargaining team