AT&T "Legacy T" Bargaining Report #37

The full bargaining team met with the Company yesterday in a subcommittee on a National Transfer Plan.  This was one of the main demands we got from members across the country – a fair, easy-to-use plan, which would allow our members to transfer across company lines, particularly in surplus situations.  The Company proposal is very cumbersome and made these moves difficult.  Our proposal, which is being passed at every table, is simpler and has protections for our members.  We will be meeting on it again tomorrow, in addition to negotiations over our health care plan.

By now, you have probably read that AT&T has put their "last, best and final" offer to the Union in District 6, the AT&T Southwest area.  A "last, best and final" offer is usually made by a company to signal that they have reached a "bottom line." What does this mean for us?

The main thing is that bargaining will continue at our table.  Each Contract is separate and we will continue to fight for the issues that are important to our members.

Second, it does not mean that negotiations are over, even in District 6.  The Company has not said it will implement this offer.  If they did, they have to prove they have reached "impasse" in negotiations with the Union, and they are far from that.  There are still many proposals on the table where there can continue to be movement.

Third, there are different company offers on Health Care, and many other aspects of this agreement, at each table.  This offer is very different than what has been offered to us.  In fact, we are dealing with many different issues in each unit and bargaining will continue at our table.  There has not been any such "last, best and final" proposal made at our table, nor do we expect one.

Finally, although this offer is not what has been presented to us, our members should not be fooled by it.  The devil is in the details. The company did not list nearly all the retrogressive parts of their proposal. Also, notice it does not address retiree health care at all. 

They key thing is for you continue to mobilize and make clear to the company that we are continuing to fight for a fair contract.