AT&T "Legacy T" Bargaining Report #49

The Bargaining Team met with the Company Saturday into late evening, and all day Sunday and today.  We were going over the latest full package the Company provided to us on Saturday.  Many of their retrogressive demands are still on the table – eliminate our APA and replace it with a plan with a lower minimum payout; eliminate our scholarship program and replace it with one that pays out much less; eliminate the legal plan.  Their change in the absence plan (less than 3 years – no pay for absence; 3-5 years, pay after the 2nd scheduled day; 5-8 years, pay after the 1st scheduled day; and over 8 years, pay for the first day of absence) and the double time build (only after 9 hours OT) are still on the table.  They are still demanding a much lower level of post-retirement benefits and pension for all “new hires.”  The worst part of that is that they define “new hires” not just as those hired off the street, but also longtime employees who are rehired after being laid off.  This is completely unacceptable to the Union.

We are still far apart on Medical Plan and other benefit changes and the wage package.  Our job security proposal has been largely rejected.  Things we had in the past contract, like a requirement that they replace full time contractors doing Article 43 work, was still gone from their newest package.  On job security, the team feels we have taken a step backward from where we were during the 2005 agreement.

That does not mean that no progress has been made.  Some of their retrogressive changes have been pulled back, and we are moving forward on a National Transfer Plan, but the key issues – Health Benefits and employment security – are still far from resolved.

We are preparing our response for the bargaining table.  You must respond too. Keep mobilizing.  We need you to keep the pressure on.