AT&T Legacy T Mobilization Report #20

Stepped-up mobilization will be critical to our success at the bargaining table… we cannot slack off on mobilization now.

During last week’s National Union Hall call, CWA Legacy T & District Vice Presidents commended mobilization and stressed its impact on bargaining. 

Telecommunications & Technologies Vice President Ralph Maly said mobilization efforts have made a huge difference in moving the bargaining forward, and “Stepped-up mobilization will be critical to our success at the bargaining table.”

District 1 Vice President Chris Shelton also stated the key to bargaining is to “Mobilize, Mobilize, Mobilize and Mobilize some more… the way we show Union power is to get members involved…the way we are going to get a contract is for every single member to get involved in mobilization…every time members get involved in mobilization, the Company understands that it’s not just the bargaining team, that it’s every member.”

District 9 Vice President Jim Weitkamp stated, “Your continued mobilization and work to rule are the key to what we finally achieve and bring back to you to vote on.”

Bargaining committee couldn’t have said it any more clearly in our reports last week.  “We cannot slack off on mobilization now.  If anything, we need to give the Company a harder push to present us with proposals on these issues that preserve and improve our standard of living.”  And, “All over the country we should be stepping up our mobilization efforts.”

District 9 Mobilization Coordinator Louie Rocha said, “AT&T is a major Olympic sponsor, and with all the jobs they are outsourcing they could sponsor several other countries’ teams as well!”  

Our members have moved to action and have recruited friends and family to help spread the word to the public about off-shoring jobs & AT&T’s corporate greed.  If you have not been involved in actions in your Local or your community, it’s not too late!  Call your Local Union hall today, or talk with an Officer, Steward or Mobilizer in your work area.

We are spreading our message in our communities at street festivals, County fairs, Farmers Markets, Major League Baseball games, Golf tournaments and any other public event where people are gathered.  A new flier was created to help spread our message to the public.  If you haven’t seen it, you can contact your District Mobilization Coordinator listed below.

Local 6450 did an amazing job last week when they participated in two huge public actions: The Major League Baseball All-Star game and the American Idol Concert.  Over a thousand flyers were distributed to the public as they entered these two major events in Kansas City, MO.  District 6 Locals also held solidarity actions in their own locations.

Here are some of the reportable actions happening around the country:

Local 1051 members are making noise every hour on the hour; they are wearing RED Thursdays & BLACK Fridays.  Inside actions are ramping up to include 5 minute stands four times each day.  Members are also concerned about their health, so ergonomic breaks per Company policy are being followed.

Local 1150 members are wearing RED Thursdays, BLACK Fridays and standing and making noise at 11:50 daily.  Public actions in solidarity with Local 1153 and District 1 continue.  Pictures have been taken and posted on the Local website of managers being trained to do our work.

Local 1152 mobilization on the inside includes standing 3 times every day, wearing RED Thursdays & BLACK Fridays, mass walk-ins, and rallies every Thursday.  Members are avoiding the Company’s SOUP.

Local 1153 works with Local 1150 on actions outside in the public.  Inside members are wearing RED Thursdays, BLACK Fridays, holding rallies weekly, and continue to BOYCOTT OVERTIME.

Local 2204 members continue to wear RED Thursdays and put signs in the parking lot in their cars adjacent to the AT&T building to let the Company know they are expecting a fair contract.  This week, members added large signs in the office stating, “Fighting for the American Dream”, and “Stand Up for Workers’ Rights”.

Local 2252 members continue inside mobilization including standing, clicking, making noise and wearing RED.

Local 3106 members take health breaks together every hour, and wear RED Thursdays in solidarity.

Local 3108 members make noise 3 times each day, do ergonomic exercises as a group, and continue other inside and outside actions

Local 3207 members are engaged in the “Fight for the American Dream” and mobilize every day, including wearing bandannas, RED Thursdays, BLACK Fridays, standing up for 5 Minutes twice daily, taking hourly health breaks.  Members decorated their lockers and clothes with CWA slogans and comments.  WTF is posted on the Union boards.  The Local continues to hold rallies and informational pickets which receive support from our allies and the public.   

Local 3250 members across all states remain engaged in the fight for a fair contract by holding rallies, and leafleting the public and our communities.  Inside actions include wearing RED Thursdays, BLACK Fridays, random noise actions when the feeling hits a member, inside rallies, keeping members informed through flyers, and one-on-one communication.  Outside members are putting gas in their trucks in $32.50 increments and “riding with a buddy” by dressing the passenger seat in a red t-shirt.  The Local distributed health care flyers to members’ desks.

Local 3603 members participate in inside actions including wearing RED Thursdays.

Local 3902 members are standing in solidarity every hour on the hour, wearing RED & BLACK throughout the week.  Activists remain engaged in public action.  Members continue to BOYCOTT OVERTIME.

Local 4250 members are taking frequent ergonomic breaks to stay healthy on the job, while they remain focused on customer service and following AT&T’s policies and procedures.  The overtime boycott continues until a fair contract is reached.  Members wear RED Thursdays and participated in informational picketing.

Local 4252 members continue to wear RED Thursdays and participate in outside actions.

Local 4340 members are engaging in mobilization actions on the job and in the public.  Officers hold work site meetings to keep members informed about bargaining and mobilization.

Local 4998 members show solidarity on the job by wearing RED Thursdays and BLACK Fridays.  Organizers continue to talk to workers at Best Buy and Radio Shack.

Local 6143 stands in solidarity and keeps members informed with break room visits and lunchtime rallies.  Members continue to wear RED Thursdays and BLACK Fridays.  The Local’s mobilization coordinator has made up t-shirts, ribbons, and bags with stickers and other memorabilia that members are wearing daily.

Local 6150 members continue to plan lunchtime rallies as well as make noise inside the call center every other hour.  Mobilizers keep members informed by leafleting Union flyers and through the Local website.  Members continue to wear RED Thursdays and BLACK Fridays.

Local 6201 members are taking great pride in the quality and care they give customers.  In solidarity, members walk in together followed by chanting and tapping actions throughout the day.  They continue to wear RED armbands and WTF stickers on their badges.  Members stay updated on bargaining and mobilization through face-to-face meetings, email, social media and the website.  Public actions continue, asking people to contact AT&T about bringing jobs back to the United States.

Local 6350 continues to boycott overtime.  Members participated in an info picket/rally.  The Local cooked hot dogs.  Flyers are distributed to members to keep them informed.  Organizing at Best Buy and Wal-Mart continue, and public flyers are distributed.  Large actions at public gatherings are planned.  Members continue inside actions including making noise in the office, wearing RED Thursdays and BLACK Fridays.

Local 6450 lead two large public mobilization actions this week, which were joined in solidarity by other District 6 Locals: MLB All Star Game & the American Idol concert.  Many family members & friends joined these CWA actions; both events received public participation and support.  6450 continues to mobilize inside and outside.  Members wear RED Thursdays, BLACK Fridays, AND have something on their desk that says CWA to show support for a fair contract.  Random noise actions continue throughout the day.  Organizers are visiting ALL resellers to encourage members to join CWA.  Members continue to follow ergonomic break recommendations per Company policy. 

Local 7050 members remain focused on safety on the job and quality work.  The branded apparel boycott continues.

Local 7250 members were joined by friends, IWW & Allies at the weekly demonstration in downtown Minneapolis.  Mass organizing and public leafleting event plans continue.  Outside technicians remain focused on safety and quality.  Many inside actions continue, including stands 3 times daily, wearing RED Thursdays & BLACK Fridays.  Per AT&T policies, hourly ergonomic breaks are being taken in attempt to maintain good health.

Local 7750 members continue to show more unity and support as bargaining drags on.  Daily hallway walks have expanded, and more members are wearing RED Tuesdays & Thursdays while wearing BLACK Fridays & the rest of the week.  Flagpole rallies and noisemaking continue.

Local 9415 continues mobilization activities at both the CNSC and LNS in Sacramento.  They are keeping the pressure on management until we have a fair contract.  Members are standing up twice daily and clicking.  RED shirts are worn every Thursday, and they hold a rally/info picket in solidarity with Local 9421.  In Pleasanton, 9415 members wear RED Thursdays, have mini picket signs at their desks, continue to file grievances on our work that is being off-shored, and are making sure they are doing their work very carefully.

Local 13500 members continue to wear RED Tuesdays and Thursdays and many are wearing RED daily.  They are standing and making noise every hour on the hour and take health breaks on Fridays.

Local 13550 passed out flyers this week instructing the members of the importance to follow AT&T Ergonomic standards.  All members participated in a much-needed Health Break on Thursday.  Inside actions continue, including wearing WTF buttons daily, making noise within the office each half hour to let AT&T know they are still waiting for a fair contract.  Members are wearing “Fighting for the American Dream” t-shirts, RED Thursdays & BLACK Fridays.

Local 13552 members show solidarity by wearing RED Thursdays and BLACK Fridays.

Charges at the National Labor Relations Board have been filed by several Locals due to changes in working conditions that the Company has imposed on our members.  If you experience a change in working conditions, please report them to your Local Officers or Stewards and bbates@cwa-union.org.

Violations of our right to participate in concerted actions should also be reported to bbates@cwa-union.org and your District or Sector staff.  You should file charges at the NLRB in both cases of changes in working conditions and violations of our right to participate in concerted actions.

Our members take great pride in the quality of work they perform and follow AT&T’s safety creed on the job every day.  “No job so important, and no service so urgent that we cannot take the time to perform our work safely…”

If you are experiencing or witness any unsafe working conditions or OSHA violations, report them to your Local Union Stewards or Officers right away.  You can also contact OSHA directly and then notify your Local Union.  Remember to check your safety and protective gear as well.

Organizing campaigns at retailers that sell AT&T products and services, like Best Buy and Radio Shack, have expanded to included AT&T authorized agents and contractors that AT&T uses to do business.  Many of the contractor jobs belong or used to belong in our bargaining units.  If we can’t get the work back, we should work to help organize the people doing the work today.

Members in the field are the force behind any movement that has been made so far at the bargaining table.  There are many actions happening in each Local; check with your Local Officer to see how you can participate.  Make sure you are doing your part.

Are your Local’s actions missing from the report?  Send pictures and reports to your mobilization coordinators listed here:

D1 Chris Wise christopherjwise1@gmail.com
D2/13 Mary Lou Schaffer marylouschaffer@msn.com
D3 Glenda Poindexter gotorganize@gmail.com
D4 Dave Skotarczyk davecwa@sbcglobal.net
D6 Sarah Harreus sharreus@sbcglobal.net
D7/D9 Shari Wojtowicz whatawitch@hotmail.com
Staff Rep Jim Cosgrove jcosgrove@cwa-union.org 

Local Mobilization Coordinators: If you are unsure what to do during this phase of mobilization, or how to ramp up your current actions, please contact your District Coordinator above.  If you have any problems or questions, call your District Staff person or the National T&T Office.

Stand Strong.  Stay Mobilized.