AT&T Members Launch 'One Year to Contract' Mobilization

CWA locals representing members at AT&T across the union kicked off the "one year to a new contract" mobilization with leafleting and workplace actions across the districts in advance of 2009 negotiations. AT&T Mobility members also joined in, to show support for a united CWA at AT&T and to gear up for the AT&T Mobility Orange negotiations; that contract expires in February 2009.

From Minnesota to California to Florida, CWAers leafleted the public outside AT&T offices, handed out flyers to members, got information to Mobility members at retail stores and other locations and mobilized at work locations. In Ohio, members of Local 4320 wore stickers stressing that CWA at AT&T was "one union, one fight and one future."

CWAers from every district and the Communications and Technologies sector are meeting this week as part of the National AT&T Mobilization Committee, to coordinate actions, improve communications and begin to plan strategies across districts for bargaining.

CWA's telecom vice presidents set up the committee to show AT&T that even though CWA will be bargaining different contracts, we're one union with shared bargaining goals across the company.

"At the new AT&T, rapid changes to technology and other developments require us to think about new ways to deal with our issues and to develop innovative strategies and unified action that will result in successful negotiations for our members," said CWA Executive Vice President Jeff Rechenbach, who heads the Telecom Office.

Separately, members at AT&T Internet Services ratified a new agreement covering about 1,800 CWA-represented workers in Districts 3, 4, 6 and 9.