AT&T Mobility Bargaining Kick-off: CWA Opening Statement

Today CWA and AT&T open negotiations for our workers covered by the Orange Collective Bargaining Agreement. These workers live in 36 states and Washington, DC, and it is these workers that keep this wireless business alive and profitable.

In 2009, the United States fell into a recession almost as deep as the Great Depression of the 1930s.

In 2013, we are beginning to claw out of that recession.

AT&T mobility, as a major American economic engine, has a responsibility to create good paying, middle class jobs to strengthen and rebuild Main Street America. By providing good, living wages, workers can afford to purchase AT&T products and services. This creates local economic growth and rebuilds the middle class.

2013 is different for America. We have seen a resurgence in public support for workers’ rights and benefits. It is no longer acceptable to be a part of the race to the bottom.

CWA members across America cannot and will not support subsidizing Corporate America through their hard-earned tax dollars only to turn around and have these same corporations pay their employees so little that they must seek government assistance.

We understand that we have a unique relationship with AT&T, especially in the wireless division. This unique relationship affords both of us the opportunity to succeed. When CWA members succeed, AT&T succeeds. We are in this together.

AT&T is a financially healthy and profitable company. It has the economic means to negotiate a contract that is rivaled by no other. Our dedication, hard work, and increased productivity create profits and sales growth second to none.

CWA is a healthy union. We have surveyed our members and they tell us that job security and economics are their highest priorities. Over the last 4 years, the company has increased their use of vendors to do work once done by employees. CWA members believe that they are the best at addressing customer needs and are better trained to deliver these services.

CWA members want careers, not just jobs. Careers that have decent wages that will give them the opportunity to support their families, pay their bills, and send their kids to college. Careers with a future, careers with training and retraining for new technology, careers with a retirement plan, careers where healthcare is provided at an affordable price for workers and their families.

Additionally, they seek stability in their work lives without the disruption of frequent changes to the policy and procedures under which they work. They seek flexibility in their schedules to spend time with their families and contribute to their communities.

Workers become distracted from the job at hand when they worry whether there will be enough food on the table, having to make decisions about caring for their family or losing their job.

As you ratchet up productivity levels with fewer employees, the stress of keeping up has a direct impact on the morale of the workgroup. Productivity drops. If your expectation is to continue high productivity, then our expectation is to work in an environment where the employer prides itself on employee satisfaction, and employees have a voice in what that looks like. After all, workers that are included and engaged in determining their work lives are indeed productive workers.

Our membership is mobilized, our resolve is strong, and our cause is just. We have an opportunity to negotiate a contract we will all be proud of, and we are here to get to work doing just that.