AT&T Mobilization Report #4

Mobilization Report #4

Strike Watch - Mobilization Red Alert

Members continued to mobilize, on the job and in public, right up to the 11:59 p.m. expiration and beyond. 

Local Officers and Activists held vigils at Union Halls across the country, waiting for midnight to arrive, were on alert and ready for the strike authorization from President Cohen when the word came out that the contract had been extended until Tuesday at 12:00 p.m. (EDT)

The final week leading to expiration brought escalated Mobilization actions from the Atlantic to the Pacific and everywhere in between.  Members remain focused on safety and quality as Mobilization heats up!

Here are some of the actions:

Local 1058

With only 2 days until contract expiration, Local 1058 held Mobilization efforts in Bedminster and Piscataway.  Local activists hand billed members with the “Clock is Ticking” flyers, reminding members that the contract expires on April 11, 2015 at 11:59 p.m.  Activists also handed out “Fighting for Fairness” buttons to members.  The Local members continue working to rule and wearing red.

Local 1150

Continued to show support for our Bargaining Team with hourly noise making, clicking and strike chatter while taking our ergonomic 101 work breaks. Working to rule is now rule of thumb. Everyone has taken home and/or locked down all job function cheats sheets.  Some have even created false cheat sheets to leave on their desk. Everyone is ready for a call to strike.

Local 1152

Members are mobilizing on the job and are prepared to strike.

Local 1153

An informational picket was held in White Plains in support of healthcare negotiations.  Members used crutches, bandages and whistles. Members have posters on the job, leave bargaining reports all over, do stand -ups and make noise.  Arrangements are made for picket duty Saturday night and 1st week in New York and Connecticut buildings. 

Local 2204

Members remain bitter over their office closing and are ready to strike.  

Local 2252

Members held a candlelight vigil at the Local office, at the end of contract.  Members are on standby throughout Local ready for strike.

Local 3108

Members gathered for a strike watch party and made signs in case of a strike.   Noise actions continue twice daily as part of the Mobilization strategy.  They must be doing something right - this week an attorney from the Company contacted the CWA District 3 office complaining that the noise is too loud and at an unacceptable level.

Local 3250

Have been very busy Mobilizing EVERY DAY. Clicking and marching at Morosgo, cell phone alarms are ringing.  Outside Techs have the CWA logo in the windows of their trucks. Members are in full swing. More signs were made in case of a strike. The sentiment around the room was SOLID that we won't roll over on this Contract. Members are ready. Picket Captains and strike assignments are ready for members. The mobilization text blast is ready. We stand behind our Bargaining Team. Local 3250 would like to thank District 3 Staff that attended as well as Retirees and family. There was rousing prayer for us and the Bargaining Team from Rev. Melton from Salem Missionary Baptist Church. We had good food along with chants throughout the night.

Local 4050/4090

Held a candlelight vigil at 11:30 p.m. April 11^th at the AT&T Headquarters building in downtown Detroit.  At 11:59 p.m. Dave Skotarczyk gave a rousing speech of unity to the crowd.  All Locals from Southeastern Michigan were present in mass.  After chants and info sharing we were notified that the contract had been extended.

Local 4250 / CTU 16

The letter writing to AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson continues.  Members are wearing red apparel on Thursdays.  “Hands Off Our Healthcare” participants wore Band-Aids, Ace bandages and used crutches.  Some members were given clocks that make a loud ticking sound. Picket assignments are completed and members are ready to strike.  Informational meetings were held at each work location.  Members hid three wind up alarm clocks in offices that tick very loudly – “tick tock”...moved from desk to desk. Members gathered at the Union office waiting for word of a strike Saturday. Members wear RED shirts, caps, etc. Picket Signs – CHECK!  Strike vests – CHECK!  Picket schedules – CHECK!  4250 is READY!

Local 4252

Members continue job actions and remain focused on quality.  Members have received strike assignments and are ready to walk.

Local 6143

Members held an informational picket in front of 4119 Broadway.  Members are ready to strike FOR REAL!

Local 6150

Members held a candlelight vigil Saturday night at 11:30 p.m. in front of the 4100 Bryan Street location and waited for a strike to be called. In the workplace members received two desk drops and stayed informed about the bargaining process via text, in addition to receiving mobilization messages.

Local 6350

Members started out the week on Monday with the “Work-Farce 2020” flyer and Officers and Stewards hand-billed the Membership. They also passed out bottles of water and Kool-Aid packets, emphasizing “Don't Drink the Kool-Aid.” Members used the empty water bottles to continue our "Wake-up AT$T” campaign, making noise at 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. everyday.  The evening and night crews have similar times during shift to MAKE NOISE!!!  Members and Retirees attended Mobilization training.  Members received condoms with a flyer letting them know that CWA is your protection from unfair bargaining.  “No scab zone” signs were posted around the office.  Members are prepared for strike.

Local 6450

The Local held a strike watch party Saturday night. Members enjoyed food, games, music and lots of solidarity.  Picket signs were made and members were ready to walk if a strike was called. Members are more united than ever.  Local 6450 would like to thank the Bargaining Team for their efforts to get a fair contract.  Job actions continue with informational pickets, bursts of loud noise in our call centers, stand ups and flyers with updated information.  Members continue to wear RED on Thursdays and BLACK on Fridays.   

Local 7050

Members are ready to strike and looking forward to it.  Picket assignments have been communicated and members are prepared to pull over and park trucks on the shoulder of the highway or wherever they are at the time the strike is called.  

Local 7200

Members continued Mobilization training and held a strike watch party on Saturday.  Picket signs were assembled.  Members stand on the job in solidarity with Local 7250 and in support of bargaining.          

Local 7250

Members continue to escalate actions at the call center with hourly stand ups and noise actions twice daily.   Members gathered at the Local Union hall for a joint strike watch party.  Mobilization training continued.   Monday members held a mock walk to practice for Tuesdays mid-day strike possibility. 

Local 7750

Members hold daily informational pickets and flagpole rally.  Mobilizers passed out pins and members wore them all week.  Members taped the “Fighting for Fairness” flyers on work monitors and members wore red shirts throughout the week. Hallway walks continued. At the strike watch party picket signs and flyers were put together for upcoming actions. The Local is planning a big rally on April 15^th with other Locals and Retirees.

Local 9003

The Local has been mobilizing in support of the T&T and District 4 Bargaining Teams and members under both contracts.  9003 members work for AT&T West and Mobility, but can still deliver a message to the corporation.  Members are conducting worksite rallies throughout the Local’s jurisdiction.  The rallies are as small as an office or store with 5 members or as big as a Tech yard with 100.  The AT&T West contract expires on 4/9/16 and these rallies provide a way to get members prepared for that, as well as show solidarity with District 4 and T&T.  #Standingtogether

Local 9415

Members were recruited for Mobilization training and are participating in job actions ramping up for a strike.

CWA Local Presidents met with Vice President Bates and the CWA Bargaining Team via conference call Monday to discuss final details and to prepare for the possibility of a strike tomorrow.  It has been 29 years since CWA last went on strike against AT&T.  Members and Local officers are ready to walk! 

Members in the field have been saying the impending strike “is long overdue”

AT&T is a greedy corporation that cleared billions of dollars in profits last year, even with the current healthcare liabilities of the active Employees and Retirees.   AT$T can clearly afford to continue the level of benefits without increasing premiums, deductibles or out of pocket maximums.  

MOBILIZE! MOBILIZE! MOBILIZE!  We are the Union, and the power behind the Bargaining table.  Show AT$T that we are serious!  They say “TAKE BACKS”, we say “FIGHT BACK!”    

Stay Strong, Stay Mobilized.