Bargaining Begins for CWA Contracts at AT&T Locations

Above: Local 1298 members demonstrate in New Haven, Conn., for AT&T East contract.

Below: Members of CWA Local 9586 rally for new contract at AT&T West.

CWA bargaining teams began separate negotiations with AT&T Midwest, AT&T West, AT&T Legacy and AT&T East on Feb. 29. For links to the individual district bargaining updates and mobilization news, click here.

AT&T Midwest Negotiations

Negotiations with AT&T Midwest opened in Hoffman Estates, Ill., outside Chicago, with the bargaining team escorted to the talks by a caravan of local leaders from Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin. Check out this video.

CWA D4 Vice President Seth Rosen opened the negotiations, stressing that "perhaps the most important question is: will AT&T work with CWA and its members as it develops strategies to meet a changing competitive and technological environment, or will it take the low road of layoffs, cost shifting, and outsourcing?" D4 represents 15,000 workers at AT&T Midwest.

AT&T West Negotiations

In California, CWA members mobilized in Pasadena, San Ramon and Sacramento, holding rallies at lunchtime and after work to stand up for a fair contract at AT&T West. CWA D9 Vice President Jim Weitkamp said for workers at AT&T West, expanding hometown, quality jobs and stopping the outsourcing of work are critical issues, along with countering the attempt by a very profitable company to shift more health care costs to workers and their families, and the inequitable working conditions imposed on some technicians. D9 represents 18,000 workers at AT&T West.

AT&T Legacy Negotiations

In Atlanta, members of CWA Local 3250 hold informational picket for contract at AT&T Legacy.

AT&T Legacy bargaining began in Washington, D.C., led by CWA Telecommunications/Technologies Vice President Ralph Maly. Lois Grimes-Paltrow, CWA bargaining team co-chair, said critical issues include reducing outsourcing and offshoring of jobs, elimination of unfair working conditions and unrealistic work rules, and commission-based pay plans. T/T represents 6,000 workers at AT&T Legacy.

AT&T East Negotiations

In New Haven, Conn., CWA D1 Vice President Chris Shelton opened bargaining for two contracts, covering workers at the core company and the yellow pages unit, as members rallied in New Haven. D1 and CWA Local 1298 represent 4,000 workers at AT&T East.

AT&T is the largest and most profitable company in the communications industry. In 2010, AT&T recorded profits of $19.86 billion on revenues of $124 billion. For the twelve months ending September 30, 2011, AT&T recorded profits of $11.71 billion on revenues of $126 billion.