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Bargaining Opens with AT&T
Negotiations began Nov. 1 between CWA and AT&T in Washington, D.C., for a new contract covering 11,000 workers. The current agreement expires Dec. 10.
CWA anticipates tough talks, with AT&T pressing for health care cost shifting, especially for retirees, and other retrogressive proposals, Ralph Maly, vice president for Communications and Technologies reported.
In his opening remarks, Maly recalled the cooperative labor-management partnership that CWA and AT&T had built in past years, adding that, "today, that relationship is all but gone."
"Through failed leadership, mismanagement and individual greed of CEOs and incompetent managers, we have seen our jobs outsourced, subcontracted, moved to management or lost through various schemes and strategies that never panned out," Maly said.
Maly reminded the AT&T bargainers that "CWA members are an asset to the business and add value that goes straight to the bottom line. AT&T and CWA need to foster a relationship that builds on our combined strengths, not just another 'illusion of inclusion,'" he said.
At the table, AT&T made a presentation on retiree health care and CWA so far has made several proposals for improvements in training and subcontracting provisions.
AT&T locals marked the start of bargaining with rallies and actions in several locations. In Minneapolis, Locals 7200 and 7250 held a rally and informational picket line outside the AT&T Tower, with more than 60 members rallying and telling the public that "we are the front line, not the bottom line," and "we built it, they broke it."
AT&T is merging with SBC, a deal just approved by federal regulators. The AT&T name will continue, with SBC announcing it will use the AT&T brand for its operations.
CWA anticipates tough talks, with AT&T pressing for health care cost shifting, especially for retirees, and other retrogressive proposals, Ralph Maly, vice president for Communications and Technologies reported.
In his opening remarks, Maly recalled the cooperative labor-management partnership that CWA and AT&T had built in past years, adding that, "today, that relationship is all but gone."
"Through failed leadership, mismanagement and individual greed of CEOs and incompetent managers, we have seen our jobs outsourced, subcontracted, moved to management or lost through various schemes and strategies that never panned out," Maly said.
Maly reminded the AT&T bargainers that "CWA members are an asset to the business and add value that goes straight to the bottom line. AT&T and CWA need to foster a relationship that builds on our combined strengths, not just another 'illusion of inclusion,'" he said.
At the table, AT&T made a presentation on retiree health care and CWA so far has made several proposals for improvements in training and subcontracting provisions.
AT&T locals marked the start of bargaining with rallies and actions in several locations. In Minneapolis, Locals 7200 and 7250 held a rally and informational picket line outside the AT&T Tower, with more than 60 members rallying and telling the public that "we are the front line, not the bottom line," and "we built it, they broke it."
AT&T is merging with SBC, a deal just approved by federal regulators. The AT&T name will continue, with SBC announcing it will use the AT&T brand for its operations.