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Cingular Members Hold Historic Bargaining Council
Delegates representing more than 5,000 Cingular Wireless workers from CWA locals in Districts 1, 2, 4, 9 and 13 met in Washington, D.C. Nov. 14-16 for a historic first bargaining council.
Bargaining for a national agreement covering the retail sales workers, technicians and customer service professionals will get underway in Washington, D.C. in mid December; the contract expires Feb. 5. The national contract covers workers in Districts 1, 2, 4, 9 and 13. Cingular workers in Districts 3 and 6 are covered by separate agreements.
Delegates adopted bargaining and mobilization resolutions that spell out key goals and put in motion a mobilization plan to support the bargaining committee.
The bargaining resolution noted that the first contract negotiated with Cingular four years ago provided "substantial wage increases and progression scales that brought fairness to the wage system at Cingular, replacing favoritism and 'merit pay.'"
"This year, we must negotiate higher wage scales, including language differentials," to help protect and improve the living standards of workers at Cingular, delegates said. They also supported a major revision of the Retail Sales Commission plan to ensure a system that is understandable, includes achievable targets and quotas and provides for reasonable payouts.
On job security issues, the resolution calls for limits on contracting out and the expansion of opportunities for advancement, in customer service and other areas of the company.
Flexible scheduling, the use of performance management standards, mandatory overtime, pressure to sell, monitoring and other workplace policies also must be addressed, the delegates stressed.
A representative from each district will help coordinate the national Cingular mobilization effort, with a nationwide action planned for the opening day of bargaining and during negotiations, in addition to activities planned by locals and districts. Members also can sign up for CWA@Cingular, an e-mail newsletter that will provide updates on bargaining and information on mobilization events.
CWA Executive Vice President Larry Cohen discussed the rapidly changing state of the wireless industry, and the challenges posed by unorganized competitors Verizon Wireless and T-Mobile, which despite getting CWA's support for owner Deutsche Telekom to do business in the United States, has fired 100 union technicians in California as it buys Cingular's operation there.
CWA has filed unfair labor practice charges against T-Mobile and is building worldwide support against the company's anti-union actions in the U.S.
A CWA Research Department presentation addressed Cingular workers' concerns about the AT&T Wireless merger and how CWA is protecting jobs. Other sessions covered the industry outlook for wireless, specifics on Cingular's financial status, and breakout groups on retail sales, technician, and customer service issues.
Bargaining for a national agreement covering the retail sales workers, technicians and customer service professionals will get underway in Washington, D.C. in mid December; the contract expires Feb. 5. The national contract covers workers in Districts 1, 2, 4, 9 and 13. Cingular workers in Districts 3 and 6 are covered by separate agreements.
Delegates adopted bargaining and mobilization resolutions that spell out key goals and put in motion a mobilization plan to support the bargaining committee.
The bargaining resolution noted that the first contract negotiated with Cingular four years ago provided "substantial wage increases and progression scales that brought fairness to the wage system at Cingular, replacing favoritism and 'merit pay.'"
"This year, we must negotiate higher wage scales, including language differentials," to help protect and improve the living standards of workers at Cingular, delegates said. They also supported a major revision of the Retail Sales Commission plan to ensure a system that is understandable, includes achievable targets and quotas and provides for reasonable payouts.
On job security issues, the resolution calls for limits on contracting out and the expansion of opportunities for advancement, in customer service and other areas of the company.
Flexible scheduling, the use of performance management standards, mandatory overtime, pressure to sell, monitoring and other workplace policies also must be addressed, the delegates stressed.
A representative from each district will help coordinate the national Cingular mobilization effort, with a nationwide action planned for the opening day of bargaining and during negotiations, in addition to activities planned by locals and districts. Members also can sign up for CWA@Cingular, an e-mail newsletter that will provide updates on bargaining and information on mobilization events.
CWA Executive Vice President Larry Cohen discussed the rapidly changing state of the wireless industry, and the challenges posed by unorganized competitors Verizon Wireless and T-Mobile, which despite getting CWA's support for owner Deutsche Telekom to do business in the United States, has fired 100 union technicians in California as it buys Cingular's operation there.
CWA has filed unfair labor practice charges against T-Mobile and is building worldwide support against the company's anti-union actions in the U.S.
A CWA Research Department presentation addressed Cingular workers' concerns about the AT&T Wireless merger and how CWA is protecting jobs. Other sessions covered the industry outlook for wireless, specifics on Cingular's financial status, and breakout groups on retail sales, technician, and customer service issues.