CWA, AT&T Mobility Reach Tentative Agreement

Contact: Candice Johnson, CWA Communications, 202-434-1168, cjohnson@cwa-union.org

Washington, DC -- The Communications Workers of America has reached a tentative agreement covering more than 20,000 AT&T Mobility workers that provides real gains for workers, including improvements in the retail stores compensation plan and the establishment of a new career path for customer service representatives.

The CWA bargaining committee was determined to make inroads in these critical areas and succeeded, resulting in a tentative agreement that provides good economic gains for Mobility workers and addresses workers' priority issues, CWA said. 

The proposed settlement provides for a compounded wage increase of 8.8 percent over the four-year contract term, along with a $500 bonus. More than 11,000 retail sales consultants now will earn a minimum monthly commission of $1,000 if sales goals are met. In addition, some 500 consumer care workers will receive job upgrades and additional pay increases, as will 50-70 wireless technicians. Other important improvements addressed monitoring and quota relief.

CWA Executive Vice President Annie Hill said the bargaining team worked long and hard hours, "displaying both patience and toughness" to get a good agreement that addresses Mobility workers' critical issues.

Mobilization by Mobility workers throughout the "Orange" territory – Districts 1, 2, 4, 7, 9 and 13 – made a tremendous difference as did support from CWA Mobility members in the Southeast and Southwest covered by separate contracts and CWA members at the "core" AT&T company. Bargaining covering 125,000 CWA-represented workers at AT&T got underway Feb. 24. Mobility workers have been working without a contract since Feb. 9.

Contract explanation materials will be made available to members in advance of the membership ratification vote. CWA represents another 22,000 workers at AT&T Mobility covered by separate contracts.