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CWA Members Vote SBC Strike Authorization
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Members of the Communications Workers of America working at SBC Communications voted overwhelmingly to give CWA leaders authorization to call a strike if they deem it necessary.
Contract negotiations currently are underway on behalf of 100,000 CWA-represented workers at SBC. The talks cover SBC operations in 13 states: Connecticut, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Texas, Oklahoma, California and Nevada.
CWA reported that 90 percent of its SBC members voted in favor of strike authorization in balloting conducted by CWA local unions. For a strike to take place, the next step would be for CWA's 18-member executive board to authorize President Morton Bahr to set a strike date.
CWA gave SBC a 30-day notice of intention to strike on April 7; the earliest date a strike could begin is May 8. CWA agreed to provide the advance notice in exchange for SBC's agreement to keep workers' health coverage in place in case of a strike until a new contract is ratified.
Under the auspices of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service and Director Peter Hurtgen, national talks are taking place in Washington, D.C. CWA members are seeking strengthened employment security at SBC, including limits on outsourcing and access by union workers to jobs in the growth areas of the company. These jobs have either been outsourced by SBC or are being performed by non-union personnel. They include thousands of technical and customer service jobs in growing areas such as high-speed DSL, business data systems, long distance, and WiFi wireless Internet access, with much of the work going to India, the Philippines and other countries.
At the same time, SBC has cut more than 20,000 union jobs in the company's core telephone operations over the past three years. CWA maintains that its members, whose skills and productivity helped SBC achieve profits of $8.5 billion last year, deserve the opportunity to work in the growing parts of the company as it deploys new technologies and expands into new business areas.
Another key issue for CWA members is preserving their health security. SBC has demanded substantial increases in out-of-pocket health care costs for active workers and retirees. A fair wage increase and pension improvements are other major goals for CWA members.
Regional bargaining on other contract issues also is taking place in New Haven Conn., for SBC East (former Southern New England Telephone); Chicago, SBC Midwest (Ameritech); Austin, Tex., SBC Southwest (Southwestern Bell); and Pleasanton, Calif., SBC West (Pacific Bell).
More information is available at ga.cwa-union.org/sbc.
Contract negotiations currently are underway on behalf of 100,000 CWA-represented workers at SBC. The talks cover SBC operations in 13 states: Connecticut, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Texas, Oklahoma, California and Nevada.
CWA reported that 90 percent of its SBC members voted in favor of strike authorization in balloting conducted by CWA local unions. For a strike to take place, the next step would be for CWA's 18-member executive board to authorize President Morton Bahr to set a strike date.
CWA gave SBC a 30-day notice of intention to strike on April 7; the earliest date a strike could begin is May 8. CWA agreed to provide the advance notice in exchange for SBC's agreement to keep workers' health coverage in place in case of a strike until a new contract is ratified.
Under the auspices of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service and Director Peter Hurtgen, national talks are taking place in Washington, D.C. CWA members are seeking strengthened employment security at SBC, including limits on outsourcing and access by union workers to jobs in the growth areas of the company. These jobs have either been outsourced by SBC or are being performed by non-union personnel. They include thousands of technical and customer service jobs in growing areas such as high-speed DSL, business data systems, long distance, and WiFi wireless Internet access, with much of the work going to India, the Philippines and other countries.
At the same time, SBC has cut more than 20,000 union jobs in the company's core telephone operations over the past three years. CWA maintains that its members, whose skills and productivity helped SBC achieve profits of $8.5 billion last year, deserve the opportunity to work in the growing parts of the company as it deploys new technologies and expands into new business areas.
Another key issue for CWA members is preserving their health security. SBC has demanded substantial increases in out-of-pocket health care costs for active workers and retirees. A fair wage increase and pension improvements are other major goals for CWA members.
Regional bargaining on other contract issues also is taking place in New Haven Conn., for SBC East (former Southern New England Telephone); Chicago, SBC Midwest (Ameritech); Austin, Tex., SBC Southwest (Southwestern Bell); and Pleasanton, Calif., SBC West (Pacific Bell).
More information is available at ga.cwa-union.org/sbc.