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Election, Bargaining Issues Top Telecom Meeting Agenda
Eighty CWA leaders attending the union's first national Telecommunications Meeting resolved to work more closely together on common bargaining issues and made 500 phone calls on behalf of the Kerry campaign.
They represented bargaining units at ADT, Alltel, CenturyTel, Citizens, Community Systems Industry, Sprint and Valor.
"Our intention was to bring workers from all the companies together and allow them to build relationships with workers at the other companies," said Jimmy Gurganus, CWA vice president for Telecommunications. "Neither the companies nor the problems facing their workers are unique in themselves."
"The biggest problem facing all of us right now is the current occupant of the White House," said CWA President Morton Bahr, urging the delegates to put forth every effort to elect John Kerry president.
CWA Vice Presidents Jimmy Smith of District 3 and Jeff Rechenbach of District 4 briefed the delegates on campaign efforts in battleground states including Florida and Ohio.
CWA Executive Vice President Larry Cohen focused on the need for telecom unions worldwide to work for public policy that will bring affordable, high-speed Internet to rural areas. "If we don't do it, nobody will," Cohen said.
From Oct. 17 through Oct. 20, the delegates participated in workshops, and those who work for each company held breakout meetings.
They heard presentations from staff on Electronic Communications, the Family and Medical Leave Act, Organizing and Mobilization, the CWA Defense/Member Relief Fund, CWA/NETT Academy and the Alliance. Originally bargained by CWA and the IBEW at AT&T, the Alliance now is available as a provider of training throughout the telecommunications industry.
Delegates found they faced similar problems at all of the companies with issues such as pensions, 401(k) plans, attrition of bargaining units and threats to health care.
Gurganus announced he had just learned that CWA bargainers had reached a tentative agreement for a new three-year contract at Alltel-Nebraska, effective Oct. 17, bringing 300 workers raises of 6.75 percent over the life of the agreement and pension increases of 2 percent per year. Four pension bands were upgraded by 3.5 percent to 25 percent.
"While overall, the contract is in line with others we concluded with Alltel this year, our members did have to accept health care cost shifting for active workers and future retirees," Gurganus said. "We experience attacks on our health care at every company, and to turn it around, we're going to have to find ways to work together more closely and to support each other in bargaining."
They represented bargaining units at ADT, Alltel, CenturyTel, Citizens, Community Systems Industry, Sprint and Valor.
"Our intention was to bring workers from all the companies together and allow them to build relationships with workers at the other companies," said Jimmy Gurganus, CWA vice president for Telecommunications. "Neither the companies nor the problems facing their workers are unique in themselves."
"The biggest problem facing all of us right now is the current occupant of the White House," said CWA President Morton Bahr, urging the delegates to put forth every effort to elect John Kerry president.
CWA Vice Presidents Jimmy Smith of District 3 and Jeff Rechenbach of District 4 briefed the delegates on campaign efforts in battleground states including Florida and Ohio.
CWA Executive Vice President Larry Cohen focused on the need for telecom unions worldwide to work for public policy that will bring affordable, high-speed Internet to rural areas. "If we don't do it, nobody will," Cohen said.
From Oct. 17 through Oct. 20, the delegates participated in workshops, and those who work for each company held breakout meetings.
They heard presentations from staff on Electronic Communications, the Family and Medical Leave Act, Organizing and Mobilization, the CWA Defense/Member Relief Fund, CWA/NETT Academy and the Alliance. Originally bargained by CWA and the IBEW at AT&T, the Alliance now is available as a provider of training throughout the telecommunications industry.
Delegates found they faced similar problems at all of the companies with issues such as pensions, 401(k) plans, attrition of bargaining units and threats to health care.
Gurganus announced he had just learned that CWA bargainers had reached a tentative agreement for a new three-year contract at Alltel-Nebraska, effective Oct. 17, bringing 300 workers raises of 6.75 percent over the life of the agreement and pension increases of 2 percent per year. Four pension bands were upgraded by 3.5 percent to 25 percent.
"While overall, the contract is in line with others we concluded with Alltel this year, our members did have to accept health care cost shifting for active workers and future retirees," Gurganus said. "We experience attacks on our health care at every company, and to turn it around, we're going to have to find ways to work together more closely and to support each other in bargaining."