AT&T Legacy T Bargaining Report #25

Your CWA bargaining team waited all day to meet with the Company, expecting a proposal on Health Care and Benefits in response to yesterday’s Union proposal.  The Company pushed a 1:00 o’clock meeting to 2:00 o’clock.  2:00 o’clock was changed to 3:30.  3:30 was postponed to 4:30.

When we finally met, the Company proposal was NO CHANGE from their original proposal on pensions, the saving plans, disability, dental, vision, and plans for eligible retired employees.  On medical – no change in the two tier system which has new hires paying thousands more for their benefits; no change in huge deductibles; and no change in the out-of-pocket maximums.  There was a small decrease in the first year premiums, but it would go right back up in the second year of the contract.  We currently pay 17.8% of the total cost of benefits.  The Company plan would have us pay up to 28% of whatever the total cost of benefits is the first year, and then jump to 32%.

We made it crystal clear at the table that there will be NO AGREEMENT with a 32% cost share.  We were furious at the insulting behavior of AT&T to make us wait all day for a proposal that was hardly any change from what they gave us on day one and could not possibly have taken them all day to prepare.  We are five days from the deadline, and it is clear to us that the masterminds in Dallas (headquarters) have no idea what it means to engage in meaningful negotiations.  We are five days from expiration and there has been no positive movement on ANY issue of importance to the Union.

Be on the call tomorrow night at 8:00 PM for more information from all the tables.  Click here to sign up and let us know what questions you would like to have answered during the call: www.cwa-union.org/attcall .

We’re mad as hell and you should be too.

Your bargaining team