Mobilization Report

Three months past expiration and mobilization is going strong.  No matter how long the Company drags their feet this round of bargaining, we will continue to let customers and the public know about AT&T's corporate greed, erosion of the middle class, off-shoring jobs & attacking retirees.

Here are some of the reportable actions that have been happening across the country:

1150 continues to visit Apple Stores, and held an informational picket with retirees.  Job actions continue. 

2252 members click every hour and continue store visits, including AT&T Authorized Retailers and Apple, and handbilling customers throughout Maryland and Virginia.  AT&T was so worried about a CWA presence at the Tiger Woods golf tournament in Bethesda, Maryland over the July 4th weekend that they paid for additional security and police at a holiday rate of pay.  Needless to say, our Union brothers and sisters of the Montgomery County Police were very appreciative.  It seems that their successful presence at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am a few years ago had them extremely concerned about what we might do.  Corporate Security had Montgomery County Police meet the CWA contingent on the road to the tournament and escort them just outside the property for a conference with a Captain, a Lieutenant, a Detective, and several sworn officers.  AT&T wanted to deny CWA ticket holders access to the site.  After two hours of deliberation, a deal was reached and members were finally allowed access to the tournament, all the while under the careful scrutiny of Security.  It is interesting to note that, when CWA members made it to the AT&T chalet on the 18th hole, not a soul was found actually in the AT&T chalet.  It seems AT&T had no problem paying the millions of dollars for a corporate chalet, and then didn't even use it.  So, they have money for police, money for security, money for a chalet that was not used, but no money for employees.

3122 asks outside craft every Thursday to wear their AT&T orange shirts, (Orange Is The New Red), and stand together at a single location in the work center as a sign of solidarity, until it is time for them to report.  At Consumers, they have been giving out informational flyers, asked their members to wear red, and instructed them to stand at their work stations at 11:00 a.m. for three minutes, holding a red piece of paper with the number of days left to contract expiration.

3250 has stepped up mobilization in the workplace by pushing back on corporate initiatives.  They are using contract language (i.e. seniority, overtime & training) to raise issues.  Using the grievance process, they prevailed on a disciplinary action directed toward their local mobilization coordinator and won an ATS grievance.  Members seeing justice in the workplace has picked up the morale, and they see more participation in mobilization.  Members have been changing their direct deposit checks to receive some portion of their check live.  We are continuing the click every hour.  Atlanta, Century Center had a rally Wednesday; Alpharetta had a rally Thursday.  Mobilization efforts have been continued through out the traditionally heavy vacation summer holiday period.  They had close to 100 people in attendance, which they thought was an outstanding turnout due to the number of people on vacation that week.  They wanted to send a message that, even though there were many people on vacation and the negotiations seem to be at a standstill, bargaining negotiations are very important to them and are still a priority.

Members are becoming creative; they are putting up their own personalized signs and displaying Union T-shirts.  Every Thursday more and more people are wearing red, and on Friday more are wearing black.

3902 is continuing Mobilization with members wearing black on Tuesdays, Red on Thursdays, and standing every hour for a fair contract.

3905 wears red on Thursday; their techs have red CWA bracelets so they can wear red every day.

4025 has had some informational picketing in the Marquette area, which is their only garage or C.O in a public area.  They haven't accepted any voluntary overtime except for emergency situations (911 centers and a fire that burned 23 homes).  They have built up a membership internet hotline, which is used to keep members informed of all updates and anything else either the Union or Company is doing.  Following the example of the Appleton, Wisconsin Local, they wear Blaze orange or camouflage on Monday (hunting for a contract ); Blue on Tuesday (sad we don't have a contract); White on Wednesday (hoping for a contract); Red on Thursday (mad we don't have a contract and support for our bargaining team); and Black on Friday (all Fridays are black without a contract).

4250 reports that their Officers, Members & Retirees partnered with IBEW in Illinois for a huge rally and sent a message that the mobilization and participation of the membership has changed the course of this bargaining.  AT&T did not hear us until they heard everyone.  Brothers and Sisters, this fight is not over.  It was your unity and mobilization that got us this far; but if we are to bring home the kind of contract we all deserve, AT&T must hear all of our voices loud and clear.

4320 had pickup trucks with homemade Billboard signs out and about the city of Columbus and the surrounding localities last Thursday and Friday.  They had the trucks parked in Dublin, Ohio, and the police were called on the members who were driving them.  People thought they were at a particular house harassing the person who lived there, who the neighbors knew worked for AT&T.  They continue to visit the AT&T Mobility stores as well with their signs.  They continue their informational picketing at their garage locations, and they are planning another "Family Picketing" day.  They have contacted the Ohio AFL-CIO office, which is providing them with address information for other union members so that they can do home visits and provide information on how poorly talks are going, and ask them to sign the online petition.  They have received the yard signs and we are passing those out as well.

Officers and Members of Local 6450 and Local 6360 attended an early morning rally on July 7 at a garage for AT&T Premise Technicians in Appendix J.  Also in attendance was some help from Jobs with Justice and nurses united!

7250 held two rallies last Thursday, lunch time & rush hour.  They had many speakers at the rush hour, rally including D-FL Gubernatorial Candidate Matt Entenza, MN AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Steve Hunter, the Minneapolis Labor Fed President, CWA Staff, and many unions & community groups to support 7200 & 7250 members.  They continue to get their message out to the public through handbilling & informational picketing at public events.  They continue visits at Apple stores & Authorized Retailers.

7601 continues to wear red on Thursdays.  Everyone who parks in the AT&T lot, which is rented from Qwest Corporation, gets questioned to make sure they are employees.

7750 continues job actions including break walks and informational pickets with active and retired members.

9408 has been collecting company branded apparel & trinkets.  They do not want to show loyalty to a company that is not loyal to its employees.

13000 is wearing red on Thursdays and "working to rule".  They are continuing to solicit legislators and urging them to write letters to Randall Stephenson demanding a fair Contract for our members at AT&T.

13500 continues making noise every day, hourly; also continues wearing RED on Thursdays.  On June 25, members participated in a Health Care Rally in Washington, DC.

13550 made more 30X20 signs for the office.  They are working to engage all retirees in the fight for a fair contract.  They are still standing, clicking, and wearing RED and BLACK on Thursdays and Fridays.  Over 100 letters were collected over the past couple of weeks and sent to President Obama on Monday.  Following up on the OSHA request for yearly posted reports, it appears to have problems the way it is filled out.

Continue to work safely and provide the outstanding quality that CWA members are known for.  If you witness any unsafe working conditions or OSHA violations, report them to your Local Stewards or Officers.  You can also contact OSHA directly and then notify your Local Union.  Make sure your safety and protective gear is functioning properly.

If you experience a change in working conditions, please report them to your Local Officers or Stewards, and bbates@cwa-union.org.

Summer fairs, festivals, farmers' markets, and any other public event are great opportunities for us to be spreading the message of AT&T's Corporate Greed.  Our collective action inside and outside the company is the only way to maintain affordable healthcare and get the fair and equitable contract we all need and deserve.   

If you have any questions or comments about this report, or would like to submit a report of your actions, please contact cwainfo@gmail.com.

Stay Strong!  Stay Mobilized!