Mobilization report

CWA tentative agreement at at&t Midwest fuels mobilization fire among C&T Locals.   

Strong mobilization actions across the country have continued since bargaining started in February.  The Company's tentative agreement with CWA District 4 motivates Locals to participate in more drastic actions and increase frequency of others.

The bargaining teams need actions from all locations to continue.  Here are some of the reportable items that have been happening nationwide. 

3250 mobilizers are incorporating AT&T's new IRENE (Idea Repository to Enable New Efficiencies – which asks employees for improvement ideas) into a mobilization opportunity.  Further reports will be forthcoming.  3250's Mobilization chair now receives immediate authorization on his requests for union time because of the activities of the members at Atlanta, Century Center.  They used clicking, emails, grievances, and QUALITY work orders to make their point.  They continue to click hourly at Atlanta and Alpharetta; they hold workplace meetings to diffuse the Company propaganda members receive in email.  They are excited about District 3 (Southeast) return to the bargaining table.  It's NOT BUSINESS AS USUAL.  They have many upcoming actions planned in the future.   

3310 members leafletted at call centers, handing out Mobilization flyers & Picket Duty sheets.  All employees wear red on Thursday and black on Friday, except outside forces display their red lanyards Thursday and wear orange on Friday.  On July 16, Stand For a Fair Contract began; all inside forces stand at their desks for two minutes at 11:00 a.m. & 2:00 p.m. every day.  Strike preparation continues.  A Bargaining Hot-Line was installed at the Local office for members to get recorded messages with bargaining updates.  Local Mobilization meetings will take place every Thursday evening until we get a fair contract.

3902 members are wearing black on Tuesdays and red on Thursdays.  They wore signs on Monday: "100 days working without a contract".

3915 leafleted their AT&T S.E. work centers on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.  They will be doing this weekly, among other activities that they have scheduled to include a cookout at the Local hall in the coming weeks.

CWA 4217, 6300 and IBEW 21 joined forces at the National All Star Game in St. Louis to inform the fans about our fight with AT&T.

4998 is continuing to wear red on Thursdays.  When the Company decided to start telling the members that they could not visit while on the clock, the mobilization team and the officers wore hand made T-shirts that said, "Prisoner of at$t" with their Legacy T HRID.  Not only did their members request to have T-shirts made, but many members within their building requested them as well.  It seems as if they all feel like they are being held prisoner of this corporation.

6377 participated in a mass rally at One AT&T Center, in downtown St. Louis, with other CWA Locals, unions, and Jobs with Justice activists.  Later that day, they participated in mobilization activities at the Baseball All-Star game.  On Thursday, members received the unity flyer for the start of District 3 bargaining.  They continue to wear Red on Thursdays and Black on Fridays.

6450 members continue to stand at 10 & 2 every day and make noise, as well as wearing red on Thursdays and black on Fridays.  On Thursday 7/16 they handbilled work locations with 6 bargaining table flyer.  Their website has been updated with all bargaining reports, including special report #51.

7250 held their weekly lunchtime rally.  They continue to receive support from the Minnesota AFL-CIO, Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation, and other unions including OPEIU and the baristas from Starbucks being organized by the IWW.  They continue their inside actions with stand ups and wearing Red & Black.

7750 held two informational pickets: One at the AT&T 40th Ave location and the other in downtown Denver in front of the central office.  Officers from the IBEW, DALF, Jobs with Justice, CWA Local 7777, District 7, and the Colorado State Council joined their members and retirees.  Break walks continue daily, letting management know NO CONTRACT, NO PEACE.  Officers and members distribute flyers in their communities at public gatherings to spread the word about AT&T's corporate greed.

9415 members distributed leaflets to employees and non-AT&T people including Andy Geisse (AT&T Vice President) when he visited the Pleasanton, CA location in early June.  One steward let him know that they need their health care benefits and a fair & reasonable contract!  Apple stores were visited on the day of the iPhone launch.  At one location, stewards arrived at 7 a.m. and by 8:45 nearly 300 leaflets were gone.  They had to call and ask for more.  The stewards refused to leave when asked to leave by security, who called police and were ultimately told they had a legal right to be there as long as they didn't leaflet another unrelated store.  Pleasanton members use temporary paint on their cars & write messages: "Stop corporate Greed!" and "AT&T – Hands off our Health Care!"  Black mylar balloons continue to be present at the Pleasanton location, along with the "I'm ready to strike" red signs at each cubicle.  Everyone wears their red t-shirts every Thursday.  In Sacramento, the "I'm ready to strike" red signs are up at each cubicle, and every Thursday, everyone stands up at 10 a.m. & 2 p.m. holding their signs up and rustling them.  They all wear their red shirts on Thursdays.

13500 continues hourly noise making and wearing red on Thursdays.

13550 continues to engage retirees for support.  Informational flyers were distributed for the start of Bell South bargaining.  More 30X20 signs for the inside office have been added.  They are continuing to click/stand/squawk on the hour, wearing Red on Thursday and Black on Friday.  An email blast was sent to members explaining the District 4 TA; positive support was received from members who expressed support for our Legacy T bargaining team.

13552 members continue to wear red on Thursdays and black on Fridays.  The July 16 flyer was distributed to all members in support of upcoming bargaining.  Members also continue to visit and leaflet Apple stores and authorized AT& dealers.

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 times 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 your actions or pictures from events, please contact cwainfo@gmail.com.

Stay Strong! Stay Mobilized!