Mobilization Report

One month without a contract, and members across the country continue to show their solidarity and strength through wearing red or other unity colors and participating in Local, state & national mobilization campaigns.  Keep up the great work, CWA!

2252 continues to mobilize members in all areas, reminding managers hourly that we are standing for the fair and just contract we deserve.  2252 Retired Members Club is being formed and retired members activated.

3250 took it to the street on April 23, 2009 to demonstrate their solidarity behind their Union while they bargain for fair and just contracts.  Chanting, "They say givebacks, we say fight back", CWA members showed they have the resolve to go the distance and hold the line for fair wages, pensions and healthcare and will not leave any member behind.  In response to an email threatening CWA's right to participate in concerted action, CWA members and mobilizers stepped up the very actions AT&T was trying to stop.  This resulted in increased participation by all members.  Management tried to continue their intimidation by videotaping members during actions.  The members really got to them.  Today they made mini picket signs, which they call STICK ITs.  Their slogan is CLICK IT or AT&T STICK IT!  As an alternate activity to CLICKING, members have the ATT LOGO on a popsicle stick with the words STICK IT!  The Local is asking the members to either CLICK or place the "AT&T STICK IT" on their computer terminal.  Members in Alpharetta continue informational pickets for a "break", and the number of participants is growing each week.

3902 is still standing every hour.  Today they are standing in support of the Bargaining Team "Contract Expired Day", one month of working without a contract.

4252 handed out hand sanitizer with a sticker on it stating, "Swine Flu / AT$T Healthcare Proposals – Both are enough to make you SICK – Directions: Sanitize and Mobilize to prevent the spread of Pandemic Corporate Greed!!!"

4603 had a busy week!  11 members attended the Annual WI AFL/CIO Legislative Conference in Madison, WI.  They delivered letters and spoke to their Representatives and the entire conference about the bargaining issues facing us at AT&T.  Wisconsin is proud to be the ONLY state in the Union to have both the Speaker of the House and the Senate Majority Leader as card-carrying Union members!  They continue to mobilize locally with color-coded days, localized practice picketing, and other activities designed to show their solidarity.

6450 doesn't let one hour pass without reminding the Company of their fight for a fair contract; they stand every hour, every day and clap, click or shake pill bottles.   They continue to request personnel files, and continue planning for new activities to keep the Company on their toes.

7250 reports that mobilization in call centers continues hourly.  Solidarity day (Thursday) found over 90% of the people wearing red.

7750's mobilization committee announced the three winners for the mobilization idea contest, and will be using one idea each week as long as the contract is not settled and we are not on strike!  Members continue to wear red, black or union (hats, shirts, pins) and step up their daily unity walks with chants.  On Friday, May 1st, their chant for the first lap of their Unity Walk was, "May Day May Day SOS, give us a contract, our Network is the best".  The second lap of the walk, their chant was "WE ARE"  "THE NETWORK".

9415 distributed Alliance balloons to signify AT&T's effort to de-fund the Alliance (education and retraining).  Members wore band-aids and masks to demonstrate the only medical care we will be able to afford if the Company has its way.  On Wednesday members stood outside the building with signs reading "CWA" and "We are not the problem, we are the solution".  They chanted, "CWA, CWA, CWA!" over and over and "We are not the problem, we are the solution".  They continue to stand daily and wave signs saying, "I am ready to strike!"  In the LNS Center, almost everyone went to lunch at the same time, and they continue to post "I am ready to strike" in their cubicles.  The CNSC has "I am ready to strike" signs posted, and members participated in a very successful action that cannot be reported in writing.  Thursday an informational picket was held with Local 9421.  One Union, One Fight, One Future!  In celebration of the Workers' Day and CWA Mobilization, Local 9415 members rallied around the AT&T Pleasanton Center.

13550 launched an organizing drive for workers that sell AT&T products and services including Wal-Mart, Sam's Club and Apple Stores.  We have had great response from our efforts by the workers in those locations.  13550's members remain energized and mobilized.  Daily workplace actions continue including standing, clicking & practice picketing.  Members have engaged Legislators in our contract battle at AT&T.  Paula Micola won the POD decorating contest.  She had over 70 items of mobilization on her desk.  Congrats, Paula!

**********

Remember, CWA prides itself on performing Quality work Safely.  If you are experiencing unsafe working conditions for your members, please report all violations to OSHA.

We have added Apple stores to our list of organizing campaigns, as AT&T is the exclusive service provider for the Apple iphone.  We would like to make sure that workers at Radio Shack, Best Buy, Wal-Mart, AT&T Authorized agents, and now Apple have the same information on how to form a Union where they work.  A new flyer was created for use in the Apple stores; C&T Local Presidents should have received it.  Contact cwainfo@gmail.com if you need a copy.

If you experience changes in working conditions (i.e. change in office policies; Company refusing to pay for sick time per the contract) or any other Unfair Labor Practice, make sure to get specifics to bbates@cwa-union.org.  He is working with CWA Legal to keep track of the ULPs committed during bargaining.

Remember to have people sign the e-petition to AT&T by accessing www.standupforworkers.com so we can send a strong message to AT&T that corporate greed is not tolerated in the United States.  We have over 80,000 signatures so far; our goal is to reach 100,000.

If you would like your actions to be included in the next report, or if you were accidentally omitted, please submit your report to cwainfo@gmail.com.