Mobilization Update

With virtually no movement at the Legacy T bargaining table…It's time to take more serious actions against AT&T. 

As you have seen, there has been only one bargaining report posted since our last mobilization report a week ago.  Our CWA bargaining team is ready and willing to meet with the Company to have serious discussion about our working conditions, benefits & wages; the Company is not.

Even though actions have recently been increased in frequency and severity, we again need to escalate our actions against AT&T to help our bargaining team at the negotiations table.  We are asking every CWA Local around the country to help us in our actions, regardless of what employer their members work for. 

Summer fairs, festivals, farmers markets, and any other public event are great opportunities for us to spread 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 are not currently involved in Local Union activities, it is not too late.  Call your Local Union office or talk to a Steward or Officer in your area to see how you can help.  

It is your future, your family's livelihoods that are under attack.

Don't sit back … FIGHT BACK!

Here are some of the reportable items that have been happening nationwide. 

1062 continues inside actions including Red Thursdays & Black Fridays.  Workers have received information about Outsourcing & Keeping America Working.  Members participated in the Healthcare Call-in day on Tuesday.  Managers are complaining about the shirts with the tombstone on the back from 2005 bargaining, calling it offensive. 

That's not offensive!  It's offensive how at&t continues to make billions in profits every quarter and cries poor to the public … unable to afford worker & retiree healthcare; yet continues to reward shareholders with dividend increases, and sponsor everything from sporting events (like golf & every MLB team), to American Idol, jazz festivals and other cultural events around the country. 

2252 members continue visiting Authorized Agent stores, and back at work the clicking has not stopped.  Workers at every location are participating in on-the-job actions.

3250 reports that last week, in a captive audience meeting, members were offended by management's comments regarding mobilization actions, which fired up members in Atlanta at Century Center.  They picketed, marched and rallied their members.  Red helium-filled balloons were distributed, and members took them inside and taped the string to their cubicles ... and there was RED everywhere!  Retirees, members and supporters picketed at the Salem Rd location in Conyers, GA on July 27th from 11-Noon.  There was a short rally at Noon and then they disbanded.  CWA Locals 3204, 3250, 3205, 3950 & District 3 Administrator Booker Lester attended.  Press covered the event.  Mobilizers distributed information from the C&T office regarding AT&T, Randal the Rat, Health Care Day Tuesday, among other topics.  Members also held an informational picket as a show of support for Alcatel-Lucent members in Alpharetta, GA, welcoming the manager who showed up to bring them some bad news.  Management has found yet another way to downsize.  Remember "right-sizing?"  Now we have "co-sourcing".  Alcatel-Lucent, do the right thing and stop outsourcing our jobs!  Plans continue to attend public and at&t sponsored events.

4252 has increased member participation wearing red on Thursdays & black on Fridays with each passing week.

6377 continues working to the rule, wearing red on Thursdays and black on Fridays.  All members received a flyer to call their Representatives during National Call-in Day for Health Care Reform.  Future outside actions are planned.

6450 continued mobilization efforts with standing and clapping at 10 a.m. & 2 p.m. every day.  They wear red on Thursdays and black on Fridays.  On July 30, District 6 ran an ad in the Kansas City Star regarding the outsourcing of their jobs.  They continue to post updates on their very active website and sent mobilization e-mails to their e-mail tree of over 600 addresses.  They also sold over 250 tickets between 6450 & 6360 for CWA night at the Kansas City Royals game for next week.  They are participating in this week's call into Congress regarding the healthcare bill.

7250 members were joined at the weekly informational picket by members of UFCW, Starbucks Workers' Union, and the community.  "One Day Longer, the Union is Stronger" was the newest chant on the line this week, telling at&t management that, no matter how long they stall negotiations, we will be able to outlast them!  Several new members (hired last month) also joined the line on break & lunch!  Members, Stewards & Officers attended the 1934 Teamster Strike 75th anniversary street festival: flyers were distributed, and between bands, our officers addressed the crowd letting everyone know about our 16-week fight against corporate greed at at&t.   7250 members support the bargaining team through outside and on job actions & remain focused on a fair contract with affordable healthcare.

7750 did their break walks inside and outside of the building this week, sending the message that we'll continue to fight for a fair contract.  They held the weekly informational picket with their retirees.  They did a desk drop of both the "Health Care flyers" asking everyone to call on their breaks or lunch.

9415 participated in the District 9 "Take the Shirts off our Backs" branded apparel collection to send back to Randall Stephenson.  Two of their largest locations, Pleasanton and Sacramento, passed around a petition of support for our bargaining team this week.  It was signed by virtually everyone at both locations.  They will be sending them up to our Bargaining Team to let them know they are supported.  The Petition reads:  "We support our CWA Vice President Ralph Maly and our Bargaining Team, and we will continue to mobilize and strike if necessary to maintain affordable health care benefits and job security.  Thank you Bargaining Team for all your hard work and your commitment to working until we have the Contract that we need!"  In multiple locations, Members are wearing Union shirts every Thursday; many wear them every day and have "I am ready to strike" signs posted at their cubicles.  In Pleasanton last week, their members had another drive-thru the parking lot with cars, beeped their horns, waved signs, and one of their members provided information about our struggle with a bullhorn. 

13550 members have not let up with their inside or outside actions against at&t.  Members continue standing, clicking, squawking, wearing red and black on Fridays.  Outsourcing flyers were distributed.

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.

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!