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SBC Bargaining Opens in District 9
Bargaining kicked off Feb. 12 in Pleasanton, Calif., for a new contract covering 32,000 workers at SBC West, formerly Pacific Bell. The current contract expires April 1.
Bargaining chair Jim Weitkamp opened the talks for CWA, and told company negotiators that CWA agreed completely with the words of SBC top executive Ed Whitacre, who said, "SBC has the right strategy, the right team, the right assets and the best markets," and who has stressed that "we've made it through some extremely challenging times and turned the corner toward a brighter future."
"SBC's position in the industry is the product of our members' labor," Weitkamp said, reciting gains in profits and operating income at the company. "It is inarguable and inescapable that our members deserve their fair share of this success in the form of significant increases in base wages, pensions and benefits," he added.
Weitkamp also stressed that SBC must recognize that "jobs, jobs and more jobs" in the growing areas of the company is a critical issue for workers.
Across District 9, CWAers showed their solidarity and support for the bargaining team by wearing stickers and t-shirts and joining in rallies and other actions.
Locals from Northern California and Nevada rallied on the steps of the state capitol in Sacramento, with busloads of stewards, activists and officers on hand to make certain SBC gets the message that CWA members are united in their goals at SBC.
The crowd of more than 500 included many elected officials, including state Treasurer Phil Angiledes, and labor leaders including California AFL-CIO President Tim Rankin, and other union representatives.
Kicking off the rally was CWA Local 9421 President Greg Ball, who also heads the CWA Northern California/Nevada Council; CWA Local 9423 Pres. Louie Rocha led the "warm-up" chants and CWA mobilization coordinator Jim Gordon represented District 9 Vice President Tony Bixler. The roaring crowd made certain the rally was a great start to bargaining, locals reported.
Throughout District 9, locals have been working hard to provide information to members and build creative mobilization activities, Gordon said.
Bargaining opens for the 37,000 workers at SBC Southwest (formerly Southwestern Bell) on Feb. 20 in Austin. Talks also begin on Feb. 20 covering 27,000 workers at SBC Midwest in Chicago. Bargaining opens at SBC East (formerly SNET) covering 6,000 workers on Feb. 23. As bargaining opens at each of the SBC locations, CWAers are wearing stickers that read "Taking a Stand for Jobs and Health Care."
Bargaining chair Jim Weitkamp opened the talks for CWA, and told company negotiators that CWA agreed completely with the words of SBC top executive Ed Whitacre, who said, "SBC has the right strategy, the right team, the right assets and the best markets," and who has stressed that "we've made it through some extremely challenging times and turned the corner toward a brighter future."
"SBC's position in the industry is the product of our members' labor," Weitkamp said, reciting gains in profits and operating income at the company. "It is inarguable and inescapable that our members deserve their fair share of this success in the form of significant increases in base wages, pensions and benefits," he added.
Weitkamp also stressed that SBC must recognize that "jobs, jobs and more jobs" in the growing areas of the company is a critical issue for workers.
Across District 9, CWAers showed their solidarity and support for the bargaining team by wearing stickers and t-shirts and joining in rallies and other actions.
Locals from Northern California and Nevada rallied on the steps of the state capitol in Sacramento, with busloads of stewards, activists and officers on hand to make certain SBC gets the message that CWA members are united in their goals at SBC.
The crowd of more than 500 included many elected officials, including state Treasurer Phil Angiledes, and labor leaders including California AFL-CIO President Tim Rankin, and other union representatives.
Kicking off the rally was CWA Local 9421 President Greg Ball, who also heads the CWA Northern California/Nevada Council; CWA Local 9423 Pres. Louie Rocha led the "warm-up" chants and CWA mobilization coordinator Jim Gordon represented District 9 Vice President Tony Bixler. The roaring crowd made certain the rally was a great start to bargaining, locals reported.
Throughout District 9, locals have been working hard to provide information to members and build creative mobilization activities, Gordon said.
Bargaining opens for the 37,000 workers at SBC Southwest (formerly Southwestern Bell) on Feb. 20 in Austin. Talks also begin on Feb. 20 covering 27,000 workers at SBC Midwest in Chicago. Bargaining opens at SBC East (formerly SNET) covering 6,000 workers on Feb. 23. As bargaining opens at each of the SBC locations, CWAers are wearing stickers that read "Taking a Stand for Jobs and Health Care."