UNIONS

After meeting with the company this week and with staff our union is under attack like we have never experienced. We need to stress to our members more than ever how important it is that we are strong and united. In the end if we do not stand united and strong against AT&T we will not have good jobs and benefits, if we even have jobs. This past week has really upset me with this company more than I ever thought they could. We listened to Vice Presidents sit and say they know that they are violating our contracts and that is the direction the company is taking. At the same time letting us know that they have no control and are just about as disgusted with the company as we are. I really know after this week that the majority of them are doing what they are directed to do hoping to keep their jobs.

If you have not heard Yellow Pages did not ratify their contract. Our District 6 Staff advised us yesterday that the company is trying to stir up trouble leading these members to believe it is the unions fault. Many of these members are saying they do not want their bargaining committee negotiating for them, they apparently think they can negotiate with Randal Stephenson on their own... This is exactly what at&t wants and seems to be doing a good job at attempting to bust the union every chance they can. Members working at Yellow Pages are in the majority young members and we have apparently not done a very good job at teaching them what UNIONS can do.
We have members dropping out all over the district and country with each member that we lose it gets a little easier for AT&T to get just what they want. That seems to be employees that will work for little pay, no health care, no benefits, and willing to work seven days a week. It sounds like corporate America wants us to go back in time. It took us a century to get what we have. In the last decade we have allowed ourselves be knocked down. How much and how far will we have to be knocked down before our members and the American workers say I have had enough. American Labor Members over the years have fought, struggled, and lost lives to get us where we are and all we have to do is make a strong and united stance to keep it. It seems we are not willing to do that.

The strength that CWA has against the company is in the number of members we have and their strength to stand up against the company. We can’t and will not be able to win this fight without members standing up and saying we will be treated fairly. We have to set aside our differences and be union brothers and sister willing to help each other out. That is what it has taken over the years for us to have good pay, health care, benefits, and fair work practices. Companies have not just given these things to workers. Over the years we have lost sight of the fact that working together makes things better for us all. We have to stop thinking that we will keep what we have when American's all over our country are working for lousy pay, have no health care, no benefits, and work in sweat shops. Guess what they are willing to do our jobs as contractors making half of our pay, no benefits, and no health care because it is better than they have. And don't fool yourself into thinking AT&T will not take advantage of that they already are and we are allowing it.

To save our jobs we are all going to have to step up to the plate and fight not only for our jobs but fight to assure that American’s have jobs where they make a decent living and are treated fairly. How do we accomplish this, UNIONS did it in the past and can do it again if we are willing to be a UNION. When I say UNION that does not mean elected representatives it means ALL OF OUR MEMBERS. We have to start standing together and put our differences aside we have to be one. We have to keep our focus not on our differences but what we have in common the need for a job where we can make a good living and be treated with some respect.

contract

I just returned from a well needed vacation. Before my vacation I was feeling pretty beat down but I am back and ready to fight for a fair and good contract. We are in the sixth month of bargaining and still no contract. Three others have contracts District 4 and 9 have already voted on their contract. The Legacy group ( the old at&t) has a tentative agreement. I still think they should have gone along with the deal no one signs until we all have a contract, but it didn't worked out that way. I don't know why they settled for the contracts they got members of those districts would have to tell us why. However, that does not mean that we have to settle for what they got. We deserve better than their contracts and need to continue the fight. Our bargaining committee is not ready to concede. They have made a commitment to continue bargaining until they feel they have got the best contract they can.
We have a lot of members that are maybe feeling like there is no sense in continuing the fight. Think about it, we have not really started fighting yet. Are we really ready to throw in the towel when all we have really done is wear colored shirts and pass out a few fliers. No one has lost any money and we are continuing to work under a better contract than the other districts got. We need to show the other districts that we are union strong and will do what has to be done. We should also be strong enough to at least put up a fight to keep what previous members fought to get us. Wages and benefits were not just given to us someone sacrificed for us to have them. They were gained through hard work and strikes in 1944, 1947, 1955, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1973, 1975, 1983, and 2004. How many were you a part of? Most of our members would have to say one in 2004. That strike was the second shortest ever most of them were for several weeks a few lasted months. If we are going to give up wages and benefits that so many fought and sacrificed for let us at least say we put up a good fight.
Our company is making record profits paying our wages and benefits I don't think they need to treat us like second hand citizens so that they can profit a few more million. The company has done a good job of dividing and conquering during this round of negotiations we need to pull back together. I want to keep my wages, benefits, pensions, and job securities, we should all be on board with that. If someone feels that we do not deserve these there are other jobs where you can get what you think you are worth. REMEMBER UNITED WE STAND DIVIDED WE BEG.

Weekly Visit-December 15, 2009

In order to make this blog worth while there needs to be more interaction on our part. Well, this will begin my attempt to help with that in a post that I will call my Weekly Visit. It will be a good look at the issues that are before us and how those will be addressed. Encourage your friends and family to read so they are informed. We do not have the access the company does so this is about as close as we can come. I hope you enjoy it and please give feedback so we can make it better and share your opinions and thoughts so we will have a real idea of what people think.
The big issue of this week is the healthcare ruling from the arbitrator. As of this point we have not heard anything from the National or District offices. What we need to keep in mind is that once this comes down there will be very little that can be done about it. The Arbitrator has the final say on this matter and both sides will have to live with his/her decision for the period ho/she specifies. We will be getting that out to you as soon as we know something. Hopefully it will come with some explanation from the National office.
Another issue that may be somewhat under the radar is the pay issue arbitration that was heard in September. We have not heard from the District office as to how she ruled. I hope to have that information anyday. For those of you that may not be aware, this was the disput over the top pay and slotting used by the comapany for Customer Service Representatives. The company presented a different way than they are doing it at the bargaining table in February.
I want to take this oppurtunity to wish everyone a wonderful and safe holiday season. I will be back next week with more so stay tuned.

Thanks,

John Richie
Vice-President/Mobilty Unit
Local 6200

Strike Vote

We have tallied our votes for our local and the results were 302 yes votes and 13 no votes. We had almost two thirds of our local membership at Mobility vote. All locals should have their results turned in before noon tomorrow. If all locals get their tallies turned in on time we should have the results Friday afternoon. As soon as I am notified the results will be posted here on our website.

STRIKE VOTE

We had a union day at the call center today and was going to allow members to vote in the cafeteria. The company called late Tuesday aftermoon to advise me that they would not allow us to vote in the building. So we set up a table on the sidewalk out front and gave our members a chance to vote. We had approximately 200 members vote that is about half we need everyone else to vote. There will be a table on the sidewalk tomorrow if weather permits, members will also be able to vote at the union hall (3424 Barnett Rd). Our results have to be turned in to the District Office by Friday morning so make sure that your voice counts and vote.
It takes everyone supporting your bargaining committe to get a good contract. Remember the union is only as strong as it's members..
Dont forget our contract expires Sunday we are asking everyone to wear black tomorrow and Friday if management asks why tell them we are mourning the death of our contract.
UNITED WE BARGAIN DIVIDED WE BEG.....WE DON'T BEG.

Contract

The district is asking for a strike vote to be done by Friday of this week. The reason is that the company is not willing to talk seriously at the table. They are proposing a very small raise and are not willing to discuss issues that our members felt was very important.
A yes vote does not mean we will go out on strike, it only gives our National Officers the authority to call a strike. Our officers do not have the right to call a strike without our members to vote giving them that right.
This is the time to step up and do what has to be done. Remember
UNITED WE BARGAIN DIVIDED WE BEG..
WE DONT BEG.....
I dont know about you but I dont want to have to beg the company for a fair contract...
If you have questions see a steward or officer.

Mobilization

I just received this message.
Top level CWA & AT&T leaders met in San Antonio TX and agreed to resume bargaining immediately following the holidays with a goal of reaching new agreements for both AT&T Video Services and AT&T Internet no later than 1-11-2008.
CWA agreed we would cease hand billing of AT&T agent stores and Radio Shacks in a good faith effort to reach satisfactory agreements.
This is just proof that our mobilizing efforts do make an impact.
We all need to continue to wear red on Thursdays and black on Fridays.
Angela Guillory