140
S. Flower Street, Orange, CA 92868 • 714-978-9510 • 800-854-5301
• Fax: 714-978-9055
District 4 Members Over-whelmingly Ratify Contract with AT&T Midwest
With a clear majority of eligible voters participating, members that work for AT&T Midwest voted overwhelmingly in favor of ratifying the tentative agreement reached on July 15th with AT&T. The Global Services (COS) contract was also overwhelmingly ratified. Mail ballots were counted today and added to the totals of the locals that conducted separate elections. The vote count was conducted by a committee of 24 rank and file volunteers from 13 different locals across the region.
"This vote clearly affirms the great work that was done by our bargaining committee," stated District 4 Vice President Seth Rosen. "In these tough times, our committee was able to get a contract that enhanced both our employment security and our standard of living. Our AT&T members in the Midwest evidently appreciate the job that our committee did."
The contractual wage increases are retroactive to April 5, 2009, but the benefit changes do not take effect until January 1, 2010. We don't know yet the exact date when the raises will be reflected in pay checks, but expect it within weeks and the retroactive pay a few weeks following that. As soon as we have a certain date, we will let local Presidents know.
In Unity,
Kenny Williams President - CWA Local 9510
(714) 978-9510
MAY 23rd
We want to thank all of our members who are continuing to be safe while working. We understand how hard it is to work ONLY 8 hours SO WORK MORE OVERTIME and be HYPER-SAFE!
When you receive a text message please share the information with your peers when you can so everyone is on board. We cannot stress enough how important it is to keep up the participation. The next time you are asked to do something to show solidarity, please ask yourself, "Would it be better to make this small sacriface now, or be on a picket line later." STAY STRONG
MAY 23rd
PART OF OUR STRENGTH IS OUR GOODWILL TOWARD THE PUBLIC. LET US NOT DO ANYTHING TO DAMAGE THAT RELATIONSHIP.
WE ARE TRAINED PROFESSIONALS AND WE SHOULD ALWAYS CONDUCT OURSELVES AS SUCH.
THE PUBLIC HAS ALWAYS BEEN ON OUR SIDE WHEN WE FACE DOWN CORPORATIONS WHO THINK THEY CAN PUSH ITS EMPLOYEES AROUND WITHOUT CONSEQUENCES.
WE AS AMERICAN WORKERS ARE NOT BROKEN BY THE ILL WILL THAT HAS BEEN VISITED UPON US BY OWN CORPORATIONS.
YOU HAVE BEEN PATIENT. OUR JOURNEY CONTINUES BUT NOT WITHOUT PROGRESS TO AN ACCEPTABLE RESOLUTION. BARGAINING REPORT #53 INDICATES THAT THE PROGRESS MADE IS YOUR RESPONSIBLITY! YOUR CONTINUED EFFORTS TO SHOW YOUR "ORGANIZED WILL" CANNOT BE IGNORED.
MUCH HAS BEEN DONE. PLEASE CONTINUE TO SHOW YOUR SUPPORT EVEN IF IT IS JUST THE CLOTHING YOU WEAR: THE BLACK ON MONDAY; RED ON TUESDAYS; THE BUTTONS; WRISTBANDS; T-SHIRTS AND OTHER SIGNS OF SOLIDARITY ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE AT THE BARGAINING TABLE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT,
YOUR UNION
JUNE 1ST
AT&T WILL PAY HEATHCARE FOR ANOTHER MONTH. THERE WILL BE NO DISRUPTION IN YOUR HEALTHCARE.
MORE TO FOLLOW...
There is no cancellation pending of either medical premiums or dues deduction both of which would require prior notice to the union.
Jim Weitkamp
MAY 3RD
Maintenance Technicians
AT&T has focused its attention on them and they WERE forced to work LAST weekend across the state. This is what they want to write into the contract for us all. The ability to force our members to work when they DON'T want to work.
AT&T has crossed the line. Our members have lives and ... let's make this short. Time to do lots and lots of OVERTIME!! Don't get let them take away your freedom.
Maintenance Technicians have been amazing by sticking together in GREAT NUMBERS! ALL of us should learn from the way they continue to stay UNITED DURING THESE TRYING TIMES. Chaos screws with their numbers. With all of this craziness AT&T is subjecting them to, it's amazing they are still HEALTHY. But for NOW WORK ALL THE OVERTIME YOU CAN GET PLUS MORE.
APRIL 25TH
"AT&T YOU CANT HIDE WE CAN SEE YOUR GREEDY SIDE"
That was one of the many chants that 1000 or more CWA members and supporters used during the march through Downtown Los Angeles yesterday.
During that march, the streets of LA were filled with the voices of GOOD WORKING PEOPLE who proclaimed NO CONTRACT NO PEACE.
Local 9510 was represented by 50 Volunteers who GOT ON THE BUS and added their voices to TO ROCK THE BUILDINGS.
One of the MEMBERS who marched with us had been deployed to Iraq 3 times. This fine member and MARINE was a term splicer who had reached his 3 yrs the day before the march.
His last deployment came after he had been employed for a yr and a half. He went back for 1 yr and returned to find out that he ONLY HAD 6 MORE MONTHS TO WORK BECAUSE THEY COUNTED THE YEAR IN IRAQ AGAINST HIM.
On Thursday, MEMBERS of our LOCAL were work completed as well. These SPLICERS were let go BECAUSE ACCORDING TO THE COMPANY THEY DIDN'T HAVE WORK FOR THEM.
DO LOTS AND LOTS OF OVERTIME IN AN ULTRA-SAFE MANNER AND STAY UNIFIED
PRESIDENT KENNY WILLIAMS
APRIL 26TH
A CWA RALLY WAS HELD IN DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES AT UNION STATION ON FRIDAY IN AN EFFORT TO BRING OUR PLIGHT TO THE PUBLIC.
Union Station
Labor Secretary
Prep Time
Kenny & Sid
Union Station
AFTER HEARING SEVERAL SPEAKERS INCLUDING FEDERAL LABOR SECRETARY HILDA SOLIS AT THE UNION STATION AUDITORIUM, A MARCH TO THE DOWNTOWN AT&T BUILDING WAS UNDERWAY.
March Underway
Our Stewards
Be part of the solution
Don't kill the dream
Make a difference
March
We
Are
Americans
The devil across the street
MANY LOCALS THROUGHOUT THE SOUTHLAND PARTICIPATED IN THE MARCH. SOME CAME FROM AS FAR AS NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.
March To AT&T
Our streets
One fight or no future
Happy to see us
Why we fight
Our strength
We march
The Arrival
Jim
Familiar faces
Hates us all
We built this city
The boys
Tell us Art
RANDALL THE RAT WAS THERE TO GREET THEM ON ARRIVAL.
Beat The Rat
Save our future
We together
Randy
Kick 'em
9510
AT&T is a the leading sponsor of the 2009 Masters Tournament -- a role that surely cost the company some big bucks. If it has enough money to spend on golf, it shouldn't be trying to cut jobs and take away its workers' health care benefits.
At the Communications Workers of America, we're not going to let this happen. We're using every tool we've got to put pressure on AT&T. You've already helped out by signing our petition, but now there's one more thing you can do.
To reach as many people as possible, we're using Twitter during this weekend's Masters Tournament. This innovative service lets us send short messages about AT&T's corporate greed to an audience of millions. All you have to do is go to www.twitter.com, sign in or create a new account, and start sending messages about AT&T's attempts to squeeze its workers out of jobs and benefits.
Check out Twitter and help spread the word about AT&T's corporate greed: http://www.twitter.com
When you send your "tweets," be sure to include a link to our petition (www.standupforworkers.com) and add #masters to the end of your message. This will make sure that other Twitter users who are following the Masters Tournament will see your messages about AT&T.
Here are a few sample messages you can send:
Master of corporate greed -- AT&T wants to cut my health benefits www.standupforworkers.com #masters
Start using Twitter to stand up to AT&T right now: http://www.twitter.com
At the Communications Workers of America, we're always looking for new ways to communicate and organize. When we're facing powerful and greedy companies like AT&T, we need to use every potential means to advocate for our members.
Twitter is just the latest example of innovative ways that technology can help us reach out to new audiences about protecting our jobs and benefits. These new tools -- combined with your commitment and unity -- will ensure that we continue to strengthen our union and reinforce our rights.
Thank you in advance for standing up and speaking out.
JULY 3RD
WE NEED TO SEND THE COMPANY A MESSAGE!
Our bargaining committee is hard at work trying to breakthrough AT&T'S resolve to screw you over. Since AT&T wants to take away what we fought for in previous contracts, we need to send them a “strong” message:
"NO! YOU DON'T OWN US!" "WE ARE NOT SLAVES TO YOUR CORPORATE GREED!" "WE WILL NOT WEAR YOUR BRANDED APPAREL BECAUSE WE HAVE NO CONTRACT!"
Your Union is calling upon you to help AT&T “SEE THE LIGHT" and let them know we will REJECT ANY STINKIN’ CONTRACT that would be retrogressive.
Bring all of your branded apparel to the union hall by Tuesday to be shipped back to the negotiation table (no you don’t need to wash it, let AT&T smell the sweat of your hard work and whatever else you get on your clothes).
So toss your hats, pants, shirts and t-shirts into the negotiation ring! Make them aware that we are still watching them closely and we want the great contract we deserve!
If you can’t get the trash bags full of your branded apparel to the Union Hall by Tuesday, call the hall for pickup at your location. BEFORE 12:00pm THURSDAY!
You don’t have to strike to send a message of how AT&T makes you feel… dirty or not!
PS
TO ALL PREM TECHS: YOUR EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT REQUIRES YOU TO WEAR BRANDED APPAREL. YOU ARE EXEMPT FROM THIS MESSAGE.
JUNE 12TH
THE COUNTDOWN CONTINUES: 19 DAYS TO JULY 1ST
WHILE OUR BARGAINING TEAM CONTINUES TO NEGOTIATE WITH AT&T ALL EYES ARE FOCUSED ON CONGRESS AND THE UPCOMING VOTE ON THE EMPLOYEE FREE CHOICE ACT. THE PASSAGE OF THIS BILL CAN BE SEEN AS A VOTE OF CONFIDENCE FOR UNIONS.
AT&T ONCE ASKED US TO HELP THEM GET INTO LONG DISTANCE IN THIS STATE WITH THE PROMISE OF JOB SECURITY. WE TOLD OUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY AND NEIGHBORS TO SUPPORT THEM AS WE ALL DID AND AT&T WAS BROUGHT INTO A NEW MARKET.
NOW THE UNION IS ASKING YOU TO PROMOTE A LAW THAT CAN AND WILL PROTECT YOU AGAINST THE SAME COMPANY YOU HELPED THAT IS NOW TRYING TO ABANDON YOU.
THEY ARE SAYING YOU ARE A BURDEN TO THEM AND YOU MUST CHOOSE BETWEEN TAKING A MASSIVE PAY CUT OR PAYING FOR HEALTHCARE ON YOUR OWN FROM SOME OTHER SOURCE.
DON'T LET THEM THROW YOU AWAY. DOWNLOAD THE FLYERS TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THIS PAGE AND FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS BELOW. HELP MAKE A DIFFERENCE JUST BY TAKING A FEW MINUTES WHERE YOU ARE IN YOUR DAILY TRAVELS AND LEAVE THE FLIERS ON CARS OR HANDOUT TO THE PUBLIC.
THANK YOU ALL FOR GETTING INVOLVED.
Ray and Rachel Rodriguez, both AT&T employees and CWA Local 6222 members, wrote the lyrics for this fantastic mobilization song, performed by a co-worker...
How many of you have seen what AT&T placed on the intranet about bargaining? They have a knack for ticking off employees by spinning their proposals. Even the managers aren't buying what they are selling. Of course there are the usual brown-nosers that side with the company to forward themselves, but overall the managers are buying less and less of what AT&T is selling. Let's go through it and just so you don't get confused, the union comments will be inred. Here we go:
Labor Update: Negotiations continue, AT&T announces highlights of proposals to CWA
April 06, 2009
April 5 — Today AT&T Inc. and Communications Workers of America (CWA) continued to meet and negotiate toward new agreements for 80,500 Core wireline employees. The current agreements expired at 11:59 p.m. on Saturday, April 4.
In the Southeast, where the contract does not expire until August 8, both parties have agreed to stop negotiations and reconvene this summer — as they would have under normal circumstances. These 32,000 union-represented employees are no longer part of the current negotiations. (This is true to a point. However, solidarity is a foreign concept to AT&T so it does not understand how CWA in the Southeast still plays a role in current negotiations. You don't have to be at the table to have a profound effect on bargaining. For example, the giant rats lined up around the country. Although they do not sit at the bargaining table- they symbolize the AT&T bargainers and their cheesy proposals. These rodents freak them out and are so bad in the public view; they are waging an ad campaign full of duplicity to counterstrike.)
AT&T's wireline business is declining (20 percent of consumer access lines lost in the past 3 years), yet it is the part of the business where union employees have the richest health care benefits. (This is simple- they believe you rich, therefore they want to make you pay for your benefits! Here are some simple questions- Are you rich? Do you have the extra money to pay for your benefits? Why would they say you are rich when you aren't? The company is changing. They want to re-define the industry by saying wireline is no better than cable T.V. in order to bring down the wages. Well that is not true. We are a very amazing company and we deserve to be paid as such.) Union-represented Core wireline employees pay similar amounts for their health care as union workers at the Big 3 automakers pay — and it's clear what those sorts of unsustainable costs have done to America's auto industry. (Oh no you didn't! Do you believe that?? They played the auto industry card? Here is the biggest most ridiculous LIE they could tell! While they are trying to make you afraid and quake in your lineman's boots by saying we are like the big three American auto makers, they leave out one $12.9 BILLION dollars fact. That figure is NOT a bailout proposal to the American tax-payer. That was their one year profit amount during the time they were crying about shrinking line share!) These employees also pay significantly lower than what other AT&T employees pay, including those covered by other CWA contracts.
In a time when other employers are totally abandoning health care benefits — as well as pensions and wage increases — AT&T takes pride in being able to continue to provide good jobs with good wages and benefits that are among the best in the nation to all of its employees. (Do you make $60,000 dollars a day like Randall Stephenson, the president of AT&T? Why the campaign to pay the "little cost" they say you must pay? They pay it now and they have the resources to continue to pay.) To that end, here is a general summary of the present proposals made by AT&T:
Health care plans that keep Core wireline bargained-for employees with lower health care costs than AT&T management, other recently negotiated CWA agreements, competitors and well below the national average — remaining one the of most robust health care plans in the nation. Some elements of the plans include:
Employee health care costs pegged to wages, so that those who earn less, pay less for deductibles
Full company-funded coverage of all preventative care, including annual physicals, mammograms, well-baby care, and immunizations
(I feel like I am on a used car lot and they are trying to sell me the car I drove up in. I have all of these benefits now and it is free. Question: Since the healthcare costs are so "small" why don't they use some of that $12.9 BILLION dollars and pay the cost themselves! Answer: Because it is not about money, it is about power. The power to take; the power to add to their greedy agenda)
Wage increases for all years of the agreement, through a combination of wage progression, raises and lump sum payments — at a time when many U.S. employers are either asking for wage concessions or freezing wages (What do wage increases matter when benefits are taken away? For those who do not realize this- your pay in wages is measured in more than just dollars. Your benefits come at a cost to the company. Therefore you are worth more than you can quantify on your paycheck. However, if the company makes you pay for your benefits, not only do they not have to pay, which is a savings to them, but you are double-whammed because you pay for your benefits out-of-pocket. AND you are taxed on it.)
Upgrades for premises technicians — including additional wage increases beyond those outlined above and, where needed, conversion of employees from temporary to regular status
Increase in pension contributions every year of the agreement and continuation of the 401k plan with generous company match, even as employers are decreasing or eliminating this benefit (Wow, how generous. Everyone knows that 401ks are and investment into the company you work for. What they are saying is they will continue to "allow you to give them money." Gee Thanks)
It is important to note that the highlights above are what the company has proposed and is not an all-inclusive list. All items are still on the table and pending negotiation by the Company and the union.
The Company stands ready to negotiate with the CWA at any time in a continuing effort to reach an agreement.
NOTE: In our continuing effort to equip you with accurate information about our various negotiations with the CWA, we are providing this update regarding the Core bargaining to help you understand what the Company offered. Please understand, the Company is obligated to bargain exclusively with the CWA regarding terms and conditions of employment. We have done that in the past and intend to continue doing that. (Some would argue that in releasing this information to our members, AT&T is bargaining directly to our members making a rebuttal necessary!)
(And now, a word from the AT&T managers. Yes, they are all managers and no I did not correct any grammer or spelling.)
-------- Comments from managers -------- Total Comments (7)
1: (pv1364)
Posted on: April 06, 2009 at 01:53 PM
If they strike, the first thing to go up is the big, inflatable rat, I wish someone would pop the rat. Or at least call Orkin. (WOW, thanks, it is good to know the rat works so well.)
2: (bh2575)
Posted on: April 06, 2009 at 12:17 PM
Perhaps the statement regarding health care costs being lower than the costs AT&T management pays could have been stated differently or left out altogether. (I understand how you feel; paying the kind of money you must pay hurts to think about. Just ask any manager do they like what they have to pay for their healthcare)
3: (fm1726)
Posted on: April 06, 2009 at 11:53 AM
Given the marco-economic environment, our rapidly shrinking share of consumer land-line voice customers and brutal competition from traditional and non-traditional competitors, I believe the company is being extremely fair in it's negotiations and proposed solutions to the various issues being bargained. Our union-represented emplolyees are amongst the highest compensated (salary, bonuses, 401K's, pension, etc..) for their respective roles-in the nation, if not the world-and their health-care benefits (regardless of the outcome of the bargaining) will remain very strong as compared to virtually every other employer. We should all be grateful that we're working for AT&T-particularly in the middle of the worst recession in our lifetimes-and that the company-though not perfect-certainly values and compensates it's employees very well.
(I guess we know who the suck-up is, or maybe a relative of Randall Stephenson. Can you see from where your head is at or is it too dark?)
4: (cc6119)
Posted on: April 06, 2009 at 10:00 AM
I understand the viewpoints for both management and bargained for employees. The plan to increase out of pockect expenses for bargained for employees does still leave them far below the national average. In addition, the bargained for employees generally make more money than managers. So the idea of easing them into the process is a little ridiculous. This is not an us vs. them topic. A fair contract is a justifiable request, but I beleive it should be fair for all employees. Meaning that managers and craft should have a similar plan. Maybe one that allows for multiple providers at a progressive cost based on the type of plan selected. (You are right; this is not a case of "us vs. them". It is a case of we got screwed and they didn't. I have one question for you. If you could have done something about having to pay for your healthcare, would you? By the way, we make more because we DO more.)
5: (cc1023)
Posted on: April 06, 2009 at 09:35 AM
Mary Lynn's point is valid to an extent. There was a time when Mgt pay and benefits was always superior to non-management. Those times have ended, but not everyone has forgotten them. I believe the company is also proposing eliminating pensions for new hires. And limiting the max Lump Sum payout amt for current employees. So the article is incomplete. The company would gain credibility if the entire proposal were published. The company's reputation as a reliable source can only be enhanced by complete and thorough reports. A question that remains unanswered is why the company does not use its legions of lobbyists to address changing the national healthcare picture so that the burden of healthcare does not fall solely upon individual companies. Rather than participate in the race to the bottom, why not change the game entirely? (Oh my god, I think I am in love! I hope you are a female...)
6: (cc8291)
Posted on: April 06, 2009 at 08:52 AM
I don't think the fact that bargained-for employees will still be paying less for their healthcare than AT&T management is a slap in the face to the managers. I understand that it is a difficult step for our bargained employees to begin paying a larger share for their healthcare, just as it was for us when managers' costs went up. I think it is inevitable that bargained employees will have to begin paying more of the costs for their healthcare, but I support a plan that eases that transition for them, even if it means that they are still getting a "better deal" than I am. This isn't (or shouldn't be) about us and them. It should be about finding a way to provide good jobs, with good benefits to ALL of us while allowing the company that provides all of that to us to stay competitive in this increasingly tricky market. (Wow, slip it in slow and it won't hurt as much. Must be a doctor on the side. However, we both know when you have to pay for a benefit you were getting for free, it can be demeaning. Think about how you felt when you first realized you had to pay for something that was free when you hired on. Then you had to pay more and more. And what you were paying for became less and less worth what it was you used to get for free. A little hard to follow, but the company proposal is very hard to swallow.)
7: (mm6285)
Posted on: April 06, 2009 at 08:03 AM
"Health care plans that keep Core wireline bargained-for employees with lower health care costs than AT&T management." What a slap in the face for managers. The company thinks less of us than the bargained for employees.
(Actually that is not true; the company wants to screw us all equally. It is just taking more time to screw us than you.)
Thanks for going over the company proposal with me.
There have been questions from members asking about what does this blog accomplishes.
We have provided a forum for our members to speak out about what is happening in our local and beyond.
Our members want to stay well informed and we try to honor our commitment to them by providing as much information as possible. However, we know our members may know things that we are not aware of and this blog can be a place they can to ask questions and verify rumors.
Most of the rumors are proven to be only partial truths or not true at all. We have found some of our members have contacts that are very useful to us all and because we ARE union, everyone's opinion counts.
Check it out and be a part of the solution to the problems that affects us all. Below is an excerpt from the CWA 9510 Blog.
I am all for waiting and being patient, IF I know what is going on. This "road trip" the article mentions on the website is being held @ 8:30 am on Wednesday. News flash: WE are at WORK! If we are going on a work stoppage, that is another thing. If we are going on strike, that again, is another thing. But don't ask us to get an occurence or use our vacation time when we don't have any idea what we're doing.
The reason you did not know where the road trip was is because we did not want Randall to know we we're coming, Kenny left a message on the board that if you wanted to come call local 9510 @ x22 and request a release from work which is what they did for me, if you want to be more informed, get more involved, this website keeps me informed, you can also provide the local with your cell phone number for updates, not everything can be on here, it is a public website and i'm pretty sure the company checks it too. If you come to the next membership meeting I am positive you will get more info on what is happening :o)
For those who say our local 9510 is not keeping us updated maybe you should try visiting other locals websites. I assure you ours has the MOST information. I too was concerned with why updates were not more detailed and I have come to realization that some days there is just NOTHING to report---this is what happens when the company REFUSES to bargain. But lets look at what is available to us. WE have a phone number updated daily, there is the website updated daily, there are also text messages, robo calls and e-meetings. Having been an employee for over 20 years I must admit this is the MOST information I have EVER seen available for one of our contracts. For the person who wanted to provide the NEWS FLASH that they worked on Wednesday and was unable to participate--well I have a news flash of my own. I too was scheduled Wednesday but I called the union and advised I wanted to particpate and the time off was arranged. Yes it was without pay, But I ask you, what price are you willing to pay to maintain the career and level of income you now have? Is it worth a day without pay? For those who have never gone out on strike why dont you talk to a member of United Food and Commercial Workers and ask them about their 4 1/2 month strike in 2004. They went 20 weeks without paychecks resorting to food stamps and welfare? As long as there is some movement and progress, why would we strike? Working under the old contract is actually a positive sign. It means there is progress. A STRIKE is a LAST resort NEVER your first option. I too get frustrated about not knowing the final outcome but I would rather have hope in knowing that we may prevail then just taking what the company has to offer. I would love to know if I can go on vacation this summer too but I am willing to hold out, instead of being given a crappy contract this year and may find out next summer my position has been surplussed or outsourced. At&t has given me a career not a job and yes there is a difference. A career is one occupation you can work for your entire life. It is a course or progress through ones life. A job is just a paycheck plain and simple. No benefits. No pension. Nothing. All I can say for those who are complaining is: if things dont go our way and we dont do all we could to help win this fight -there is no one to blame but ourselves.
Sometimes we have to put our faith in someone or something. My faith is with the bargaining committee and their ability to get us a good contract. Just so you know frustrated in Anaheim - your co-workers and union brothers and sisters have been taking unpaid time, pdo and vacation time to do the rallies that are taking place since we have been in bargaining. I would definitely not suggest that you take an occurrence to go to an event. People are actually taking their own valuable time because they are finally getting the fact that there is so much at stake here.
The event you are speaking about was to greet Randall Stephenson at the Four Seasons Hotel, in Carlsbad, where he was one of the guest speakers. It would not have done much good to let everyone know we were coming ahead of time. These types of rallies show the company and the public that we are sticking together and support our bargaining committees and that we will do what needs to be done if we have to. Sometimes you have to give something up to get something in return and just remember we did not get the great contract that we have today in two months. It happened over many years. It may be uncomfortable not knowing if you can take a vacation or make a major purchase but this is BIG and if we get the healthcare that they are trying to give us we will all notice it immediately! This is a really bad economy and it is going to take time to get a quality contract. So suck it up and take a stand while you have the opportunity to fight to keep what you deserve.
Please remember the bargaining committee is doing their job and we need to do ours. Local 9510 Membership Meeting is June 2nd - Be there!!!
now is not a good time to strike. i can see us getting crucified in the media during these trying economic times. also, the co. is not making any equitable offers, therefore, the only thing we lose is a raise.
So, they are saying that the reason that they want to cut CWA salaries is because loss of market share to the Wireline division of AT&T?
1: It's not just about Wire line is it? This contract covers workers in Wire line, DSL, UVERSE, Data Circuits like T-1's and a lot of other areas not specifically Wire line. So, this reason is a cop out!
2:I work in Tustin VASC and I definitely have sold more business lines in the past year than any year prior. But, not only that, we also aren't specifically wire line in the business office either. I talk about DSL, Voicemail, Long Distance, wireless, Webhosting, etc. As the industry evolves into other markets, my job should be trained to handle these other markets. These products should also be sold under my job title - UVerse, Data Circuits, VOIP products. If the excuse is training, TRAIN ME! Another cop out!
3: So, let's say for kicks that there is truly a decline in wire line markets despite the fact that my job isn't specifically wire line and our 12.9 B-B-B-Billion dollar profit last year and that AT&T wasn't #10 on the Fortune 500 list which I helped to make happen.
When a company has a decline in a division they cut jobs right? I look around my office and I see 1/3 the bodies than I used to, right? So, AT&T has cut their staffing costs by 2/3rds right? Another Cop out!
Did we all not see this day happening five years ago? I am tired of being looked at as middle class scum by the neocons. We need to go on strike now and should have on April 4th. Don't let Randall play the economy card. We have to strike!
06/05/09 @ 00:02
YES!... YOU ARE NOW ON THE CWA9510 WEBSITE! WELCOME NEW-COMERS AND DON'T WORRY, WE UNDERSTAND SOME OF OUR MEMBERS ARE VIEWING THIS SITE FOR THE FIRST TIME. IF YOU HAVE HAD ANY TROUBLE REACHING OUT TO THIS WEBSITE FROM WORK, IT IS PROBABLY BECAUSE AT&T IS BLOCKING ACCESS TO THIS SITE FROM IT'S INTRANET.
APPARENTLY YOUR TEAM AWARD IS NOT THE ONLY THING AT&T DOES NOT WANT YOU TO HAVE!
THE TRUTH IS... THEY DON'T WANT YOU TO KNOW THE TRUTH! WHY IS THIS BILLION, BILLION DOLLAR (they make so much money you have to say it twice) CORPORATION AFRAID OF THIS LITTLE WEBSITE?
BECAUSE THE TRUTH MAKES US MIGHTIER THAN ANY TRILLION DOLLAR CORPORATION!!
"Hypocrisy can afford to be magnificent in its promises; for never intending to go beyond promises; it costs nothing."
- Edmund Burke
DO YOU HEAR THAT RANDALL STEPHENSON? THAT'S THE SOUND OF ANGRY EMPLOYEES WHO CAN STRIKE AT ANY TIME BECAUSE THEY ARE EMPOWERED BY THEIR UNION TO FIGHT BACK AGAINST YOUR KIND OF CORPORATE GREED!
TIME TO STOP PAYING THE PIPER...TIME TO START PAYING YOUR EMPLOYEES.
THIS SITE IS CHANGED OFTEN AND YOU WILL FIND NEW INFORMATION ALL OVER. WE TRY TO DATE AS MANY ARTICLES AS WE CAN AND THE MOST CURRENT BARGAINING REPORT IS MARKED BY THE HIGHEST NUMBER.
MAY 27th
HERE IT IS FOLKS!
THE 2ND AT&T UNITY e-MEETING
MAY 27TH
CWA District 9 Vice President Jim Weitkamp placed a ROBO CALL today to all CWA members. Did you receive yours? If you did not get your call, let your local know and leave a phone number you can be reached.
He thanked everyone for their efforts and let everyone know that they are making a difference. However, everyone must (DOUBLE) their efforts in taking their TIIIIME to work SAFELY!
Don't be afraid to do your safety checks. DOUBLE check your work as OFTEN as neccessary to do a QUALITY JOB.
MAY 26TH
Thanks to all of you who have responded to the Mobilization that will be happening 5/27/09.
There is still time if you would like to attend, be at the Hall by 8:30am sharp. If you still need a release please call 714-978-9510 ext. 22.
Those of you who cannot attend it is business as usual. Work safe and smart. And remember, This is NOT a Spectator Sport! In Unity,
Kenny Williams President - CWA Local 9510
(714) 978-9510
MAY 22nd
CWA Local 9510’s Response to the District 6 “Offer”
The offer AT&T presented to District 6 is not “last, best or final.” The small print at the bottom of each page of the offer brochure says so itself, “This highlights package…is for illustrative purposes only, is not an offer and does not replace, modify or constitute a formal proposal.”
Also, you need to remember we’re bargaining on five tables, so what’s being offered in District 6 does not necessarily apply in District 9. While there are common issues across all tables, there are issues specific to us, such as job security and health care.
Because AT&T can reach you instantaneously with an irrelevant and bogus offer, we need to respond. The following are the “lowlights” of the District 6 offer in no particular order of merit:
Pay – A 6.5% pay raise over the three years of the proposed deal split as follows:
Year one – 2% plus $500 ratification bonus, Year two – 2.25% pay raise, and year three – 2.25% pay raise.
Premiums – Under their health care proposal by year three of the contract, we would pay 20% of our health care costs as premium.
Deductibles – A stiff annual deductible ranging from $500 for a single person to $1,000 for a couple to $1,500 for a family. This would mean a family would have to spend $1,500 in a year before ANY medical insurance would kick in.
Coinsurance – If you are in network, your coinsurance rate is 10%. If you are in a non-network plan, your coinsurance would be 40%.
Prescriptions – You pay for all prescriptions until you breach your deductible, after that, its co-pays.
Outof Pocket – This is the amount of money you would have to spend before 100% coverage kicks in. For an individual it is $2,500, for a couple it is $4,000 and for a family $5,300. Therefore, if a family had any major health issues befall them in a given year, they would have to pay the first $6,800 ($1,500 deductible and $5,300 out of pocket) worth of coverage.
As AT&T’s blurb says, “We expect only a fraction of our bargained for population will reach the out of pocket maximum.” The question you need to ask is, “Could you or you family afford to be sick?”
CWA LOCAL 9510 MOBILIZATION Information Hotline (714) 978-9510 Ext. 57 www.cwa9510.org E-mail: 9510mobilize@sbcglobal.net
MAY 21th
Background of AT&T and CWA Negotiations The Contract has Expired
Since April 4, 2009, when the collective bargaining agreements covering union workers
at AT&T expired, 125,000 CWA members have been working without a contract. The
CWA members have voted to strike when and if CWA’s leaders deem it necessary to call
a strike. In the meantime, talks are continuing, workers are still on the job and they have
shown disciplined support for CWA’s bargaining position.
This factsheet contains background information about the largest set of collective
bargaining negotiations taking place in the U.S. in 2009.
The Company
AT&T is one of America’s largest corporations – fourth behind Exxon, Wal-Mart and
Microsoft – with a market capitalization of nearly $150 billion dollars (4/15/2009). In
2008, the company earned $12.9 billion on revenues of $124 billion.
The company’s press release for its fourth quarter results quotes Chairman and CEO
Randall Stephenson: “Despite the economic environment, we grew revenues in 2008,
and I expect 2009 will be another year of overall revenue growth and solid progress for
our company.” Indeed, AT&T’s first quarter 2009 earnings exceeded expectations. “For
this economy, it was an outstanding performa nce,” one analyst commented.
AT&T’s size far outstrips that of any of the other U.S. based companies in the
telecommunications industry. AT&T is the nation’s leader for traditional wire line
telephone services, providing 55.6 million access lines within the footprints of its five
regional operating subsidiaries:
· AT&T East: Connecticut
· AT&T Midwest: Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan and Wisconsin
· AT&T Southeast: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North and South Carolina, and Tennessee
· AT&T Southwest: Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas
· AT&T West: California and Nevada
Through these regional companies, AT&T also delivers broadband data services over
DSL and other technologies, including U-Verse, its product for television over the
Internet which competes with cable television offerings. Data services have been an
increasingly important part of the AT&T business, accounting for 45 percent of revenue
over the wire line network during 2008.
CWA at AT&T
AT&T reports 302,660 total employees in its annual report for 2008. Of these, more than
half are represented by the Communications Workers of America. This is the largest
union workforce at any single U.S. employer.
More than 40,000 of these workers are employed by AT&T Mobility, the only union
represented workforce in the wireless portion of the telecommunications industry. CWA
successfully negotiated a contract covering more than half of these Mobility employees
which was ratified on April 2.
About 125,000 CWA represented employees are involved in the negotiations which are
presently underway at six different locations around the country. (Five of the contracts
are with the geographically-based operating companies. The sixth, a national contract,
covers employees of the former AT&T long distance company.) Five of the contracts
which together cover about 100,000 workers expired on April 4. The sixth, AT&T
Southeast, expires in August.
The current negotiations are focused on contracts for the AT&T employees who build
and maintain the core wire line network. All of the company’s businesses depend on the
integrity of that wire line network. Therefore, the maintenance, monitoring and
administrative functions performed by CWA represented employees in these core
contracts are critical to the ongoing success of the company in all of its product and
service areas.
Most CWA members in the core AT&T units perform work in one of three
categories:
1. Network technical services monitoring, ma intaining and upgrading the
telecommunications network involves 49 percent of employees.
2. Customer or consumer market service duties are performed by about
24 percent of CWA represented employees.
3. Another 9 percent of workers are involved with business customers
whether in sales or service.
The rest of the CWA members perform functions in the finance, clerical, real estate or
information technology areas.
Status of Contract Negotiations
AT&T has proposed a myriad of economic take-backs as well as work rule changes that
would reverse years of progress in collective bargaining that have created hundreds of
thousands of solid middle class jobs. By far, the most contentious issue in these
negotiations has been the medical plan.
Both AT&T and CWA recognize that health care costs are rising and that our health care
system requires fundamental reform. However, AT&T proposals would drastically shift
costs to employees and retirees. By the company’s own estimate, its goal is to move
employees from around 10 percent of total health costs, to paying about a quarter of all
health costs.
Historically, CWA has worked in partnership with AT&T through joint labormanagement
health care committees to develop ways to contain health cost while
preserving quality health care. This year is no different. CWA negotiators have offered
some innovative approaches to address the rising cost of health care while trying to
maintain current living standards for our members and advancing value-based health
care.
CWA has also proposed a partnership approach to national health care reform. We
believe the best way for large employers like AT&T to get relief from rising health costs
is to guarantee coverage for all Americans. We believe AT&T could save $600 million a
year with comprehensive health care reform that guarantees everyone affordable, quality
health care and that requires all employers to pay their fair share. These health care cost
savings could be re-channeled into further investment in expanding broadband and
creating good jobs.
Conclusion
In spite of difficult economic times, AT&T has remained profitable and is poised to lead
the nation in advanced telecommunications. This is not the time for AT&T to force
severe concessions on its workers. Rather, AT&T should play a leadership role in
helping to preserve middle class jobs and to promote the need for national health carereform that will help its workers, and the nation.
In Unity,
Kenny Williams President - CWA Local 9510 (714) 978-9510
JUNE 5TH
CWA 9505 WILL DO AN INFORMATIONAL PICKET AT THE LAKER GAME ON SUNDAY, JUNE 7TH AT 4P.M. DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF STAPLES CENTER. ALL OF YOU AT 9510 ARE INVITED TO BE THERE FOR THIS HIGH PROFILE EVENT.
Some of you have been there.........thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your service. But all of us should take note, especially this Memorial day weekend...
Perspective is an interesting concept.
WHEN A SOLDIER COMES HOME
When a soldier comes home, he finds it hard....
..to listen to his son whine about being bored.
....to keep a straight face when people complain about potholes.
to be tolerant of people who complain about the hassle of getting ready for work.
...to be understanding when a co-worker complains about a bad night's sleep.
..to be silent when people pray to God for a new car.
...to control his panic when his wife tells him he needs to drive slower.
..to be compassionate when a businessman expresses a fear of flying.
....to keep from laughing when anxious parents say they're afraid to send their kids off to summer camp.
....to keep from ridiculing someone who complains about hot weather.
....to control his frustration when a colleague gripes about his coffee being cold.
....to remain calm when his daughter complains about having to walk the dog.
.....to be civil to people who complain about their jobs.
....to just walk away when someone says they only get two weeks of vacation a year.
....to be forgiving when someone says how hard it is to have a new baby in the house.
The only thing harder than being a Soldier..
Is loving one.
May 20th
The chance to finally reform our nation's health care system is here. While Congress moves rapidly to produce a detailed plan, I have made it clear that real reform must uphold three core principles -- it must reduce costs, guarantee choice, and ensure quality care for every American.
As we know, challenging the status quo will not be easy. Its defenders will claim our goals are too big, that we should once again settle for half measures and empty talk. Left unanswered, these voices of doubt might yet again derail the comprehensive reform we so badly need. That's where you come in.
When our opponents spread fear and confusion about the changes we seek, your support for these core principles will show clarity and resolve. When the lobbyists for the status quo tell Congress to hold back, your personal story will give them the courage to press forward.
After adding your name, please consider sharing your personal story about the importance of health care reform in your life and the lives of those you love.
I will be personally reviewing many of these signatures and stories. If you speak up now, your voice will make a difference.
American families are watching their premiums rise four times faster than their wages. Spiraling health care costs are shackling America's businesses, curtailing job growth and slowing the economy at the worst possible time. This has got to change.
I know personal stories can drive that change, because I know how my mother's experience continues to drive me. She passed away from ovarian cancer a little over a decade ago. And in the last weeks of her life, when she was coming to grips with her own mortality and showing extraordinary courage just to get through each day, she was spending too much time worrying about whether her health insurance would cover her bills. She deserved better. Every American deserves better. And that's why I will not rest until the dream of health care reform is finally achieved in the United States of America.
Please add your name to join my call. Then share your personal story about why you too will not rest until this job is done.
Last November, the American people sent Washington a clear mandate for change. But when the polls close, the true work of citizenship begins. That's what Organizing for America is all about. Now, in these crucial moments, your voice once again has extraordinary power. I'm counting on you to use it.
Thank you,
President Barack Obama
May 18th
From the Mobilizing Committee:
Don't forget to sign the bargaining support petition if you haven't already, and be sure to get your friends and family members to sign. We can get more than 100,000 supporters on record with an additional push.
AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM WORKING FAMILIES TO EVERYONE
AT&T is making a drastic effort to bring down your wages by taking away your benefits! We need legistlation that will help curtail the lies spread by AT&T to justify their actions against you; working families. Don't let the get away with it! Here is away to fight the IN ONE MINUTE:
2005: Senator Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania co-sponsors the Employee Free Choice Act.
2007: Specter is one of the few courageous Republicans to vote for the bill.
2009: Specter says he'll vote against it. What happened?
Long story short: Specter bowed to pressure from the corporate lobbyists and right-wing groups desperate to block the Employee Free Choice Act. But you and I can put pressure on as well – we can show him his flip-flop has consequences.
We're launching a new TV ad that tells Specter to stand on the side of workers – not greedy CEOs. And at the same time, with your help, we're going to flood his office with calls.
VARIOUS PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT BECAUSE SENATOR SPECTER HAS BECOME A DEMOCRAT, HIS "YES" VOTE IS GUARANTEED FOR THE EMPLOYEE FREE CHOICE ACT. THEY ARE WRONG! TO THIS DATE SENATOR SPECTER HAS NOT RECOMMITTED HIS SUPPORT TO THE EMPLOYEE FREE CHOICE ACT.
For many years, Senator Specter was a strong supporter of the Employee Free Choice Act. But now that he's siding with anti-union groups, he's said he'll actively work to block the bill from even coming to a vote!
That's why it's so important that people all across the country keep the pressure on him. Please make a QUICK phone call today (it takes under a minute!), then forward this to all your friends.YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE PENNSYLVANIAN TO CALL.
Call Senator Specter's office toll-free at (888) 890-4648.
One of Specter's interns will probably answer. Tell him or her you're calling to ask Senator Specter to vote YES on the Employee Free Choice Act. Most calls end right there, but you can add:
The Employee Free Choice Act is crucial to working families.
I'm disappointed in the Senator's reversal on this issue and hope he'll do the right thing after co-sponsoring the bill in 2005.
The recession has hit middle-class families the hardest, and this bill is a critical piece of our economic recovery.
President Obama, large majorities in both houses of Congress, and 73 percent of the public support the Employee Free Choice Act. Show Senator Specter that America wants this bill – make a one-minute call today.
Next time your boss hassles you at work, remember it only takes a minute to help further your rights at work... make the call.
Thanks for all that you do to support America's working families.
MAY 8th
CWA Local 9510 in Orange County, CA attended the LAFoL/AFL-CIO's Townhall on Veterans and Good Jobs. We then marched from Union Station to an AT&T C.O. downtown for a rally hosted by Local 9000. Remember: One Union, One Fight, One Future!
April 28th
Don't forget this war is being waged on all fronts and IT IS WINNABLE IF WE ALL DO OUR PART! If the Employee Free Choice Act was law right now, we would have had a contract by now! Do your part by CALLING YOUR CONGRESSMAN TODAY! Tell them, "I am tired of corporate greed and I want you to PASS THE EMPLOYEE FREE CHOICE ACT TODAY!"
YOU can do this.
We need your help to get out the truth about the Employee Free Choice Act through the Turn Around America Fund. As leaders of today's labor movement, our role in turning around America's economy is absolutely critical--because we know that whatever economic recovery measures our country may need, we will not achieve balance and broadly shared prosperity unless we restore workers' freedom to form unions and bargain for better wages, benefits and working conditions. Click here (pdf) to download a form if you'd prefer to contribute offline.
We have reached the moment in our fight for America’s workers when it will come down to a few key individuals, including Sen. Arlen Specter from Pennsylvania. Specter was once a co-sponsor of the Employee Free Choice Act and a vocal public supporter of labor law reform. Earlier this year, Specter switched positions and opposed the bill. Today, he announced he is switching political parties but maintaining his opposition to the Employee Free Choice Act.
Lets be clear, Sen. Specter’s decision to join the Democratic Party is welcome news, but what really matters is whose side you are on. Help us keep ads on the air letting Pennsylvanians know that while Specter may have become a Democrat, what really matters is whether he sides with Big Business or America's workers.
America’s workers deserve the freedom to form unions and bargain for a better life. Contribute to the Turn Around America Fund today.
April 24th
If you missed the 1st Unity@AT&T e-meeting broadcast, here it is represented for you.
Click Play Video to watch
April 28th
PART OF OUR STRENGTH IS OUR GOOD WILL WITH THE PUBLIC. LET US NOT DO ANYTHING TO DAMAGE THAT RELATIONSHIP. WE ARE TRAINED PROFESSIONALS AND WE SHOULD ALWAYS CONDUCT OURSELVES
AS SUCH.
Some of you have never Seen the Technician's Creed before, but for some it will bring back memories of a time when you worked for a company that valued its employees as individuals. You don't have to be a technician to appreciate the following:
Pacific Bell Technician’s Creed
I am a Pacific Bell technician. I service, install and maintain the most advanced communications network on the planet. I am the backbone and the lifeblood of the public network.
I am disciplined and ethical. I am an independent thinker. I do not excel because I have to, but rather because I can. Through hard work and persistence, I have become the best of the best.
I am fallible. My ability to recognize, accept and react to my mistakes defines my ability to succeed. It is easier not to be great. I choose greatness. I do not hide from that which I do not understand. Rather, I challenge my abilities and master them.
I alone am the public’s perception of my entire company. As such, I am honest, reliable and fair. My customers are my livelihood. If my customer has a problem, I have a problem and I will not rest until it is resolved. My service to my customers is so professional and so detailed that they are better for having met me and are compelled to share their experience with others.
I am powered by the glory that comes from personal satisfaction of a job well done. This is a passionate addition that empowers me to excel again and again.
I am a customer service representative. I am a salesman. I am a consultant. I am an engineer. Above all else, I am a Pacific Bell technician and I am proud.
Makes you wonder what happened to the company that you work for. Please pass this along to others who do not have access to this website. We all hope AT&T wake up to what is happening before it is too late. And to our members, please don't do anything that all of us will regret.
CWA WANTS YOU TO SUPPORT THE EMPLOYEE FREE CHOICE ACT!
The companies are trying to fight the EFCA because it helps unions organize. Make our unions stronger by letting your voice be heard.More
LA AFL-CIO chapter to "Phone Bank" for CWA in AT&T contract negotiations
The Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO is planning to "phone bank" (i.e. call center dial-up) U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein and AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson on Thursday in support of the Communications Workers of American (CWA). AT&T and CWA are currently trying to negotiate a new contract, but no progress has been announced since the old contract expired at midnight on April 5.
Sen. Feinstein will be asked to "stand with working men and women by supporting the Employee Free Choice Act," while AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson will be implored to bargain fairly with the workers at AT&T. Calls will be made between 6 a.m. and 8 a.m. PST.
For its part, the CWA has been quiet (so far) this week; make of that what you will.
For more:
- The LA AFL-CIO call to phone bank action on Thursday.
CWA 9510 AT&T Core Rally
CWA Local 9510 in Orange County, CA held a informational picket to show support for our AT&T Landline (Core) brothers and sisters. A special "Thank you" to Bill Hedrick for his support. One Union,... One Fight,... One Future
SERIOUSLY... DON'T SCAB!
THIS IS THE TIME WHEN WE ALL NEED EACH OTHER.
YOU NEED TO BE HERE!!
Please join your Landline and Mobility brothers and sisters in support of your bargainers to get the best contract possible. Check this website daily for more information!
I WAS THERE!!
A rally was held at the AT&T complex at 200 Center Street Promenade in Anaheim on March 25th. I was there from 11:00-1:30 to let AT&T know I am angry and ready to fight AND I brought a friend with me.
It was AT&T night at Angel Stadium. Thank you for coming down to show your support for the CWA Bargaining Team.
The message is out there that AT&T is trying to pull a fast one on the public AND CWA.
Keep making noise - because the public is starting to smell a
Click picture to enlarge
Thanks again to all of the CWA 9510 members who continue to show support for this monumental effort. Are you doing your part? Read bargaining report #35 to join in the fight!!
BECAUSE IT IS NOT BUSINESS AS USUAL!
April 11, 2009
I just wanted to take a moment to thank all of you for your efforts. YOU ARE BEING NOTICED by the company and your peers.
The BLACK on Monday; RED on Tuesdays; the BUTTONS; WRISTBANDS; T-SHIRTS and other signs of SOLIDARITY ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE at the bargaining table.
Separately they may not seem like a lot but multiplied by 100,000 it speaks volumes. We here at the local are making plans for next week to keep up the pressure to get JUST WHAT WE DESERVE a FAIR AND JUST CONTRACT.
You may get another robo call to keep you informed but they are informational only at this time. Bargaining will resume Monday and check the website and or ext 57 but no new report is expected until Tuesday evening.
So in closing THE BATTLE IS NOT OVER, we must continue to MOBILIZE, UNITE, WORK SAFE AND SMART. I will stay on top of anything that transpires over the weekend and notify YOU on the normal channels as well as by email IF ANYTHING HAPPENS I WILL LET YOU KNOW. HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND AND A HAPPY EASTER. In Unity,
Kenny Williams President - CWA Local 9510 (714) 978-9510
April 13th
Many thanks to all of you who volunteered to be Picket Captains.
This week, one of the things we are going to do is a "STAND WITH US" mobilization at 200 Center Street Promenade, Tustin and 3939 Coronado Avenue, Anaheim. The purpose of this is to show Great Unity at a specific time and date and to do it in such a way that the Company is caught totally by surprise. More details to come very soon. In Unity,
Kenny Williams President - CWA Local 9510 (714) 978-9510
Stop
the Offshoring of Good California Jobs
The current
"jobless" economic recovery has done little to help working
people in California. Nearly three million jobs in the U.S. have
disappeared over the past three years and unemployed workers are
out of work for longer than they have been in decades.
Retailers,
banks, airlines, hotels, hospitals, and government agencies are
all eliminating jobs in California and offshoring them to other
countries where workers earn lower wages under harsher working conditions.
A recent Los Angeles Times article uncovered the fact that our state
Food Stamp program hotline is staffed by workers in India and Mexico.
A UC Berkeley Haas Business School study estimates over 14 million
service sector jobs in the United States at risk of being offshored.
@ 2 p.m., stand and continue to work for 3 minutes
Locations: Tustin, 200 CSP, 3939 Coronado, 1265 Van Buren
April 17th
Keep up the fantastic effort!
...This is what our bargainers are saying. We want to thank our members who have sent their personal cell numbers to us for receivingRELIABLE UPDATESandPARTICIPATION INFORMATION by TEXT!Click on the "contact us" button below or contact an officer by selecting the "Officers" link on the left side of this page and send us your personal cell number.
To the techs out there - YOU have been great in your effort to make a statement to AT&T by choosing to be SAFE and NOT to do OVERTIME. WE will prevail.
For the first time since this ordeal began. We are getting reports of positive movement fromAT&T's own sources.
KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK
April 15,2009
STAND WITH US MOBILIZATION ALERT :
4-16-09 Thursday 11am everyone stand up (keep working) for 3 min. @ Tustin Complex, 200 Center St, 1265 Van Buren and 3939 Coronado. Please we need everyone to participate.
More STAND WITH US MOBILIZATIONS COMING. In Unity,
Kenny Williams President - CWA Local 9510
(714) 978-9510
SOLIDARITY
DON'T LET OTHERS FIGHT YOUR FIGHT! Wear BLACK every Monday (Especially 4/6/09 if we still don’t have a contract)
Wear RED every Tuesday Wear your RED wristbands and CWA buttons everyday until AT&T gives us the fair contract we deserve
On Thursday, April 23 at 9 pm EDT we will broadcast our first ever National Unity Meeting over the Internet.
During this meeting, President Cohen and I will be updating the membership on the status of bargaining at AT&T, sharing video and voices of AT&T workers from around the country, and answering questions from the membership.
We will also be detailing specific actions members can take to show their strength and put pressure on AT&T to reach an agreement.
To participate in the meeting, members must register in advance at http://www.cwaunion.tv. After they register they will have the opportunity to submit questions that they would like for us to address during the meeting.
This is a critical time for our union and the labor movement. It's essential that healthy companies like AT&T maintain good jobs in our communities with fair wages and adequate health coverage.
We will be sending out a notice to members via e-mail next week, but not all of our members are on our e-mail list. We need your help to ensure that as many members as possible participate in the e-Meeting.
Please share this information with your membership and consider hosting a viewing party at your local.
Annie Hill
Executive Vice President
THERE WILL BE A VIEWING PARTY AT LOCAL 9510 ON THURSDAY NIGHT STARTING AT 5:30 PACIFIC TIME
CWA 9510 AT THE CORE CONTRACT RALLY IN ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA. THE NEW VIDEO BELOW SHOW OUR MEMBERS IN ACTION STANDING UP FOR THEIR RIGHT TO WORK FOR A DECENT WAGE.
- "Our members are not fooled by AT&T's misleading 'Consumer Driven Healthcare' initiative. They know that AT&T pushing healthcare cost to them will not only increase their out-of-pocket costs, but also increase their taxes and decrease their take home pay!" -
Show AT&T that you are not willing to do 21st century work for 20th century pay!
THANK ALL OF YOU WHO WERE ABLE TO ATTEND THE APRIL 3RD RALLY AT MYFORD YARD IN TUSTIN.
9:00 a.m.
–
Host mandatory anti-union meeting for workers
11:30 a.m.
–
Help ruin economy
3:00 p.m.
–
Collect bonus
4:00 p.m.
–
Anti-union call with Rush Limbaugh and Newt Gingrich
4:30 p.m.
–
Funnel money to anti-union ads
It's all in a day's work for greedy CEOs and Wall Street executives – greed, worker abuse, and now, helping fund a front group running a national ad campaign against the Employee Free Choice Act.
We can't let anti-union forces control the debate. So we're going on the offensive with a new TV ad, "Greed." Our ad is already on the air in key markets. With your help, we'll expand our buy on Monday. Can you help us get this ad in front of more people? Check out our new TV ad – then help us show it to as many people as possible. Video: Our new "Greed" TV ad
CEOs are using the millions they're not spending on fair wages and benefits to spread anti-worker propaganda – misleading the public and twisting arms of lawmakers. Just yesterday, in a national radio spot, Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) blasted the Employee Free Choice Act, saying, "I believe that the Employee 'Forced' Choice Act is the greatest threat to the workplace in American history."¹
That's why, as part of our aggressive grassroots "Faces of the Employee Free Choice Act" campaign, we're launching this powerful new ad. But to make sure it can be seen as widely as possible, we need your help. Help us raise $25,000 and make sure America hears the truth about corporate greed.
So far, supporters like you have pitched in $19,382 to fund this campaign. Your donations have helped build major buzz around this bill, from banners and billboards to rallies and lobby meetings...to this new ad.
But as the other side spits out more and more distorted propaganda, we must respond. We need to raise $25,000 by Monday so we can pull out all the stops. If just 250 more people pitch in $25, we'll meet our goal. Can you help us get there?
Thanks for all your help. Together, we can make the Employee Free Choice Act a reality – and create a better America for all of us.
Sincerely,
Liz Cattaneo
American Rights at Work www.AmericanRightsatWork.org
AN INFORMATIONAL PICKET TOOK PLACE ON 2-24 AT 1472 EDINGER. WE WANT TO THANK THIS MANAGER FOR LENDING HIS SUPPORT TO CWA 9510! HE WAS FLANKED BY AT&T MOBILITY MEMBERS, POLITICIANS, LANDLINE SERVICE TECH MEMBERS, VERIZON MEMBERS, CALL CENTER MEMBERS, OFFICERS AND STEWARDS. (sorry if I left anyone out) AS YOU CAN SEE, THE MANAGER'S HELP WASN'T NEEDED BUT HIS TEAM AWARD SUCKED TOO!
Wear RED on Tuesdays!
Thanks to the manager pictured above, more and more managers have offered to help us and some have done so by contributing food to our cause. We want to sincerely thank them for there effort and send a message to our members... we do need to help each other. Don't show management that they care more about you than you care about yourself. If there is still a CWA 9510 food bin in your location, please put food in it. -
Current local EVP.............. a manager ............ and some goofy guy with no money in his pocket (me)
A New Foundation for Growth
President Obama submitted a budget to Congress that challenges the status quo and directly confronts the long-term threats to our prosperity.
But it's up to you to make sure Washington knows that Americans across the country stand by the President's plan to invest in energy, health care, and education.
President Obama's Speech to a Joint Session of Congress - Full Video 2/24/09
Here is full video of President Barack Obama's Address to a Joint Session of Congress tonight, February 24, 2009. It is billed as a "State of the Union Address," although technically it is not since Obama just took office. Obama was interrupted 65 times for applause, and had some interesting back and forth with Republicans during the speech.
Watch a new video on why we need the Employee Free Choice now. It includes footage of President Barack Obama, a strong supporter of workers' right, along with workers who have fought hard for a union voice and leaders like CWA President Larry Cohen.
President Obama talks with CWA President Larry Cohen at White House meeting. The President established a middle class families task force and rolled back several anti-labor measures put in place by the previous administration.
Five CWA members are featured on two television ads now running nationally and in several states. Hope and Change and We Don't Ask show why the Employee Free Choice Act is needed now.
PARTICIPATION INFORMATION! Can We Make It 100,000?
So far, in just about ten days, more than 60,000 people have signed on to the statement of support blasting a financially successful AT&T for looking to cut workers' benefits and jobs. Good, so far. AT&T is hearing us. But we need to get that number up. Click here and check out CWA's latest video on corporate greed and AT&T. Click the "Act Now" box and sign the statement of support. Then pass the word and send the link to family, friends and co-workers so they can sign on too.
AT&T Mobilization is 'Turning Up the Heat'
Mobilizations are spreading across CWA locals, with members expanding inside activities that are getting management's attention and building public support at rallies, leafleting and through CWA's online campaign. Locals are definitely getting the message out there: AT&T needs to get serious about bargaining fair contracts.
Local 6450 President Colleen Downing and coworkers produced a video supporting CWA's fight for a fair contract at AT&T.
Members of CWA Local 6450 in Missouri have produced a six-minute video that cuts to the heart of what a fair agreement at AT&T means. "We wanted to get out the message that our fight is about preserving good middle-class jobs so we can continue to contribute to our community," said local president Colleen Downing. Watch it at http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/attlocal6450 and tell family and friends about it.
TRUTH ONE: OUR BARGAINING REPORTS ARE LISTED BELOW... HERE IS A LINK TO THE AT&T COMPANY SITE FOR THEIR BARGAINING REPORTS ... www.att.com/
When you come back, read our reports for truthful information.
CWA District 9/AT&T West
Bargaining Bulletin #77
Sunday, August 9th, 2009
Late this evening, 127 days after expiration, we reached a tentative agreement on a new three year contract.
We will provide details in the coming days.
There will be a vote on ratification, by the members, to be concluded by September 1st.
Thank you for your support and patience.
IN UNITY,
William B. Harvey
Lupe Mercado
Bill Demers
Pam Suniga
Art Gonzalez
Tom Runnion
1 Union 1 Fight 1 Future
A word of caution to those following bargaining reports from other websites... there are bargaining tables for other contracts going on at the same time across the country. Their reports pertain to their contracts which can be simular or very different from ours. We are part of district 9 and our bargaining reports are listed below:
HELP THIS MAN HELP YOU. An open letter from Roger Smith, representing the Business Leaders for a Fair Economy:
As the president and CEO of American Income Life Insurance and National Income Life Insurance Company, I run a company with more than 4,000 employees and associates, and I firmly believe the Employee Free Choice Act is critical to turning around our economy and rebuilding our middle class.
More than 1,000 business leaders like me have publicly endorsed the Employee Free Choice Act, but that is not enough because actions speak louder than words.
I realized I needed to organize responsible, worker-friendly business leaders in support of the Employee Free Choice Act. It’s amazing what some of my fellow CEOs are willing to say in an effort to stop this important piece of legislation, and it was time to fight back.
A group of us have formed a new coalition, Business Leaders for a Fair Economy, to make it clear that it's possible to be both pro-business and pro-worker. We are a national group of employers, entrepreneurs and business leaders who understand that good jobs that pay well create demand for the goods and services we provide. We support the Employee Free Choice Act as an integral part of our nation's economic recovery.
I’m honored to be a part of this great new coalition and to serve with my fellow committee members, Darren Horndasch, president of Wisconsin Vision, and Diana Ortiz, president and CEO of Ortiz Enterprises LLC and Ortiz Accounting and Tax Services.
As CEOs, we are challenging other responsible business leaders to support this landmark legislation because we know what is good for workers is good for business.
Thank you,
Roger Smith
Chair, Business Leaders for a Fair Economy
President and CEO, American Income Life Insurance and National Income Life Insurance Company
P.S. Marc Laitin at the AFL-CIO wanted to make sure I reminded you to call your senators and tell them about this new organization. Help amplify our voices today. Here are the numbers for your senators:
Sen. Boxer at (202) 224-3553
Sen. Feinstein at (202) 224-3841
SCABS: $2,500,000.00 A WEEK
HOTELS: $500,000.00 A WEEK
MEALS: $250,000.00 A WEEK
WATCHING AT&T WASTE THEIR MONEY:
PRICELESS...
APRIL 21st
ANOTHER SUCCESS! THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING IN TODAY'S DEMONSTRATION! THE MESSAGE WAS CLEAR... WE ARE UNITED AND READY TO WALK WHEN CALLED UPON BY THE PRESIDENT OF OUR UNION.
FUTURE ACTIONS WILL NOT BE POSTED IN ADVANCE! IF YOU WANT TO RECEIVE FURTHER INFORMATION ON UNITED JOB ACTIONS, PLEASE SEND US YOUR PERSONAL CELL PHONE NUMBERS SO YOU CAN BE NOTIFIED BY TEXT MESSAGE WHEN NEEDED.
TECHS!! PLEASE STAND BY FOR FURTHER INFORMATION! YOUR PARTICIPATION WILL BE NEEDED THIS WEEK!
April 14th
KEEP OUR FAMILIES WORKING...
With the economy in crisis, fueled by increasing job losses and mounting foreclosures, our country faces unprecedented challenges. To raise awareness on the needs of America's working families and communities, NCRC is mobilizing members and community partners for a National "Jobs and Homes Now!" Day of Action on June 11, 2009!
NCRC's National Day of Action will bring member organizations, community groups, and other stakeholders to call on Congressional leaders and local elected officials to:
Create Jobs in areas with the greatest unemployment.
Stop Foreclosures in areas with disproportionately high rates of foreclosure.
Rebuild Communities through greater investments in the national infrastructure, especially in communities with historically inferior or poorly maintained infrastructure.
The National Day of Action will take place in urban and rural areas across the country in at least 50 locations. Participating organizations will have conversations in their communities in the form of assemblies or direct meetings with policymakers (their national and local representatives, governors, and others) about how the three priority areas as well as other local and state needs can be addressed through concerted action at the federal level. NCRC needs your help to make this National Day of Action a success! If you are interested in hosting a National Day of Action event in your area, click here to sign up: www.ncrc.org/dayofaction.
For more information about the National Day of Action, please call NCRC's Membership Department at 202-464-2719 or e-mail membership@ncrc.org.
Save the date for a conference call Monday, April 27 as we share campaign updates, best-practices, and strategies for organizing and building a national movement to create jobs, stop foreclosures, and rebuild communities!
APRIL 15TH
THE FOLLOWING WAS A POST FOUND ON THE INTERNET. IT CLOSELY DESCRIBES WHAT A LOT OF US ARE FEELING AT THIS POINT-
The uninformed? Healthcare costs are just one issue. At&t wants cuts and give backs in just about
every area. Reduced pay (by as much as 40%) trim 401k contributions, THEY want to schedule our vacation time, eliminate sick pay (for employees with less than 8yrs), just a few of the givebacks at&t seeks. As an at&t tech. for 16yrs I spent 5yrs working and training to get to top pay and it would take 5yrs to replace me! Most people could
not meet the standards our techs and reps meet every minute. At&t made $13B PROFIT because we have the BEST trained people in the industry and earn every bit of what we got!
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This whole entitlement thinking comments thing is crazy. You're right we do feel something. We feel that the company should stand behind the promisses they make. We are not asking for more, more, more. We just don't want to give back what we have. If the company was in finacial trouble this would be another matter. Hell most of us would be ok with paying a little more for health care. Or taking smaller raise to keep it like it is. But the company is not budging on anything
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To the person who said "You guys are not getting the big picture." Get real. Without union members, they have no shares. Who do you think does all the work? The Executives? The Shareholders? No! The union members do all the work. With out our hard work and dedication to this company there would be no company.
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I'm sadden from the comments that I have read thus far. The idea that healthcare expense shouldn't be shared is far from what the union is upset with. I ask you to consider these things first before you post comments with biased thoughts. I am a union member and I agree that we should look at cost factors and ensure that monies will be allocated to make AT&T a profitable company. But, if the monies are taking away to spend on lavish concerts," The final four games", then what message is given. I take from my employees -managers and union worker to sell a well self known product. If any of you have children think about this; In todays society we educate our children that they need a college degree to even be consider for a corporate american career. We all know that there is a differances between a job and a career. A job is a means for income with little or no benefits. A career is benefits building families and trusting in a company name that you are proud to be a part of. What AT&T is offering now is higher paid jobs. NO benefits after retirement, can we or should we allow companies to set these standards for our youth
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Verizon was able to give there guys a fair contract why cant att? Maybe they should let go of some off there 32 board members. If anyone knows economics, put money in the workers hand and he will use it to buy things. Take money away he wont. If you relay want to help the economy you want to put money in the hands off the people that spend it. We are not asking for the world here. I am just asking to stay in the standard off living that I am use to. Give backs by the union will end up more house foreclosed less spending and prolong this mess were in. What the att is offering will be equal to a 10k pay cut. How many off you can live with that. I don't want a raise. I don't want a bonus. I just want to keep what I have.
DON'T BELIEVE THE AT&T BARGAINING REPORT DATED APRIL 1ST!! THEY ARE TRYING TO DECEIVE YOU.
THEY HAVE NOT WRITTEN A REPORT SINCE MARCH 20TH. AT&T, A COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY HAS APPARENTLY FORGOTTEN HOW TO COMMUNICATE.
WHETHER THE INTENT WAS TO DECEIVE OR NOT... IT IS FALSE AND MISLEADING.
CHECK THE TRUTH... CHECK CWA BARGAINING REPORT 29 ABOVE!
REMEMBER, THERE IS NO AGREEMENT ON ANYTHING UNTIL CWA SAYS THERE IS!
April 17th
Keep Up The Pressure
Your senator, Dianne Feinstein, is home this week. And all over California, our opponents are twisting arms, running ads, making threats and doing everything they can to defeat the Employee Free Choice Act.
We're fighting back. American Rights at Work supporters donated over $25,000, making it possible for us to expand our "Greed" ad buy. And in response to Senator Specter's flip-flop on the Employee Free Choice Act, 300 workers delivered over 15,000 letters to his Pittsburgh office.*
But to win, we need to keep the pressure on critical senators, like Dianne Feinstein. Can you make sure Sen. Feinstein hears from YOU before Congress heads back to Washington this weekend? Please make a quick phone call today, then forward this to all your friends in California! Calling is as easy as 1-2-3!
Call (202) 224-3841.
Tell the staff member answering the phone where you're calling from, and that you want to urge Sen. Feinstein to work hard to pass the Employee Free Choice Act. You can add:
The Employee Free Choice Act is a critical piece of our economic recovery.
CEOs and top executives are still getting huge bonuses, while the recession has hit middle-class families the hardest.
By making it easier for workers to form unions, the Employee Free Choice Act will level the playing field and help ensure that the economy works for everyone again.
If you have been a voter, donor, or volunteer for your senator, mention the impact hisor her vote on the Employee Free Choice Act will have on your future support.
This is a pivotal moment. We have an unprecedented opportunity to make real, lasting change for working families. But with shameless, ruthless, anti-union groups spending millions to keep the deck stacked against workers, we need every single voice to rise above the lies.
Senator Feinstein is only in California for two more days. Help us send the strongest message possible before Congress heads back to Washington. Call (202) 224-3841 now. Tell the person who picks up the phone that Sen. Feinstein needs to work hard to pass the Employee Free Choice Act!
Roger Smith
