CWA District 9/AT&T West
Bargaining Bulletin #31
Friday April 3, 2009

We know that many of you are awaiting news. We just concluded a marathon formal session with the company in which we received 13 rejections and 13 retrogressive proposals. We recessed the formal session so that we can review the new company proposals and prepare our responses. Although we were able to reach tentative agreements on 4 joint proposals from the subcommittees and one agreement on CWA NETT, these are minor compared to the retrogressive proposals the company has piled on the bargaining table. Your committee will be working around the clock. We will keep you informed as we can. Thank you for your understanding and support.

WE ARE GETTING REPORTS OF ALL THE PRACTICE PICKET LINES AND OTHER
MOBILIZATION ACTIVITIES KEEP IT UP AND STEP IT UP! GET LOUD!!!!!!!!
ONE DAY TO GO!

IN UNITY,
William B. Harvey
Lupe Mercado
Bill Demers
Pam Suniga
Art Gonzalez
Tom Runnion

Mobilize! Mobilize! Mobilize!

1 Union 1 Fight 1 Future

CWA District 9/AT&T West
Bargaining Bulletin #30
Friday April 3, 2009

Discussions continued today in subcommittees around Memoranda of Agreements and Article 3/7 Unfortunately there is, LITTLE PROGRESS TO REPORT!

In formal session The Company rejected 6 of the Unions proposals on Successorship, Evolving Technologies, Appendices B and D, Recognition, Article 7, and the preamble. They also had some proposals one was like throwing us some crumbs the company would promote CWA/NETT Academy and another one a new version of their no carry over vacation time, where the Company would still have the ability to schedule your vacation for you. With just 2 more full days till the Contract Expiration date, it is apparent that the Company has NO INTENT OR DESIRE to reach a FAIR and JUST CONTRACT!
LISTED BELOW ARE THE RETROGRESSIVE PROPOSALS THE COMPANY PRESENTED TO THE UNION THAT ARE STILL ON THE BARGAINING TABLE. WE WOULD LIKE TO CLARIFY THAT THE UNION HAS NOT AGREED TO ANY OF THESE PROPOSALS:

• HEALTH CARE – This Company proposal creates a two tier structure for health care, one for new hires and one for current employees. Both plans have high premiums, deductibles and out of pocket costs that the current plan does not have. The Company still assures us that they have no intent or desire to bargain for current retirees.
• WAGES – Company proposal does not include an increase in base wages for the first two years
• PENSIONS – Pension Protection Act will be applied to Lump Sum Pensions which eliminates the GATT Rate and applies the Corporate Bond Rate. This will reduce lump sum pensions taken after January 1, 2010.
• PREMISE TECHNICIANS – Company wants to increase work duties and have Premise Technicians perform work in a higher classification.
•OVERTIME- increase the 49 hr to 54 hr rule.
•OVERTIME- eliminate the assignment of overtime to volunteers first, especially for double overtime
• LEVERAGED TITLES – This Company proposal would two tier Service Representative Work with 60/40 pay schedule which would put 40% of pay at risk based on sales. Sales plan controlled by management and no input from the Union.
• APPENDIX E PROPOSAL from the Company applies to Premises Technicians and would no longer protect benefits or work rules for those who took Premises Technicians jobs due to surplus conditions. Worse in many ways then current Appendix E provisions.
• SURPLUS Process– Company proposal does not include Appendix E in this process
• VACATION – eliminate vacation carry-over and Company to schedule employees vacation.
• NIGHT DIFFERENTIAL change to only the hrs worked that fall in that time would be paid Differential.
• ILLNESS All Employees will have at least one day of waiting before pay starts for illness.
• PARTIALS eliminate payment for partial illnesses.
• HOLIDAY – Eliminate day after Thanksgiving and Presidents day.
• GRIEVANCES – Company wants a two step grievance process.
• UNPAID FMLA TIME OFF – Company will require substitution of contractual paid time off as
• TEAM PERFORMANCE AWARD- Company proposes to eliminate.
• THE COMPANY HAS NOT AGREED TO UNION PROPOSALS TO EXTEND THE FOLLOWING MOA’S THROUGH THE LIFE OF THE 2009 AGREEMENT: CARD CHECK –NEUTRALITY AGREEMENT,
EMPLOYMENT SECURITY COMMITTMENT(Job Offer Guarantee ), ERB.
• NATIONAL TRANSFER PLAN – Company has not responded.
• MOVEMENT OF WORK/CONTRACTING OUT – Company has rejected.
• NATIONAL HEALTH CARE REFORM- Company has not responded.
• PRESIDENT’S COUNCIL- Company has not responded.
• MONITORING- Company has not responded.
• BENEFITS- MEDICAL- Company has not responded.
• ARTICLE 5- Company has not responded.
• ARTICLE 6- Company has not responded.
• SERVICE RECOGNITION-Company has not responded. The current contract expires at midnight April 4, 2009. and we are still far, far, far, apart on all major issues.
“NO CONTRACT NO PEACE”
UNITED WE BARGAIN………………..
DIVIDED WE BEG!!!!!!!!!!!!
2 days and counting…

IN UNITY,
Lupe Mercado
Bill Demers
Pam Suniga
Art Gonzalez
Tom Runnion
William B. Harvey

Mobilize! Mobilize! Mobilize!
1 Union 1 Fight 1 Future

CWA District 9/AT&T West
Bargaining Bulletin #29
Thursday April 2, 2009

This message is to clarify any confusion that may be out there about the Company report dated April 1. The report read “Proposals including wages, health care and pension have now been passed at all six regional bargaining tables.” In reference to “PASSED” in their message it simply means the proposals were passed across the table. Unfortunately we remain miles apart and haven’t been able to reach an agreement on these items. The CWA bargaining committee remains ready to meet for discussion on any of these topics. Any all factual information regarding bargaining will be in our reports.

IN UNITY,
Bill Demers
Pam Suniga
Art Gonzalez
Tom Runnion
William B. Harvey
Lupe Mercado

1 Union 1 Fight 1 Future