AT&T Southwest Bargaining Committee Statements

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Elected Bargaining Committee Members

Chad Barnhill

President, Local 6012
CST, 15 years with AT&T

Fellow CWA Sisters and Brothers,

My name is Chad Barnhill and I serve as President of CWA Local 6012 in Tulsa, OK. This agreement covered the top three bargaining items we as a Union set out to accomplish. The members wanted job security, to maintain excellent healthcare, and increased wages. This agreement not only continues the Extended Employment Security Commitment with Job Offer Guarantee and the Extended Employment Opportunity Period, it also makes it available to those who hired on under the 2009 Labor Agreement. Our healthcare will continue to be one of the best plans you can find anywhere. There is an increase in contribution amounts. However, even with the increase we will be paying less in four years than most anyone you can find is paying today. Ask you neighbors, people you attend church with or family members what they are currently paying for healthcare. At a time when people are looking for work and companies are cutting back, we will receive a 10.9% wage increase, over 14% if you’re a Premise Technician.

I urge you to join me in supporting the tentative agreement between CWA and AT&T Southwest. I believe this is a good agreement for my family. I will be voting YES!

In Solidarity,
Chad Barnhill
President, CWA Local 6012

Joshua Kayser

Chief Steward, Local 6300
Premises Technician, 7 years with AT&T

As a member of the 2012-2013 early bargaining team for the contract between CWA and AT&T, I have witnessed the reality of what is being proposed in these negotiations. I support this tentative agreement. The economic package and treatment of the employees are a leap in the correct direction for all of the members in District 6. I know that not all presented requests were achieved in this agreement, but all were discussed and deliberated in the committee meetings. As a premises technician in the Local 6300, I know that some of the achieved rules in Appendix J, as well as some work groups desired gains, will not become a course of action if this goes to regular bargaining. It is in the members best interest to ratify the tentative agreement now. To start, there will be no $1000 signing bonus. The cost of the medical package will increase, if we are unable to come to an early agreement. Many of our members never received a mailed ballot and were unable to vote. All members deserve the opportunity to vote, not just a selected few. The true voice of our whole membership deserves to be heard. We all must cast our vote to be a United District, and together, United We Bargain, Divided We Beg.

Gerald Murray

President, Local 6507
Service Representative, 19 years with AT&T

Why I am supporting this 2013 contract? Well, first let me tell you a little about myself. I am currently the President of Local 6507 in my second term. I have served as a Steward, Mobilization Coordinator, Political/Legislative Coordinator and Vice-President of my local. Also, I have attended several labor oriented conferences as well as CWA schools in order to gain the commitment to this union. Which leads me to say why I am supporting this contract. This contract continues to provide an income for our families especially during these economic times. The opportunity for us to bargain early really motivate me to see what gains could be made. The wage increases throughout the agreement, the job protection given to our craft unit, the improvements in benefits and making sure Premises Technician receive seniority encouraged me to recommend this contract. Lastly, when I was elected by my peers to take on this task, I knew right then my leadership skills listed above would make sure we get an agreement. So, I do strongly recommend this contract for ratification.

Jason Peavler

Vice President, Local 6132 
CST, 15 years with AT&T

Brothers and Sisters,

We, the bargaining committee, were asked once again, by Vice President Cummings, to enter into early bargaining, at the same time creating anxiety for many of us union members who have decisions to make that will greatly impact our livelihood.

Entering into these rounds of bargaining, we had the advantage of knowing what the other 3 districts had already voted to ratify. Nevertheless, we were compelled to negotiate improvements for healthcare, wages, working hours, overtime, and job protections etc.

In comparison, our agreement exceeds District 3, 4 and Legacy T’s agreements in wages, working conditions, lower medical benefits contributions, zero $ increase in prescription drugs. The Agreement includes a $1000 early ratification bonus, job protections for Surplus Customer Service Technicians. Premise Technicians will have tour schedules and Out-of-Town assignments by seniority. The Service Representative Review Committee was extended. The Leverage Service Representative Sales committee meeting was increased from 2 to 4 meetings a year with 2 additional Leverage Reps on the committee. A discussion platform will be established, comprised of senior leadership from the both Union and the Company to discuss and address CRiFT issues.

It is my sincere belief that this contract yields the best results we can hope to secure for our members at this time, taking into account the current economic climate and the contracts already ratified by the other districts.

In solidary,
Jason Peavler

Glynne Stanley

Local 6214
Systems tech, 40 years with AT&T

I am Glynne Stanley and a member of the CWA-ATT Southwest Bargaining Committee. I have served on the Union bargaining committee since 1986. I am writing this to urge a Yes vote on this second vote to ratify this 2013 Labor Agreement. We entered this round of bargaining early as a mutual agreement between the Union and Company. This is unusual but not unheard of, as we entered into early bargaining in 2001, and the contract was ratified early. There are benefits of early bargaining and we are able to bargain new protections for our members as well as keep and expand protections such as the Job Offer Guarantee (JOG), This agreement has better wage increases, less medical premiums, and better protections for our Customer Service Technicians and Service Representatives than the previous three CWA-ATT Contracts ratified in 2012. There is a strong chance that parts of this agreement will not be available should this agreement is voted down and we start on the regular round of bargaining. One thing for sure is the $1,000 ratification bonus will be unavailable. This committee worked hard to bargain the very best agreement possible for all our members and would only send this out for a vote if we believed that this is true. Please read and study the materials sent to you and vote for what will be best for you and your family. I urge you to vote YES

District 6 Staff Members

Mike Neumann

District 6 Area Director and Chair for the District 6 Bargaining Committee

I am Mike Neumann, District 6 Area Director and the Chair for the District 6 Bargaining Committee. I am supporting the recently negotiated Tentative Agreement with AT&T and urging you to vote YES for ratification. We entered early bargaining with AT&T with the goal of achieving a fair agreement with additional benefits over any of the other Regional Agreements that have already been ratified. We were successful in attaining those benefits. This contract has the lowest rate of employee contributions regarding the health care plan. We have negotiated unprecedented protections for Customer Service Technicians, Seniority utilized for Premise Technicians for Out of Town assignments, 2000 job requisitions that will opened during the life of the new agreement, a $1000 early ratification bonus, an addition 60 cents an hour pay raise above the contractual raises for Premise Technicians and negotiated language to address CRiFT, as well as an additional two scheduled meetings for the Leverage Service Representatives. All of this is a result of early bargaining. You will be receiving a ballot by mail, as well as information on the newly negotiated Tentative Agreement. This Agreement in addition to what I’ve already listed has many other positive items that will improve the standard of living for all of our Members. Please take the time to read the information and take the time to vote. I strongly urge each of you to vote YES on the Tentative Agreement.

Charlie Torres

District 6 Staff Representative

I worked for AT&T for 32 years. I have been a proud dues paying CWA member for over 35 years. I have been around to see CWA negotiate at least 10 contracts for CWA members in District 6. Even though there has not been a perfect contract in those ten years, those past contracts have been good contracts. Your bargaining committee worked long hard hours negotiating with the Company all the critical items the membership presented to us. The early bargaining negotiations for the 2013 contract has produce a Tentative Agreement that will be a good contract when ratified by the CWA membership of District 6. This TA contains several items that are positive gains for our members, wage increases, job security, healthcare benefits, $1000 signing bonus and several other positive benefits. I have family that also work for AT&T so this contract would affect them and their family. I am recommending support for this TA and would ask that you ratify this 2013 Agreement.

Tony Shaffer

District 6 Staff Representative

Brothers and Sisters,

I would like to address the new TA. I come from Verizon where we have been in bargaining since July 11, 2012. The company has made little, if any, movement off their ridiculous retrogressive proposals on healthcare premiums, sickness and disability, and pensions to name a few. So I feel the length of bargaining does not ensure a better contract. Our brothers and sisters in Verizon northeast are 35,000 strong and did go on strike. The company was not moved by this. They still bargained for over 16 months to get an agreement. I feel what your elected bargaining committee (several that are presidents of our locals and have been for many years) was able to accomplish in a shorter period of time than most tables should be commended. I say shame on you that have questioned the integrity of your fellow brothers that are dues paying members and have to live with the same contract. Why would they not want the best contract they could get? Bargaining is about getting the best contract for all the members, not just a certain title.

The climate of bargaining is changing. These CEO’s are all on each other’s board of directors and work on their bonus’ and salaries along with how to union bust. They have implemented a top-down mentality with corporations having the same business model. I have sat on Verizon’s bargaining table twice, Dish Network, Comcast several times and now with ATT. All of their philosophies are almost identical. They post record profits quarter after quarter, but come to the table and say how much they are losing in certain areas, except in the bottom line, PROFIT. We must also take a top-down mentality. We must elect people into public office that want the middle class to survive. We are the last line of defense between the rich and poverty.

The Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) has influenced the increase in healthcare premiums these companies want us to share. But is a $100 more a month too much to cover your children into their twenties? Or if you leave the company and go to another employer knowing you will be covered with a pre-existing condition? Or, heaven forbid, your child is born with a heart defect and will need many surgeries throughout their life, the peace of mind knowing that there is no cap on the lifetime maximum?

I have heard and read many of the concerns over the premiums, the pay of Prem Techs, and a variety of other items. I understand that U-verse for NOW is the product at the top of ATT. But I have not heard anyone upset at the cost of the retiree’s healthcare. They were the pioneers of these contracts you have enjoyed. I ask, where is the concern and frustration and mobilization for them? Many of them will be paying more than your premiums.

I would also like to address the social media. It has a purpose, but also is damaging. Those of you that want to make ugly remarks about the contract or the district leadership, think about this. The company monitors these pages as well, they sit back and laugh at how we are acting with each other. And do you think they take us seriously about being united and that we would strike? I say think again. Everyone’s opinion and comment is important, but I urge you to use a different forum. Send a email. Grandstanding is not the answer. Threatening to get out of the union is not the answer. If you are mad at the union and want to get out, why aren’t you mad at the company and quitting?

I have also been to a few contract explanations that frankly, appalled me. One in particular didn’t even show respect enough to hear the explanation. They voted before it started. Not sure why, but it spoke volumes.

Lastly, I worked for ATT Broadband and Comcast before going to Verizon. I can relate about going into 150 degree attics multiple times a day and climbing poles to hang drops all for a starting wage of $11.22 an hour. After five years I was making a lovely $15.35 an hour with healthcare premiums of almost $400 a month. I agree that Appendix J is not where it needs to be, but I feel it will get there. Not in the next contract or even the one after that, but as long as we keep making improvements each time it will happen. The alternative was that the Prem Tech could have been in the internet contract if not for CWA getting it into the core contract. Do you think your pay and benefits would be better? Remember that technology today is changing faster than ever, and U-verse is here today, but something new may be around the corner and we may find ourselves asking what can we do to protect our jobs.

In Unity,
Tony Shaffer
CWA Staff