CWA/AT&T SW Bargaining Report #2

The CWA/AT&T SW Bargaining Team met face to face with AT&T Labor Relations for day #1 of our negotiations.

The session opened up with comments from D6 Vice President, Derrick Osobase and AT&T/Labor Relations Vice President Randy White. The take away from both VP’s was finding common ground, even when we have disagreements and ending with a contract we can all agree upon.

The Union passed 37 total proposals on day one! Our very first proposal was to eliminate Appendix J by moving the four titles into Appendix C. Also, the Union passed proposals to include Appendix J employees into the following Articles by including them and eliminating the supplemental corresponding agreements in Appendix J:

Article II – Classification, Article IV – Basis of Compensation, Article VI – Hours of Work,  Article VII – Work Schedules, Article VIII – Holidays, Article IX – Vacations, Article X – Excused Work Days, Article XI – Absences of Duty, Article XIII – Job Vacancy, Article XIV – Promotional Pay Treatment, Article XV – Temporary Work in Higher Positions, Article XVI – Travel, Article XVII – Force Adjustment, Article XVIII – Severance Payments, and Article XXV – Contract Work. Once we fully understand the Company’s intentions to our proposals, we will be able to move forward with discussions of the four job titles that are currently in Appendix J.

Additionally, the Union passed the following proposals:
addressed inclement weather absences, adding hazard pay for disaster work, reintroducing the cost of living allowance, keeping night diff at 6pm versus it changing to 7pm per the last negotiating report in 2017, days off by seniority, eliminating the 12 hours of mandatory OT 3 months out of the year, adding additional Holidays, lowering vacation week eligibility to match Mobility contract, improvements on carry over vacation scheduling, additional paid Excused Work Days, Improvements on funeral leave, improvements on sick time, adding additional compensation for Communications Techs who are required to train others, introducing per diem based on IRS rates, improved severance payments, and protection of future work outside of traditional telephone work.

The Company passed three proposals today in what they called clean up language; one to eliminate Appendix D where operators had mostly been housed and no longer exists, elimination of the Operator Services Task Force agreement (falls in line with eliminating Appendix D), and to renew the military LOA for Operation Enduring Sentinel.

As you can see, it was a very busy first day of bargaining with AT&T!

The Union bargaining team will begin tomorrow working in our own caucus to prepare for the next meeting with the Company to pass additional proposals to protect existing MOA’s and introduce a few new ones.

With that being said, we can’t get to the top of this mountain without the mobilization of our members. Please get connected with your Local on what you can do to help us win this FIGHT!

Thank you to all the Locals that sent in pictures of their members showing support in solidarity with the Bargaining team. This is the very heartbeat that will keep us going!

To stay updated on actions and mobilizations, text FIGHT to 49484. You can also fill out this quick form to get involved and receive the latest bargaining updates.

In Solidarity,
CWA/AT&T SW Bargaining Team

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C:  All District 6 Personnel