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CWA, AT&T Reach Third Tentative Agreement |
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The Communications Workers of America (CWA) reached another tentative agreement with AT&T. The three-year deal covers nearly 8,000 technicians and service representatives who were part of AT&T Corp., the company acquired by SBC Communications Inc. in 2006. SBC subsequently changed its name to AT&T.
The workers’ main goal in the bargaining was job security. The tentative agreement—the third with AT&T since negotiations began in February—offers the same 8.75 percent hourly wage increases and benefit provisions as those gained for employees at AT&T Midwest and AT&T West. In a statement, CWA Vice President Ralph Maly says:
This agreement achieves our members’ key goal which was to improve employment security and safeguard jobs. It maintains workers’ standard of living and safeguards quality health care. In these extremely difficult economic times, these are tremendous achievements.
The settlement guarantees no layoffs before April 1, 2010, and limits the number of involuntary layoffs. Under the deal, AT&T cannot lay off any worker before April 1, 2010, and is limited to 1,575 involuntary layoffs after that date. New language sets out employee recall rights if a business unit is changed or eliminated. Also the tentative agreement mandates discussion of the impact that new technologies would have on jobs and training. The current contract expired April 4.
Last week, the Electrical Workers (IBEW) reached a tentative agreement with AT&T covering about 10,000 employees.
Bargaining is continuing for some 65,000 CWA members at AT&T East, Southeast and Southwest.
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This is BAD in so many ways. Let’s just focus on a couple.
To quote the article:
“In a statement, CWA Vice President Ralph Maly says:
This agreement achieves our members’ key goal which was to improve employment security and safeguard jobs. It maintains workers’ standard of living and safeguards quality health care. In these extremely difficult economic times, these are tremendous achievements.”
Safeguard jobs? Excerpt from the next paragraph:
“Under the deal, AT&T cannot lay off any worker before April 1, 2010, and is limited to 1,575 involuntary layoffs after that date.”
NEWS FLASH - April 1, 2010 is just 8 months away, with up to 1575 Union members getting thrown under the bus after that date. Probably will happen in increments, but just who are the unfortunates that should start polishing their resumes?
The final bargaining reports states this as protecting about 80% of the Legacy-T workforce; so sorry about the other 20%… sucks to be you. (or me, who knows??).
Next sticking point:
“Maintains workers’ standard of living and safeguards quality health care.”
Except that the standard of living will be LOWER as the wage increases are (sometimes more than) offset by the new Monthly Premiums, Annual Deductibles, and Co-insurance. Net result looks to be a DECREASE in pay at least in the near-term. Unless Health Care reform is enacted quickly, this will probably worsen over time.
As far as safeguarding quality health care, that will remain to be seen.
Ralph Maly quoting “these extremely difficult economic times” sounds like talking points straight from at&t. VERY disappointing!
We could have done better… we (ALL Bargaining Units) should have walked when it could have made a difference.
Quoting Andy Milburn, District 6 VP:
“Myself, I would rather stand and fight AT&T, win or lose, than bow down to them and live on my knees.”
Amen, Brother!
Voting NO on this garbage - anyone else out there??