CWA has notified AT&T management that we are ending the unfair labor practice strike and have agreed to return to work. The strike is over, effective immediately. Bargaining unit employees at AT&T Southeast, Utility Operations, and AT&T Billing are expected to return to work at 1:00 P.M. ET/12:00 P.M CT today, Wednesday August 28. Even if in the middle of their tour, employees should return to work at 1:00 P.M. ET/12:00 P.M. CT today.

District 3 leadership and the bargaining team appreciate the spirit and solidarity shown by your protest against the company's unfair labor practices over the last 4 days. The company saw how seriously you and your members took the protest and that you would not stop until they bargained with us in good faith. Your actions will never be forgotten by us or by your brothers and sisters across the country.

FROM:                   Richard Honeycutt

                                Vice President – District 3

 

RE:                          AT&T Bargaining

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The contracts, which cover over 22,000 members at AT&T Southeast, Utility Operations, & AT&T Southeast Billing have expired, with many critical issues including; job security, wages, healthcare, and others yet to be resolved.  Our bargaining team has made significant progress on several issues that are important to our membership and we believe that reaching an overall tentative agreement is possible. 

 

Considering the progress that our bargaining team has made over the last few weeks, we elected to extend the contracts for one week in hopes of reaching an agreement.  That extension expires tonight at midnight and will not be renewed.  Negotiations will continue with the current contract expired. Our members will continue to report to work, although we are keeping our option to strike open. Our members, by a 95% vote, have overwhelmingly authorized CWA to call a strike if a fair contract can’t be reached.

 

Our bargaining team has reached some tentative agreements on the following issues:

 

• Job Security – Improved Skill Groups for certain job titles
• Job Security – Priority placement - Article 7 over Article 10
• Job Security – Improved grouping - Essentially the Same Type of Work (ESTW) for employees in wage scale 20 and below
• Job Security – Improved surplus process for the CPE Organization
• Job Security – Improved SIPP & Optional ESIPP processes for all employees
• Job Security – Improved surplus grouping for technicians
• Job Security – Improved surplus grouping for Sales Associates & Sales Consultants

 

For now, we are going to keep our fight for fair contracts going while we stay on the job but we have not extended the contracts.   For weeks, we have pressed AT&T Southeast to move off of their bargaining demands that will hurt workers, their families, and our communities. We are ready to bargain for a fair and just contract, but we need AT&T Southeast to be ready to do the same.  Through two months of difficult negotiations, the combination of our mobilization activities across District 3 and our team’s efforts at the bargaining table, has moved the company closer to meeting our demands and settling the contracts. 

 

Rest assured in knowing that our bargaining team will not stop fighting.  Please join me in placing your trust in them.    While our members will continue to report to work and our bargaining team continues to negotiate towards a fair and just contract, things will not be “Business as Usual”.  Talk to your coworkers, ban together in unity, reach out to your local CWA leaders, and together we will send a strong message to AT&T that we are willing to do whatever it takes to get the contracts that we deserve.

 

 

RH/bcc

 

cc:            Nick Hawkins, Assistant to the Vice President

                Billy O’Dell, Administrative Director

                Angie Wells, Administrative Director

                Robert Weaver, CWA District 3 Legal Counsel 

8/3/2019 10:15 pm

DISTRICT 3 AT&T Southeast After nearly two months of bargaining, AT&T has failed to offer us the contract that our members deserve. In the midst of making record profits and raising dividends for stockholders, AT&T has once again come to the bargaining table asking their employees to make concessions. We have made it clear to AT&T that there will be no give backs in this round of negotiations. Our bargaining team has made significant progress this week, reaching tentative agreements on several issues. Our District Vice-President, Richard Honeycutt in consultation with our bargaining team, has elected to extend the current contract for one week. We have important issues left on the bargaining table but due to the diligence of our bargaining team, we feel that it may be possible to reach an agreement this week. This contract extension gives AT&T one week to get serious and put an offer on the table that will improve the standard of living for our members. This also gives our members one week to prepare for what may have to happen if AT&T chooses not to do so. Over the next week, we will continue working under the terms and conditions of our expired collective bargaining agreement. All wages, benefits, and working conditions remain the same. Our bargaining team will continue to work aggressively towards reaching an agreement and we will update you with the latest developments at the bargaining table. Please remember, CWA’s greatest strength is you! Make sure to let AT&T know that! CWA District 3 AL FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN district3.cwa-union.org 3516 Covington Highway Decatur, GA 30032 Text CWAACTION to 69866 to Join Our Rapid Response Text List Communications Workers of America, AFL-CIO, CLC.

After nearly two months of bargaining, AT&T has failed to offer us the contract that our members deserve. In the midst of making record profits and raising dividends for stockholders, AT&T has once again come to the bargaining table asking their employees to make concessions. We have made it clear to AT&T that there will be no give backs in this round of negotiations.

Our bargaining team has made significant progress this week, reaching tentative agreements on several issues. Our District Vice-President, Richard Honeycutt in consultation with our bargaining team, has elected to extend the current contract for one week. We have important issues left on the bargaining table but due to the diligence of our bargaining team, we feel that it may be possible to reach an agreement this week.

This contract extension gives AT&T one week to get serious and put an offer on the table that will improve the standard of living for our members. This also gives our members one week to prepare for what may have to happen if AT&T chooses not to do so.

Over the next week, we will continue working under the terms and conditions of our expired collective bargaining agreement. All wages, benefits, and working conditions remain the same. Our bargaining team will continue to work aggressively towards reaching an agreement and we will update you with the latest developments at the bargaining table.

Please remember, CWA’s greatest strength is you! Make sure to let AT&T know that!  

Bargaining suggestion forms are now availabe, see below for the form for your company, there is both a PDF and a word filliable form.  Please return the completed form to the Local by March 1, 2019.  Please put only one suggestion per form, and only dues paying members can submit suggestions.  Remember to fill out the form completely and using as much information to make your case, please make sure the form is legible. 

Each Local will have the responsibility for submiting forms for thier local. 

Remember, to do nothing is not the way to let ATT know there are real issues and concerns that need to be addressesd.