AT&T Legacy T Mobilization Report #2

The “30 days to expiration” countdown left employees wondering if AT&T would take the High Road or the Low Road during bargaining. The bargaining reports confirm the Company is miles below the low road with the retrogressive proposals that have been passed across the table. We need to change their direction with mobilization.

The Company continued to add fuel to the CWA mobilization fire last week, between the article in the NY Times trying to shift the greed blame onto the employees and the slide show inflating our wages, benefits, pension etc. As Vice President Ralph Maly summed it up on our National conference call, “AT&T is sometimes our best mobilization coordinator.”

AT&T has asked for questions to be submitted by employees to their bargaining website. The email address to use for comments and questions regarding bargaining is M58380@att.com. Many employees have been asking questions about the distortion of our wages and benefits. This is one way to write to AT&T and ask them to get on the high road during bargaining.

Locals should remind their members to do a quality job safely every time.

It is also a good time to see what the Company has placed in your personnel files. You can either do that on line through HRoneStop under Human Resources and forms on line, or print the form and turn it in to your manager. Remember to check all the bosses and to ask to view the coaches’ working file or any other files the company may have.

Local 1051 had a mass walk in and requested their personnel files on the first day of bargaining. It was a great way to kick off mobilization.

Local 1058 got a Gold Medal this week for starting the Olympic Pin campaign boycott. Tell the Company how disgusted you are that AT&T sponsors every sporting event from ping pong to the Olympics, but passes retrogressive proposals across the table that turns the clock back 40 years.

Local 1150 has ruffled management’s feathers since before bargaining started by refusing to take down the “Impeach Stephenson” signs. They are standing daily and making noise.

Local 1152 had a mass walk in on the first day of bargaining to show support for our bargaining team. They are standing twice daily and making noise for a fair contract. Times vary daily to keep management on their toes, and are communicated via text to Stewards and Mobilizers.

Local 1153 held a demonstration on March 7 with great membership participation and community support. Fliers were distributed. Managers came down to check it out. Walmart is across the street and everyone thought they should get their picture under the sign with a caption, “Is this what we will become?”

Local 2204 members held a demonstration Wednesday. As always, they are asking everyone to wear red and park facing the street with CWA sun visors in the car windows.

Local 2252 held a rally Wednesday and distributed fliers.

Local 3250 passed out fliers and members continue to wear red. Members who did not wear red received additional information.

Local 3902 held a rally in Birmingham. Some pictures have been posted on the website.

Local 4217 distributed fliers in every worksite. Members in the garage are wearing red wrist bands daily and performing quality work safely. AT&T management reported three managers getting flat tires in the parking lot due to debris in the parking lot. Interesting that it didn’t matter when it happened to a Union Officer, but now that it is management it is an issue.

Local 6150 members demonstrated at 4100 Bryan.

Local 6201 members continue to mobilize, and provide customers with the highest quality of work. They are talking to members about the importance of staying informed via text and email during bargaining. They continue to ask questions on the Company’s bargaining website and remain committed to doing whatever it takes to support the bargaining team and get a fair contract.

Local 6350 focused on strike assignments and DFR forms. Their members are wearing RED on Thursday and BLACK on Friday. In response to AT&T’s absence proposal, members were handed the plan along with kits that contained a barf bag, green pills and four leaf clovers. They have mini picket signs that say, "I like to say there's a lot of wire in wireless". They held an informational picket on Thursday.

Local 6450 continues to stand and make noise every 11 minutes past the hour. Some management come out to clap with them. Fliers were distributed for the 30 day countdown, and the members continue to wear red and black. Members have mini picket signs at their desks. Scabs are training in the building, and mobilizers make sure they also receive the info being distributed to management. They are building up their Facebook group for mobilization.

Local 7050 Technicians, on their daily huddle call, expressed their disgust with bargaining and the Company’s stupid demands. They formally requested the supervisor forward their comments to upper management.

Local 7250 continues to wear red on Thursdays and black on Fridays. High road flyers were distributed to members.

Local 7750 passed out American flags to their membership to put at their desks as we are “Fighting for the American Dream”. Another mobilization training class was held and flyers were distributed.

Local 13550 distributed packets of information to members on Wednesday, and sent questions to the Company’s bargaining website. Members continue to wear red on Thursdays & Black on Fridays. They are standing at noon every day to remind local management that bargaining continues.

Local 13552 distributed High Road fliers to members and continues to wear red.

Many Locals are either holding or planning break /lunchroom chats where members can come in and talk to Officers, Stewards, or Mobilizers about mobilization and bargaining.

The AT&T Shareholder meeting will be held April 27, 2012. Rumor has it the meeting will be held at 9:00 AM in Salt Lake City. More details to follow.

If you aren’t getting text message or email alerts, sign up for them now.

If you haven’t signed up for text message reports yet, you can get them by texting “ATT” to 69866. Bargaining reports and pictures for all 4 contracts can be found at www.cwaatatt.com.

Report all violations of our right to concerted actions to bbates@cwa-union.org and your District or Sector Staff. You will likely be directed to file charges against the Company for violating our right to participate in concerted activities.

Mobilization reports and pictures should be sent to your District Mobilization Coordinator. If your Local President and Local Mobilization Coordinator have not been receiving flyers or information, please let us know.

Send pictures and mobilization reports to your mobilization coordinators:

D1 Chris Wise christopherjwise1@gmail.com

D2/13 Mary Lou Schaffer marylouschaffer@msn.com

D3 Glenda Poindexter gotorganize@gmail.com

D4 Dave Skotarczyk davecwa@sbcglobal.net

D6 Sarah Harreus sharreus@sbcglobal.net

D7/D9 Shari Wojtowicz whatawitch@hotmail.com

Staff Rep Jim Cosgrove jcosgrove@cwa-union.org

If you have any problems or questions, call your District Staff person or the National T&T Office.

The next conference call with Vice President Maly, Bargaining Team and staff will be held at 7:30 PM Eastern time Wednesday March 21, 2012. Officers, Stewards, Activists and Members are invited to join, one port per Local please.

Stand Strong. Stay Mobilized.