Communications Workers of America authorizes strike of 20,000 AT&T workers, could happen soon
By Nilay Patel 
posted February 6th 2009 3:43PM
posted February 6th 2009 3:43PM
It's been a little under the radar, but AT&T Mobility's been in contract talks with the Communications Workers of America on behalf of some 20,000 unionized workers, and things haven't been going so well -- in fact, the CWA just voted to authorize a strike if upcoming negotiations don't improve. The union's current contract actually expires tonight at midnight, but the strike won't take place until the union's executive board approves and the CWA president sets a date. For its part, AT&T says it maintains a good relationship with its unions -- it has more unionized workers than any other carrier -- and that the vote is just another part of the process, but that it's prepared for all contingencies, including a strike. We'll see what happens, stay tuned.
So they are wanting to stike for better wages, job security, and benefits.
In light of the current economic situation that we are in I don't think that the union will have much public support behind it. There are thousands of people looking for jobs, and they are wanting better benefits. I am sure any of those people would be happy to fill those jobs.
I am neither for nor against unions.
Look at the various Telcos and what competition do they have, cable and other VOIP offerings. What does competition does wireless have at this point, none for the most part, YET. The telcos are losing landlines in mass numbers and it is only a matter of time before some company is able to do the same thing to wireless. These competitors also are non-union, much like the japanese manufacturers building cars here.
I am not sure of the current outline of benefits that contract has or what is proposes. The benefits should be outlined in the contract and any changes have to follow the rules of the contract.
While mobility is making money, it is a corporation that has many divisions including wireless. All of the profit and losses go into one bucket essentially and earnings are figured out from there. They ulimately have to make the stock holders happy. Shareholders have come to expect growth out of companies and if there is not any growth they want to see changes (job cuts, outsourcing, closings, etc.).
From talking to some people that work the telco side they don't have to pay monthly premiums for healthcare, know when their raises are taking place and how much, have a path to get a new job if they are laid off, etc. I don't know of many people that have that type of luxury. Most are wondering if they are going to have a job in 6 months. I might add that when they need training the company provides it to them at no cost.
The u-verse installers from what I hear don't get paid much, and could earn about that delivering pizza's.
In my opinion everyone would be best served to work through without striking till a new contract is negotiated. I can see where they may hire contractors to take these positions, although they don't have a vested interest in the company. Look at the current economic conditions and see what the market will hold. Chances are they have people training to fill those jobs in the event of a strike.
The union seems to protect their senior people at the expense of their future (the person just starting out). The union also has to stay relavent, and the best way to do this is to continue to fight for things that most people don't have (job security, paid benefits, raises, etc.). I just don't see where a strike is going to get a lot of public support, and will ultimately do more harm than good. Look at more than just yourself and have realistic expectations.
I guarantee you that if AT&T were to have an open job fair to fill openings, they could fill those jobs in a matter of days. Those people that would fill those would be greatful to be employed.
I am also an att employee having worked there one year and enjoying the mostly fair compensation. Ill never get rich at my level but I can certainly live in a nice apartment, pay all the bills and buy some nice things. Come January they spring a new commission structure on us. In December I was paid say around 1800 dollars on the sales of features (data plans, texting plans, etc). If I had sold the same amount in January I would of made maybe 700 dollars. Average that decrease over 12 months. And our goals are higher now than even when the iphone 3g launched, in February, in a recession.
everything hits a land line somewhere do you get your bills
Strike delayed 24 hours... business as usual for sunday.
Most of you are truly ignorant to the real story here. I am going to correct some of you by stating facts:
1.) AT&T is one company now. The reason for the layoffs was due the relocation and reallocation of old AT&T wireline jobs (old SBC and pac-bell). Most of these management jobs were simply moved to Texas, turned into different job titles, etc. Many older employees were offered early retirement. This happens every 10-15 years if you look at historical AT&T/SBC/PAC-BELL data.
2.) AT&T mobility Sales Reps, Customer Service Reps, and Call Center Reps are who are threatening to strike. These are non-management people who do not get paid well, treated like 2nd class citizens in their own company. The folks have to deal with rogue management that feels it is okay to treat people morally and ethically incorrect. Most of these employees barely make ends meat and are considered the working poor in this country.
3.) AT&T mobility division grew AT&T's billing rates by 55% this year. In a recession economy. If you all can read marketing reports...mobile companies are not in financial trouble right now. AT&T is posting record profits and expanding their network by spending billions of dollars in infrastructure. AT&T mobility's sales and massive growth is hiding the massive amounts of losses the wireline division is suffering. Wireline is bleeding this company out with antiquated home-solution products. And the cutting edge wireline technologies (U-verse) AT&T offers is not being released fast enough to the general public to realize a profit.
4.) AT&T wired employees make on average of $60-75k per year. While the average Mobility Rep. earns $20-30K per year. Wire reps get yearly bonus checks. They have better healthcare coverage. They get paid sick days. Sales reps do not get paid for the days they are sick and can be fired if they are sick more that 4 times in a 6 month period. Even if they provide the company with a doctors note.
5.) The economy is not as bad as you all would like to believe. Study economics more carefully. If you all had some brains you would buy the undervalued stock prices and stop focusing on people who are trying to continue to put food on the table.
I don't know about any of you. But, personally I would like it would be nearly impossible to put food on the table, pay rent (mortgage), and provide my children with the basic necessities with this kind of pay and treatment. There is no wonder that AT&T mobility currently has a 68% turnover rate. While wireline has close to a 10% turnover rate.
The cost to fire and rehire/retrain a new workforce would be an impossible task. And, fiscally irresponsible. So, please if you see AT&T employees striking. Honk your horn for them, bring them some coffee, and thank them for telling these CEO's to go fuck themselves. They are the really evil bastards you should direct your hateful posting to.
As a Union Steward and a 4 year tech rep...I will be ready to strike when the CWA is...and so will many that have been there 4-26+ years! :-) I just got a raise as well...we get one every 6 months...but we only get those because we are a union based company...also are insurance is so great because we are a union based company and us as a Union had to fight for those things...I remember before we became Union based...we never got raises and our insurance was so expensive!
Wow, I truly realize just how "F'd" up the U.S. is nowadays. I love how people expect that their wages should be tied directly into a companies performance. Granted alot of companies do compensate the worker on the amount of profits it is generating but, seriously WHY should they? Ok so lets take this theory and put it to use and see how practical it is. Ok AT&T employees the company's profits doubled you're expecting a raise but, would you expect to take a pay decrease down the road when the company is losing money? I don't think so. If your going to use the excuse that the company was making X amount of money more than in all fairness you should be willing to take a pay cut when the company is doing badly. We in the U.S. are pretty much a bunch of winy little hippy babies anymore. We feel that our employers and government owe us all these benefits. Here's the thing if you think you're getting screwed by your employer LEAVE. Obviously if its that bad then go somewhere else. Instead of trying to dictate to a business you WORK FOR on how to run the business. I miss the days in the U.S. when you f'd up you got fired. I now work for a government agency that is union based. Just to process the paper work to have someone fired takes around a year. So all you that complain about incompetent government workers. Thank the unions.
Now business as usual for a month. I had some really nice plans to see my family this week too :( now I have to go to work
http://www.cwa-union.org/att/bargaining/bargaining-report-20.html
All this back and forth and I've seen nobody mention the obvious: in rough economic times, companies that are beating the odds and doing well can play a huge part in bringing the economy back around. More money in employee's pockets means more money spent in the local economy - and everybody wins. Huge successful employers allowing their employees to share that success will stimulate the economy far more than anything the government can come up with.
All this "be glad you have a job" crap - I AM glad I have a job and one of the reasons I sought a job with AT&T is because of its financial stability. Yet now, because so many other companies are failing and because so many other people are losing their jobs or taking pay cuts I should be made to feel like I should join them, despite the fact that the company I work for is solid? That doesn't make sense - yet that's exactly the song and dance AT&T is selling.
Corporate greed is corporate greed - regardless what state the economy is in.
here's the details of what the hold up is, according the the CWA. I can find no info from AT&T, however, CWA is usually honest about what's going on.
sorry for the link, but the info is in a table....
http://www.cwa-union.org/att/mobility/
First off, I'm really sorry for all of the AT&T employee's who've been treated misfairly. But one thing's for sure, this is not the time to grumble about it. The economy is so bad that YES indeed you should be thankful for a job. If you all end up losing your jobs, then what? They close the doors, then what? I'm unemployed and sitting here WAITING on you to strike. I've been out of work for almost 2 months now and as soon as my local temp service gets word of you striking...I HAVE A JOB. Yes, maybe only temporarily, but it's going to feed me and my 2 children. Being a single mother in these times is not easy. I've done without benefits, pay raises, vacation time, I just want to work. Do you think this strike is going to solve anything? You've already been offered what they're willing to offer. So striking is going to make them say....Oh ok, we'll give it to you now, didnt know you were that serious. No. Its not.
It's not the AT&T employee's fault. They may not be happy with what's going down, but it's not their decision to strike. They are following suit. If they were that unhappy, they would have all left their positions before now. Hence the Union "protection." You can fight for what you think is right, but right now, what AT&T is fighting for is just not realistic. If you get the benefits you're all fighting for, I guarantee you all will be out of jobs within 6 months because they wont be able to afford you. And believe me, they'll FIND the "just cause" for it.
Working without a contract. That's always a scary thing for a Union Worker. It is also scary for the Salaried Employees who, by the way, in many circumstances make substantially less than the Union Workers. If the non-Salaried employees walk, the Salaried employees may end up working 6/12's and cannot NOT report to work for any reason. Vacation time on hold. Sucks to be them too.
My thoughts on the Union employees walking out at a time like this is " What are you thinking?" Unions were a great thing for the working people and I think they can continue to do that but, in a fashion that fits today's working environment but, that is another discussion. Once we started out-sourcing to China, Japan, Korea, Philippines and on and on... we screwed ourselves. We are not living in a US economy, we are living in a global economy. Ya know, The reason we have what we have and the lifestyle we enjoy is because of good pay and good benefits, and good retirement. Unions have been a big part in getting the pay for service employees ( if you are a government employee or work for a company that is governed by the government, PUC, you are a service employee). It attracts, in most cases, good intelligent people that can do the job well. Believe me, we have GREAT services compared to most of the rest of the world.
The truth is that our economy is based on what is turning out to be a Ponzi Scheme. We have built our empire on growth. And now, without growth, the doh-re-me is still going out the back end and nothing is coming in to the front end. We have a long road ahead and we all need to work together brothers and sisters.
With that said, our economic issues are not based solely on Unions. That is a very complex issue that includes NAFTA and .. once again , another discussion. But, I would venture to say that Unions played a small part of the demise of certain companies. What is the alternative? Hire cheap labor to build our cars, provide essential services and teach our children? Personally, I want qualified, happy, people that can have a family and do well! BTW, where has grammar and spelling gone? Also, if you have a masters, a Ph.D., a great job and great benefits and life is enormously good for you....SHUT UP!
I'm a previous; IBEW member, non-union contractor, SEIU member and have never worked for ATT (ok, I know people that have).