AT&T West Bargaining Report #10, Tuesday, March 13, 2012

The Union and the Company met in full committee today. The Union rejected Company proposal #17 Religious Time Off and Company proposal #18 Holidays. We let the Company know we had no interest in removing fixed Holidays and make them Floating holidays. It is hard enough for the members to get time off as it is.

The Union presented the Company with three, (3), proposals today.

Union proposal #20, Article 3 Company-Union Relationship dealing with improving Union Activities and Union Security; Union proposal #21, Article 1 Recognition strengthening the recognition language; Union proposal #22, Appendix C- eliminate all but the top wage zone.

Hold on Technicians; wait till you read this one! Company proposal #25 

The Company kept a straight face while presenting this piece of #*#*!

Their proposal would eliminate work rule protections for Core employees surplused to Prem Tech; add the paycheck language; eliminate 48 hours notice of schedule change; eliminate the penalty for change and cancellation of hours; eliminate double time; eliminate Sunday premium pay; remove the day after Thanksgiving and make it a floater; eliminate carryover vacation and payment in lieu for vacation not used during the calendar year; eliminate carryover PDO’s, payment in lieu of PDO’s will be made for PDO’s not used; employees leaving the payroll will only be paid for VT accrued;  eliminate illness absence payments except as required by State or Municipal law; cancel Prem Tech benefits and leaves of Absence MOA’s; cancel Prem Tech MOA’s 09-24 and 09-25 which allows Service Techs and Systems Tech Data Comm employees to volunteer for a Prem Tech position in their CHQ in case of a surplus- MOA’s 09-26 addition of job duties beyond the scope of the current job description,  Prem Tech’s and 09-27 required overtime for Prem Techs.

Additionally the Company proposed to add the following job duties for Prem Techs:

*Perform all work from and including the Service Terminal up to the Network Interface Device (NID), including any drop work, for all IP enabled products and services

*Test and transfer from a defective facility(s) to a good, clean or available facility(s).

We told the Company we were very unhappy with this entire proposal, and we are appalled! The workers will be disgusted when they hear what the Company wants to do. This is a work force that has built this product, delivered this product and maintained this product with exceptional service and quality! There is no recognition for the dedication these workers put forth. The Company needs to look at what is truly right for these members.

Where’s the Fairness!

All Official negotiation and mobilization information will be delivered on the District 9 website. (www.district9.cwa-union.org), CWA facebook at AT&T CWA District 9 Unity, Local Websites and email lists.

Your Bargaining Committee

 These reports will come out on a regular basis, with the frequency dictated by the pace of bargaining.

Countdown to Expiration- 25 Days!