eNews District 9 July 2016

JULY BARGAINING NEWS: Bargaining is underway at many of the contracts in CWA District 9. Due to the nature of bargaining, the latest information is always at your Local (shared in numerous ways)…as well as mobilization tactics & events designed to move the companies at the tables. Mobilization works!

DTV (Direct TV):  The Bargaining Team election ballots are out to confirmed DTV members! Members can vote for up to 3 people, with ballots due back IN THE POST OFFICE BY August 9th. If you are a member and have questions (about eligibility, ballots, etc.) please call 916-921-4500.

AT&T Core Contract: Bargaining without a contract continues. Stay in touch with your Local for information and regularly issued Bargaining Bulletins.  MOBILIZE MOBILIZE MOBILIZE for a fair deal. You can also read the latest news here, as information changes rapidly: http://district9.cwa-union.org/D9ATT/att-west

AT&T NIC (Internet Services): Bargaining continues, with regressive proposals from the company.  Get involved with your Local to take action with your Mobilization Team for a contract that works. Regular updates are posted here:  http://district9.cwa-union.org/D9ATT/att-internet-services

G4S (9412): Bargaining continues with some progress. Check with CWA Local 9412 for the latest news at 510-581-9412.

KPFA (9415): Bargaining is underway for our members at KPFA. Call Local 9415 for the latest information at 510-834-9415 as it changes frequently.

AT&T Mobility: The National Bargained Benefits Program (NBBP) negotiations remain underway since the tentative agreement was turned down. Stay tuned!

Frontier: In southern California, Frontier posted 51 openings July 18th. The Bargaining Committee was able to secure that these openings will be offered to our members first and that any backfill that is created will be again offered to our members before they go to the street. Contact your Local (that handles Frontier) for more information, as more openings are expected.

JULYORGANIZINGUPDATES: Organizing is always in progress throughout District 9. For obvious reason, not all our efforts are publicized (no need for companies to know). Here are some highlights for July 2016:

Siemens Local 9421

Local members continue to house visit workers to recruit them in our organizing committee.  We continue to do outreach to the community leaders and their members while also working with the CLC.

Committee for Better Banks (CBB)

District 9 attended a congressional hearing to discuss experiences workers face. Organizing these workers is a nationwide project. Currently bank practices put workers in a position to sell what customers don’t want. We are establishing a chapter in LA and meeting with the City Council to change sales goals through a local ordinance. This will enhance our organizing efforts.

DTV Tech Support

This will be a national bargaining unit. We are just over 50% cards with this unit that includes locations around the country.

DTV Broadcast Units

We are working to build support in Long Beach and LA. ATT is challenging card check & neutrality. We will be contesting this up to the NLRB if necessary.

UC Campuses UPTE Local 9119

Before we collect cards, we continue to build large enough organizing committees for this bargaining unit of 20,000 Admin Professionals on all UC campuses.

JULY LEGISLATIVE/POLITICAL NEWS:  CWA District 9 pays particular attention towards the legislative & political scene, as the stroke of a legislator’s pen can undo years of bargaining. While much of the media is focused on both the Republican & Democratic Conventions, legislation is moving is also moving in California & Nevada.

As a major player in the AFL-CIO State Federation of Labor in California, CWA District 9 delegates attended the California State Fed Biennial Convention in Oakland CA. VP Tom Runnion gave a stirring account of the fight we waged against AT&T in the State Legislature & beat back the Company against all odds.  We said goodbye to a long time dear friend of CWA, Shelley Kessler of the San Mateo Central Labor Council. Her first picket line was one of ours.  We debated endorsements for ALL California ballot initiatives and ALL statewide candidates and came away united with our labor friends. To get information about candidates in your area, be sure to check with your Local.

CWA District 9 is represented at the Democratic Convention currently underway. Our mission is to ensure, in all cases, that candidates who support working families are elected – regardless of political party and at local, state & national levels. PAY ATTENTION – what happens THIS YEAR can affect your quality of life both at home and at work for years to come – for that reason District 9 has a policy and practice of endorsing worthy candidates at the state level, with councils and locals recommending local area candidates. Locals are encouraged to work with their AFL-CIO local Central Labor Councils and you can always get up-to-the-minute information on getting involved through your Local. District 9 is proud to have conducted several “political boot camps” throughout California to ensure our members are trained in political campaigns and engaging our members in the fight.  For a complete list of current endorsements – candidates and ballot initiatives – contact your Local.

California & Nevada: District 9 activists were successful in defeating AB2395, AT&T’s ill-advised attempt to legislate away their responsibility for the copper network. 9413 activists are assisting in Nevada with public hearings over a similar nasty attempt at dumping copper. A special shout-out to CWA 9400 for their high quality testimony and activism at safety & quality assurance hearings conducted statewide by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). Oh the tales the company tells – and the truth we provide – has been duly noted & appreciated by the CPUC!

NATIONAL CWA COMMITTEE JULY NEWS: CWA National Committees are well represented and hard at work in District 9. Highlights of the work in July, and upcoming in August, are highlighted below:

CWA Next Gen held their Next Gen Summit in Detroit July 19-21 – well attended by CWA District 9 Locals 9003, 9400, 9415, 9416, 9421, and 9423. Besides conducting workshops, D9 activists marched for justice and took a tour of labor-rich Detroit. Getting younger members involved in CWA was discussed and our list of Next Gen members is growing. Structure is in place throughout California – if you’d like to learn more and sign up go here http://cwanextgen.org/about/next-generation-program/

CWA District 9 Next Gen is in the house!

The CWA Human Rights Department is holding their national biennial conference in Atlanta this August – District 9’s Women’s Committee and Civil Rights and Equity Committees are putting the final touches on a great conference – go here for more information on CWA’s move towards social justice http://www.cwa-union.org/national-issues/human-rights

MOBILIZATION AROUND THE DISTRICT

Pictured is the CWA Welcoming Committee for the AT&T Expo at AT&T Park. It’s a family affair!