Bargaining

UNITY at AVAYA 08/18/08
The CWA, IBEW and Avaya met recently to explore the possibility of extending the current collective bargaining agreement. The parties had agreed prior, they would onlyaddress wages, pensions and Job Security. However, after two days of meeting, it was apparent that Avaya was not going to live up to their agreement. They proposed having our retirees begin paying for their healthcare during the life of the extension at an estimated $165 per month. In addition, Avaya made the healthcare proposal a condition of any extension.
As a result of the retrogressive bargaining, the unions rejected the company's proposals. The current contract expires May 23, 2009 covering approximately 2300 active employees and thousands of retirees. Based on what Avaya attempted, it's clear where they are headed in the next round of bargaining. It's important that our members and retirees understand the challenges before us. CWA and IBEW will begin monthly mobilization activities as we head towards the May deadline.

CWA / AT&T Mobility Bargaining Report 07/23/2008
The CWA and AT&T Bargaining Committees for Mobility Health Care Benefits held meetings in Atlanta, with the assistance of a federal mediator, in another attempt to reach a tentative agreement. Unfortunately, even with this assistance there was no agreement reached between the parties.

The rules under mediation require that particulars of these discussions and meetings must remain off-the-record and confidential, so there are no other details we can share.

The Union is now preparing for the last step in this bargaining process, which will be to take our proposals before an arbitrator who will decide what our health care benefits plan will be beginning in 2009. The arbitration hearing is scheduled for September.

The CWA Bargaining Committee wishes to thank you for all of your support during these difficult negotiations.

It would appear AT&T's first offer for Bargaining 2009 came in the form of a Company proposed Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to add the Premise Tech title to the CWA/BellSouth contract under a new Appendix D. Click here for the complete MOA.

Local Presidents voted 82-8 AGAINST this MOA. The Company decided to hire non-represented Premise Techs anyway reportedly to perform only Project Lightspeed work. This is where you come in. Report any non-craft individuals performing non-craft work.