December 2024

Happy Holidays!!!

Please take your approved days before the end of the year, you can only carryover 5 days.

Wear your PPE, have your safety glasses on whenever you have tools on your body (including your FVD)

Remember not to park in crowded areas during this holiday season. Try to avoid crowded areas as best you can.

Do not use your company or personal cell phone while driving in your company truck also, please do not use any of your COU devices while you’re off duty. If you start at 8am, don’t make or take any calls before your shift starts.

Work your full shift unless leaving early is approved by your manager (and I advise that you have some type of paper trail stating so) if you get NJA, don’t just leave work…please take the proper steps that you need to take.

Take your lunch, if your manager comes out trying to do a safety on you while you’re on lunch. Let them know that your on lunch, you’re entitled to your full lunch.

Don’t forget to lock your trucks when you’re not inside of the truck at all times. It’s times when we work late, we’re exhausted, and we get back to the yard, so anxious to go home, and you forget to lock your vehicle. When the manager comes in the next day doing a yard check, they find your door unlocked and now it’s a possible write-up. Covers yourselves

Don’t JEP jobs without contacting your manager first to prevent yourself from getting a step or a coaching discussion.

As always,

Be safe out there

Kashi

November 2024

Greetings everyone,

Please make sure that you pay attention to your email letting you know that it’s your turn to pick your tour selections . If you’re going to be out of town, please get with your manager to let them know what your pick is, so they can put it in for you when you’re gone.

Core, also remember that you can only carryover 5 vacation days.

It’s that time of the year, the holiday time when everyone is taking off and out shopping for holiday food and gifts, please make sure that you try to take the safest routes going to your jobs and park away from crowded areas.

Please follow these processes that the company is handing out, if a customer wants you to deviate from that process, involve your manager so that when they do a quality on you, you don’t get a step for failure to follow.

If you’re missing a tool, please make sure you ask your manager for another one instead of purchasing your own. If you don’t buy the proper tool, and your manager does a safety on you, it can be an issue.

Direct TV SSP Plan (Success Sharing Plan)

Eligible employees can expect to see the 2024 SSP Award on the November 22, 2024 paycheck. There is a $7.33 per unit increase for a payout of $1,099.50 for the stock price appreciation component of the SSP for this award year. The payout calculation is $1,266.00.

As always, be safe out there!

Kashi

October 2024

Call outs …please email your manager with your updated info for the call out list so that you will not be skipped over for any callouts, and also advise them to make sure that, the box that says “agree to be called” is checked. Also, the company should go by the overtime equalization report, and it should be posted at your work location.

It’s hurricane season and the storms cause current surges on the lines, so PLEASE use your FVD, and take the proper steps if you come across anything hot.

If a customer is rude to you, please don’t feed off of their energy and be rude back to them. Please remain professional, remove yourself from the situation, and contact your manager for assistance. They get paid to remove roadblocks.

For the Utility Operators, as of October 3rd, contractors came here placing buried service wire. They’re not allowed to perform wire work functions per Appendix B. Also, while they’re here, overtime should be unlimited.

We represent Direct TV techs now, and on October 1st, Direct TV employees, requesting state paid sick leaves will access the Paid Sick Leave (PSL) tool located on the DIRECTV Employee Portal.

For the techs doing MDU, if you’re on the MDU project, and you notice that the contractors are pulling fiber through the conduit, you need to file a grievance. They’re only supposed to put the pull string in the conduit.

Please remember that we’re not supposed to go in the parking deck with the company vehicles. It’s been some accident’s because of it so, please park somewhere else safe, and walk to where you need to go.

Please don’t snitch on your peers, none of us are perfect, and you wouldn’t want anyone going back telling the manager about anything that you did wrong. Instead, let’s try to find a VERY PLEASANT and FRIENDLY way, to go to that person and help them fix, whatever it is that they were doing wrong.

As always, be safe out here.

Kashi

September 2024

ON STRIKE

August 2024

Construction that are In T-40’s please make sure your speaker is working when you’re placing, whomever is driving needs to be able to communicate with the person in the bucket. Put a ticket in to fleet if it doesn’t work and tell your manager

Put 811 stickers on every slack nid when you get it and also the B sealant that you have to put in the nid, it needs to be in a full circle, not just in the front, and it need to be that clear sealant not the white sealant. The purpose of the sealant is to keep out bugs that can cause issue on the line.

BSW, when burying a drop and it’s can’t be 4 inches deep because it’s a tree bark with roots that, that machine can not cut through, contact your manager, take pics and send it to them, they’re trying to write you up for something that’s out of your control, make sure you have a paper trail about what’s going on, on that job. Let the manager remove that roadblock so you won’t get deviated for it.

Core with buckets, when you get a tech from wire techs about the pole is unsafe for them to go up, when you get to that location and the pole is cracked like it’s about to fall over or, it’s not, it is now too dangerous for you to go up with your bucket. Please take pictures and send them to your manager, someone need to come out and replace that pole. If that pole cracks and break while you’re up there in your bucket, and something hits the power, that could end your life. PLEASE SURVEY THAT POLE FIRST.

Please follow that fiber audit sheet that was given out, I’m getting more grievances because we’re not going by that audit sheet.

If you’re last on your yard to come in, do yourself and your peers a favor and check to see if all the vehicles are locked.

When you leave to go on vacation make sure that you lock your capital tools up in your cages. You know when other people borrow our trucks, things sometimes get missing.

Don’t check off on stuff that you don’t have in the safety checklist. Please be honest with those checklist and also notify your manager of whatever it is that your need preferably in a email.

I know our working situation is becoming stressful for most of us however, we are a union, and we need to stand together in unity.

Thank you,

Kashi’t check off on stuff that you don’t have in the safety checklist. Please be honest with those checklist and also notify your manager of whatever it is that your need preferably in a email.

I know our working situation is becoming stressful for most of us however, we are a union, and we need to stand together in unity.

Thank you,

Kashi

July 2024

For the FT’s, please use your Manhole hole (MSA monitor) every core tech needs one make sure you test it before you use it. Make sure it doesn’t need a sensor or etc

Don’t forget your FVD If you test and it’s going off, take the proper steps b4 proceeding

Slack nid need to have the following inside…

The address

Splitter info

Port info

Apn info

CFST info

Reading at the NID

DISTANCE TO THE PFP

And the date

The fiber drops need to be buried 2inches down and 12 inches out. Electrical tape need to be around the tracer if it’s exposed, with a beanie at the end, at the slack nid and at the terminal

Please don’t forget to put 811 sticker on slack nid.

It’s hot and it’s very important that you drink your water, heat strokes are real. Please hydrate and get some AC when you the need to do so. Just a tip, a cold towel placed on the back of your neck helps cool you down for a moment. Take your towel, let it sit in your cooler with your ice water for a while, squeeze it out, then place it on the back of your neck. It works wonders.

Don’t take money from your customers, don’t take anything from them. Please find a way to politely tell them no.

If you’re having trouble closing out your jobs, please screen shot the system error message, and notify your manager, Don’t go home without getting in contact with a manager and close that job out at home. The company will say that you’re misusing the company’s time.

If you’re riding with your peer, everything that happens with that vehicle is your responsibly as well as the driver. If the driver is backing up and hits something, you’ll get written up too because, you’re supposed to get out and look to make sure everything is clear. Make y’all have enough water for the both of you. Make sure you pick the safest place to park, lock the doors, and etc.

As always, be safe!

Kashi

June 2024

We all need 12 bottles of waters or
2 gallons of water. Please keep 2 dummy gallons on your truck Gatorade/Powerade doesn’t count .

Gas card gas card gas card. Only use your gas cards, for your work vehicle, ONLY!

Get on fiber jobs, ask for the training….just picking up copper jobs hurts your numbers & with all of the stolen cable it’ll get worse.

Please do not pick up your cones/chalks when you finish a job and you haven’t closed out. If you sit in your truck to close out, leave your cones/chalks out.

If you’re supposed to get city differential pay, please make sure you’re getting that $1.00 a day on your paycheck.

If you feel like you can’t come to work, and don’t have some type of vacation time in, you can not just stay at home, without calling to get an outstanding with him/her. That’s a no call no show, you will be called in the office about it.

Do not leave your capital tools in the cab of your truck of course with it locked or unlocked. Capital tools should not be visible at anytime.

File your grievances on time, some are still waiting until the 52nd day to file your grievance & we still have to go thru a process. File your grievance asap please.

When you file your grievance on a Monday, and you call me on a Tuesday asking about the status. I just want to let you know that… first …it has to be processed, then I have to get it on my barrel day (which is once a week) I’ll reach out to then, letting you know that I have it, then we will discuss what’s a good date for all of us to handle your grievance. So please, be patient.

Follow your plan, when you’re not making your numbers and they put you on a cap, and you’re still not making your numbers after they it you on that plan, it’s a great possibility that you’re going to get a step. It’s failure to follow. The company swear’s that their plan will get you to make your numbers, follow it, if you still don’t make it, it’s not your fault.

As always,
Be safe & Happy Father’s Day!
Kashi

May 2024

Greetings everyone!

If you have an issue closing out your job at the end of the day, please contact your manager and take a screen shot of the system acting up. Do not go home and close the job out there.

If your manager is using racial slurs towards you or your co-worker, and you were a witness to it, (if it was your co-worker) and it offended you. I suggest that you call, file a grievance and call Ethics, that’s unprofessional, and unacceptable.

If you see someone at the gate at your yard, and they do not have a badge, and cannot get in. Do not let them in, that’s against the OP78 policy. Go get a manager to help.

If you have a business of your own, do not handle that business on AT&T’s time. If you get caught, that’s stealing company’s time.

If you look at the ease calendar on the day that you need to take off, you cannot move a day on the same day, your manager has to do it. If you make mistake and delete that day, and your manager denies the day that you want, please remember to move that deleted day somewhere else.

The company is cracking down on overtime, please get your overtime approved before taking it. Having a paper trail with confirmation is best.

As always, be safe out there!
Kashi

April 2024

Union report for April

Space cushion is Rate of speed, 4 secs behind the vehicle in front of you. I would be at least 4 car lengths behind the car in front of me to be a the safe side, you definitely need to be able to see their back tires.

We have techs with vans that hold 30 gallons of regular gas but, they’re getting over 40 gallons of gas, THIS IS A RED FLAG!! Either you have someone else filling up another vehicle, or you’re filling up a gas can. Either way it’s stealing, and more than likely, you’re going to be terminated. Please stop don’t lose your job. They track your mileage and everything and everything else. Ed is looking into this but, for any reason you have to go fill your co-workers vehicle up because your manager says so, they should be using their pin, and their mileage. The both of you need to keep a copy of the receipt, and write on the bottom of it, what took place and who approved it. Take a photo of it because, after a while, the receipt fades. If Ed finds out anything different, I’ll inform you.

The company has a way of using satellite to see where your vehicle is, and they are using photos proving that your not where you’re supposed to be, so please, be where you’re supposed to be. However, if you’re in this situation, I suggest that you file a grievance because, the company is not supposed to witch hunt.

If you’re on a cap plan, please follow it, if you’re still failing and you’re following your plan, you should not be written up, the company has to create a plan that works.

Do not use exception time without your managers approval, if you have to work through lunch please get with your manager and let he/she know. If you’re supposed to get off at 5pm, but leave at 4pm, it needs to be able to be justified.

Construction, Keep up with the callout process, the company has been known to pick who they want to be on a callout, and skip over people. If this happens I highly suggest that you file a grievance.

Please stop bullying people because of their sexual preference, it’s not fair, it’s sickening, and it’s VERY judgmental. We are all humans.

It is our responsibility to put in fleet tickets for our vehicles and keep up with the progress. If you put in a ticket and your issue isn’t resolved, escalate on it.

If you’re supposed to be working with a few of your peers to get a job done and you leave to do whatever else, if you haven’t cleared it with your manager, don’t do it. I can almost garantee that your pers will say something about you disappearing, the company placed several people there for a reason.

As always, be safe out here,
Kashi

March 2024

Happy belated technician appreciation day!!!

When your manager tells you that you got a good or bad survey, you can access the rating of your survey on dart or at

https://se.web.att.com/voc

Please stop falsifying scooping and true test, managers are writing techs up for doing so.

A manager caught a tech driving his company vehicle holding his personal cellphone in hand while driving. It is against the law in Georgia, to hold your phone in your hand driving. This manager was in their personal car looking at the tech and taking pictures, AFTER he caught up with him because he was speeding. PLEASE STOP, this is a guaranteed suspension, if not a termination depending on your record.

The company have been checking trucks prior to leaving out of the gate, please make sure that your personal phones are in the back of your vehicle, and turned off.

The company has a new team called the Quality audit team. When placing a buried service request for install, they come out to audit it, if it’s not right, the managers are trying to issue steps. They have a handbook on what they’re (the Quality audit team) looking for. Ask your manager for the handbook.

Please place silicone inside nid and also the hole drilled in the customers home, for any type of wiring going inside the house.

Put tag with the house number on your CFST

When ordering drop if it doesn’t have your name on it, don’t steal your coworkers

Don’t park in front of fire hydrates, you’re not supposed to park within 15 feet of them

Keep up with your DOT because the comp doesn’t send out notifications anymore

Prescription glasses are to be picked up on your own time, some managers let you go out of route and do it on your lunch but, please ask before doing so, so that you won’t get called out about it

Please stop coming to the yard on your lunch and leaving for the day, then staying on that job that you had before your lunch until it’s time to clock out, that’s going to send all types of red flags.

Please put your cones out and wear your PPE. Jessica and Megan have been going out to visit techs on their jobs, the tech they caught, was sent back to the yard immediately and suspended

Do not forget that we cannot take our work vehicles through the drive-thru. They allowed it for Covid, but it’s definitely over now

As always, be safe out here and wash your hands frequently, Covid is still out here, and the flu.

Thank you,

Kashi

February 2024

Hello everyone! Happy early Valentine’s Day!!

Please make sure that you’re putting white paint down when laying down a drop to be buried, the paint is to make sure that the buried crew knew the path the it needs to be buried, the customers often move the drop doing lawn work or etc. so make sure you use the paint. Also, use the orange tape and place it around the drop so that the drop can be seen and no one trips over it.

We recently had a situation with the company forcing the machine operators to work their 18 overtime hours (some were forced to do 10, and some 18) however, the company told them that after 5:30, whatever overtime they worked would not count towards they’re 18 hours, and that the weekend was voluntary. Well, per article 3B, it’s states that, when an employee has worked their 18 hours of overtime, that they can refuse any further overtime, except for some type of service emergency. At first the company told the techs that the union is ok with it so, Ed and I got on a call (the following morning) with the company, and some of the the machine operators, during their team meeting, to let them know that we are not ok with the company going against the contract, and to remind them that they can do their 18 overtime hours and refuse any overtime after that. During that meeting the company told us, that labor told them that they could do it, and that we had to take it up with them. Of course, our president Ed Barlow made some calls and put an end to that A.S.A.P.

After that meeting that the union had with the company and the machine operators, the company started to try to find things that they were doing wrong when they were doing their safety inspections, one of the things that they found was that, a tech did not put their Opportunity cones out. Please put your cones out, and have on all your PPE.

I’ve gotten some complaints about techs coming to work smelling like weed. Please make sure that this is NOT happening. The company does have a right to test us.

Paychecks with Infor…Payroll is telling techs that they’re backed up and that they’ll get to correcting their paychecks when they can in the meantime, bills are getting behind, please have your manger escalate the situation, payroll being backed up is not your issue. After $300, (of your base pay, not OT) payroll is supposed to cut you an off cycle paycheck. Please make sure that you’re putting your time in daily to avoid issues. With that being said, you can now call payroll without your manager on the phone but, if they give you any push back, involve your manager to remove any roadblocks.

Validate your COU when it’s time or, you’ll have to go through a long process and take it to this place called the IQ bar to get it fixed and to get you back into the system.

It’s that time to do your YES OK. You text the number 93765 your UID to be accounted for.

Aggressive driving…if someone is driving aggressively, try to pull over and get out their way. I recently had a situation, where someone was driving aggressively, the tech and the aggressive driver collided, and the tech was disciplined because of it. Also, try to avoid crowded areas when the weather is bad, pick the safest route.

Please do not go on dates on your lunch break, in your company vehicle, and definitely do not stay at one location with your date for over 6 hours, not answering your managers calls/text. We have GPS on these vehicles, and just about everything we do can be tracked.

It’s contract year! Please fill out these bargaining suggestion forms, the time is near! You should have the forms on the union boards, and they’re also on our website.

As always, be safe.

Kashi

January 2024

Happy New Year!!

Please set an alarm with this new system, to remind yourself to clock in and out on time. Some techs think that if you clock in late, and stay late, it’s ok. It’s not, the company is tracking us. Also, if you clock in and you’re not on the yard, I’ve been told that, that is tracked as well.

Even if you are not scheduled on the weekend, you’ll still need to go and approve your time.

10-7 shifts are coming soon, please plan accordingly. The rumor is that, it’s a promotion coming for the customers to get service within 24hrs.

The company has been handpicking certain technicians to do call-outs, if you are skipped over because of this, please file a grievance. Also, please make an appointment with your manager to make sure your contact information is correct in the system so that you will not be skipped over.

Please DO NOT have your personal phone in your hand talking on it in and driving your company vehicle. It’s actually against the law in Georgia to do so. The company will more than likely discipline you for doing so.

When you hit your 25 year of service, and your sick time is “unlimited” your time still has to be protected. Please contact our benefits liaison Yolanda Pearson for more information.

When you get your 20th year of service and the company is supposed to treat you and whomever you wish to a dinner, those funds expire in 6 mths, please get with your manager before that time.

Flu season is here, please be careful out here, wash your hands often and mask up.

Thank you,

Kashi

December 2023

F.Y.I It’s about to be a reorg, just incase you start seeing new faces (like management) don’t be alarmed.

Core technicians

If your manager has not mentioned anything to you about half of the crew going to a 10-7 shift, it’s coming. I’m hearing that AT&T is about to start a promotion that’s offering customers service within 24 hours and that’s one of the reasons behind the 10-7.

Ask your manager for fog proof glasses, technicians are getting written up for not having our safety glasses on and, I’ve heard the reason why is because, the glasses fog up. Let’s try to prevent that from happening by asking for a pair of fog proofs.

Please file your grievances in a timely manner, we have 60 days to complete the entire grievance.

Do not wear flat work boots to work, the heel must have a 90 degree angle

Be on time, the company is watching you, and placing issues in your coaching discussions. Please check it daily, and if you don’t agree with what’s in your coaching discussion, speak up.

Contract time is almost here, and I will be going around handing out bargaining suggestion forms very soon.

DOT corrective lenses, if DOT pulls you over, and your DOT physical form says that you’re supposed to have on corrective lenses, they need to be on.

The company has issued some of us Fleet tags that doesn’t expire however, your registration must be up to date.

Please update your DOT log daily.

Put vacation time in before leaving the yard each day, and prior to you taking vacation.

Please double/triple check and make sure you’ve locked your vehicle before leaving the yard.

Surp cannot be forced to take, if you want to work your entire shift, it’s the company’s responsibility to find you work.

As always, be safe

-Kashi

November 2023

Hello all!

The holidays are coming up, and it takes time to lose weight so, get started now, so that when you eat all of that delicious food, you’ll still be under the weight limit. Normally after the holidays the company start doing weigh-ins.

If you have an ongoing situation in your area with cable being stolen, and areas where the UNU’s keep going up and down causing you repeats, and the company isn’t fixing the copper, I suggest that you get with your group, and file a group grievance on those areas. List all of the areas, so that it can presented to the company, and they can remove any road blocks, and also, those areas will not hurt your numbers. The company needs to be held accountable, and fix what needs to be fixed, instead of keep writing techs up for something that’s out of the techs control.

Please remember that if you get a ticket on the job, or off the job, that you have to self report it, ASAP, the longer you wait, the more it hurts you, you will more than likely get a step for not reporting it.

Make sure that using any codes to get the proper pay if you’ve worked overnight, please get with your manager before hand, to see what codes will be approved so that you won’t think that you’re going to get a certain pay, and your manager deletes it out of the system.

Make sure that your cones and chalks out, even if you jump out of the vehicle for a second. We don’t know who’s watching, and we always want to be as safe as possible, at all times.

Call your customers back, sometimes we get bad surveys from simply not communicating with our customers. They press the wrong button trying to rate you good but, end up pressing a button that rates you bad. Communicate please.

Don’t accept money, alcoholic beverages, and etc. from the customers, some customers try to pay us because we did such a great job however, we have to let them down in a nice way, and not accept any gifts.

Uniforms, when placing your orders, please ask the uniform company when they send it, if they can get someone to sign for it, and please guys, and girls, don’t not take someone else’s uniforms, we all have to wait for a very long time to get them, and it’s not fair, for you not to order your own uniforms, and take someone else’s. If for any reason you never get your uniforms, I suggest that you file a grievance, so that we can get with your manager to handle the situation.

In Article 4.06B, Network Ops Employees will be assigned no more than 10 hours of overtime in a calendar week during 4 months in 2023.

-ACE…it’ll be the months of January, March, November, & December

BFS…January, October, November, and December

CFO… February, March, April, and November

CNIO…January, April, November, and December

Our holiday party is approaching, and we have a blast y’all, please join us on December 10th.

You don’t wanna miss out on the Barlow’s dance off, they be doing the worm on the floor, and everything!

As always, be safe, and social distance

Kashi

September 2023

Hello everyone!

Deer season has started, please be careful while driving. Make sure that you’re not driving too fast, because they will jump out in front of your vehicle before you know it.

When carrying your ladder, please balance it, and carry it the way that they trained us at the training center. Techs are injuring themselves by carrying the ladder the wrong way.

For the on the job accident investigations, I’m noticing that the safety managers are starting to ask the techs if they did their ergonomic stretches. I’m not sure if anyone remembers taking this course in PLE but, it’s a course that the company is having us take that states that, you’re supposed to stretch before starting work to lower the risk of being injured at work. Some of the stretches are… side bends, neck and hamstring stretches, shoulder and wrist stretches, and more. Please go the your PLE to see all of the updated stretches.

The company requires us to be out of the gate by a certain time however, it’s important to stock your vehicles with the proper equipment needed to complete you jobs. If you don’t not, it’ll reflect on your numbers, then the company will write you up for performance.

Do not go out of route for your lunch, they have GPS’s on theses vehicles, and they are watching. Bringing your lunch is probably healthier, it’s cheaper, and it’ll keep you out of trouble.

Please make sure that you’re paying attention to the height limit when it comes to your company vehicle. A lot of these parking garages range between 10-12 feet tall. Please be mindful of these areas with height limits. The typical bucket truck has 3 height tiers, which are… less than 50ft, between 50-59ft, and over 60 ft.

We have talking about making fake obituaries for the last couple of meetings, please stop. The company is checking to make sure that the person you said passed away, actually did. As Tony always say, these managers are not your friend, they will write you up, or fire you if need be.

They have a new variant out, so please be safe out here, and be as germ free as possible.

Thank you,

Kashi

August 2023

Please be careful with these accidents, techs are hitting non-moving objects. All accidents are bad in the company’s eyes whether it’s your fault, or the person on the street fault, the company will try to pin most of these accidents on us. Please keep your eyes moving, and leave yourself an out.

We all have to have some type of respect/professionalism at work. Including the managers, if your manager starts talking to you sideways, please don’t fall for the trap and argue back instead, pick up the phone and call your union rep, and file a grievance, so that we can have a sit down with your manager, and if that doesn’t work, we’ll sit down with your 2nd level.

Do skip your lunch without your managers approval. We have to take our lunches, and our breaks to re-group, please take them.

School is back in, SLOW DOWN as soon as you see those flashing lights (telling you to slow down). If you get a ticket, the company will want you to pay for the ticket, PLUS, they’ll probably suspend you.

If you have jobs on your work list, please don’t go home with the jobs on your list, reach out to your manager, so that they can place them on another tech, or get them rescheduled.

Weekends, just because your manager doesn’t have duty on the weekend that you work, doesn’t mean that you need to jep jobs, work through your lunch, or go home early. The company have GPS’s on these trucks, and they can see the load. Please reach out to the duty manager if you have issues, and keep a paper trail.

Please stop signing documents that you don’t agree with, and when you have to do training, make sure that you completely understand what you’re training on. If you don’t understand, please advise your manager, because if you don’t, and you cheated on that test at the end, if something happens at work, and you’ve been trained on it, trust and believe, the company will pull up those training documents, see that you took the training, then possibly write you up for not doing as you were trained to do.

If you see that you’re overpaid on your check, contact your manager because the company will eventually catch it, and take it out of your check in one lump sum.

Flaggers…the flaggers need you sign off on their timesheets so, with being said, tell them what you need them to do (in a respectful way), and use them for your safety.

We’ve been getting reports about DT’s doing ET’s work, I’m not aware of it happening here but, if anyone has heard of this happening, please let me know about it.

Please stop making fake obituaries, the company is calling the funeral homes, and investigating, to see if the person that you made a fake obituary for, is actually dead. It’s not worth loosing your job over, please stop.

Please be safe, wear your safety gear, and test these poles.

Thank you,

Kashi

July 2023 Union report

Good evening everyone!

The company has a team called the Top Gun Team, they come out on jobs to basically see if you’re working, and following the policy/process on all types of jobs. They come up, and start asking questions, acting like everything is ok, and then shortly after, it’s reported to the 2nd levels. Please ask questions when people pull up on you. A technician thought it was just a random manager but, it was actually someone from the Top Gun Team…A.K.A “The Snitches”

Be careful on Ispro jobs, those are jobs that are failures, damages, and jobs that have been escalations on them. These types of jobs will always put a target on your back, from the moment you dispatch on it, ALL EYES ARE ON YOU. Do what you’re supposed to be doing, keep your manager in the loop (with a paper trail). It’s been said that one 1st level manager, an area manager, and 4 technicians have been terminated for not following the process on these jobs. Be careful.

If you’re in an area where you feel unsafe, please SAFELY leave the area, get to a safe spot (that’s in route), and let your manager know what’s going on. Try not to panic to the point where you get in your truck, and get in an accident. The company will more than likely find you at fault, and give you a step of discipline for trying to protect yourself from being harmed. I know, they always say, “your safety is first” then turn around and write you up. So please, put your safety first, but immediately following your safety, make the right decisions so they will not try to pin anything on you.

System techs…

As of 7-1-2023, your footwear requirements have changed. If your title requires you to climb a ladder with rungs, extensions, or working aloft. You must have ankle high leather climbing boots, with a slip-resistant sole, a 90-degree block heel at least 1/2 high but, not more than 1 1/2. Your foot must be completely enclosed, and your toes protected.

As always, be safe, and stay hydrated.

Kashi

June 2023 Union report

Greetings all, and happy early Father’s Day!!

The company has sent an email out stating that, getting your medical card is no longer the companies responsibility to advise you when to go. Now you have to send your manager an email to get an approval to go before it expires. After you get the documents updated, it has to be uploaded to the site which is https://crecdms.att.com/dotts/home

Construction…

I’ve been getting a lot of calls about the new system that’s messing up our paychecks but, I’ve only gotten one grievance out of the 10-15 calls that I’ve received. Please don’t forget to file your grievances so that we can try to get this issue resolved with the company.

If you’re swapping days with a co-worker, or someone is just working your day, please make sure that you advise your manager (in an email) to cover yourself just incase the person that you asked to come in, doesn’t come in.

Please make sure you’re asking for union representation before going into these meetings with your manager. Some techs are still trying to handle situations without getting the union involved, trusting that your manager is going to keep their word, and pull something out of your record in whatever amount of time that the both of you discussed. I’ve seen where the manager is moved/promoted, or etc. and the next manager has no record of when the step of discipline is supposed to come out of your record. Now, because you didn’t file a grievance, and get a settlement, it stays in your record for whatever amount of time that it’s supposed to stay in there without filing a grievance.

Please make sure that if you have something on your workload that you can not get to, to advise your manager to take it off of you as soon as you realize that you’re not going to be able to get to it. This way, your manager can get it rescheduled, or give it to another technician looking for work.

We’ve been having issues with load balance, they haven’t been balancing the load like they’re supposed to. They’ll put jobs on you, and take jobs off of you, without notifying you, so please make sure that you keep refreshing your screen to make sure you’re keeping up with what’s on your load.

It’s getting hotter, and hotter out here, please hydrate, and be safe out there.

Kashi

May 2023 Union report

Good evening everyone!!

Don’t forget to order your All Sport drink mix on Upfront (Blue Raz is my favorite).

Make sure we are taking our breaks/lunch & Drink plenty of water also. I had a tech that didn’t take his lunch, or breaks, and got into an accident, off of Powers Ferry Rd. He felt exhausted at about 9pm, ran a red light, and got t-boned. Call your manager if you’re feeling too exhausted to get behind the wheel, and he/she should come and pick you up. Let them figure out how to the company vehicle gets back to the yard, our safety comes first at all times.

Construction, it’s a new system out that’s supposed to calculate all of your time entered, like differential, OT, and etc. The word is that, it’s been messing up people’s paycheck so please, let me know if your paycheck is messed up, so that we can get the grievance process rolling.

DO NOT use any type of Bluetooth devices at work, it is a rumor that, if the company issues Bluetooth, we could use them. The rumor is false, I spoke with someone in the safety crew, and Bluetooth’s aren’t being issued.

If you have a job that you feel like it was another techs responsibility to complete a portion of it before you got there, and you call your manager to advise him/her of the situation but, they insist that you do the job because of the customer. Do not tell them that you’re not going to do it, and follow through with it. That’s a failure to follow, and you will more than likely get a step. Instead, I suggest that you do the job, then file a grievance afterwards.

One of the flavors of the month is hours per completion, HPC is used to calculate force to load. It’s the total number of demand hours required to complete a job. Please be aware of it.

I mentioned this the last time in my report, please do your Wi-Fi-mapping. Techs are getting written up for not doing so. It comes up on a report, when it’s not done, and can possibly be a step of discipline.

As always, be safe, and call me if you need me.

Kashi

April 2023 union report

Please do your Wi-Fi mapping if not, you will come up on a list that’ll flag your manager. If it’s a reoccurring situation, and you’ve already been spoken to by your manager to do so, it can lead to a step of discipline.

Smart home manager, if your customer says that they don’t want the app on their phone, or they have an older phone, that don’t have the capabilities to download the app, please advise your manager so it will not count against you.

If you are home dispatched, and you can only park your company vehicle in what you feel like is a unsafe place, you might want to get with your manager to see if you can drop the vehicle off everyday at the end of your shift, and drive you personal vehicle home. We all know that if anything happens to that company vehicle, it’s on us.

Fiber jacks are taking forever to be delivered at some yards, and the jobs we’re dispatched on, are being affected by it, and so are your numbers. Please make sure that your cover yourselves, by putting in your narratives that you didn’t have a fiber jack. That way, if your written up for your numbers, at the grievance meeting, we can remind the company of the times where you didn’t have what you needed for the job. Also, take personal notes, and keep the dates that it took place.

If you’re doing training, and charge the company an hour, or two (or however long it takes) please complete the training. I know sometimes the test at the end may be difficult, and we run out of time, and can’t complete it, advise your manager. Some of us are charging training time, and haven’t even opened the course, or started it. That’s falsifying records.

Check your You Docs daily, and make sure that the company isn’t putting things in your files that isn’t true. Someone reached out to me the other day, and a manager put something in his file, and the technician wasn’t even at work that day. He spoke with his manager about it, and they found out that it was meant for another technician.

As always, be safe out there!

-Kashi

Union report for February 2023

HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!!!

Be cautious of giving yourself enough space cushion, yield when you’re supposed to yield, and stop COMPLETELY at all stop signs.

Make sure you’re using your red straps when climbing/using your ladder, this is not an option, safety is first always.

When customers are supposed to be billed, please bill them. Per management, if the customer is billed, and you get a survey, the survey doesn’t count against you.

Speaking of survey’s, please make sure that you take the time out to explain to the customer what button to press for your survey. Some customers press the number one, thinking that they’re giving you the highest score, and they’re not, and if they don’t leave a comment, you can possibly be given a step.

I’ve said this in several of my reports, check your Youdocs, managers are placing things in your files, and it can lead to a write-up or, they’re putting something in there that they haven’t covered you on.

Be where you’re supposed to be, if you need to help out your co-worker, get a ticket put on you. That ticket also help your numbers look better.

We can now order our own safety items on upfront also, very soon, Powerade/Gatorade powder packets should be available to order on Upfront. Don’t let that money go to waste.

Keep up with your IPhone/iPad, and etc. if you misplace it, it’ll more than likely be at least a one day suspension, and that’s if it’s your first time misplacing it.

Overtime, if you want to be on call to get OT, please make sure that the company has the correct number on file so that they won’t just move on to the next person in line.

When speaking with your manager about anything pertaining to your job, I suggest that you follow-up with an email, or a text. Sometimes these managers act like conversations never took place. Let’s cover ourselves with a paper trail.

Ask for union representation if your manager calls you into a meeting. Sometimes management will say, this is “ONLY” an investigation well, what if during their “investigation” they decide to write you up afterwards? Keep us in the loop, so that we can make sure that they’re not trying to pull a fast one on you.

Last but not least, stay safe out here, and call me if you need me.

Kashi

January 2023 union report

Happy New Year!!

I want to start off by saying, if anything minor/major happens to your vehicle, please report it A.S.A.P, of course if you don’t report it, you’ll be held accountable for it.

If you know of anyone who has been terminated, and was also marked to be re-hired, and now after 6 months they’re trying to apply for a position with the company, and they’re being told that they’re not marked in the system to be hired again, please contact me because, I’ll need to contact the manger who marked them to be rehired to get that fixed.

Please join us on MLK Day for the parade, that day is now a company holiday, and I feel like we should take the time out, to come to the local, and attend the parade with us.

We’ve had issues with techs drilling in power, please, if you don’t feel comfortable, that’s a sign that you should call someone to get an extra pair of eyes on how to map out where drilling need to take place. This for our safety.

Please learn the safety creed, when investigations take place, or the safety team pulls up on you, one of the questions that they’re asking is if, you know the safety creed, and what does it mean to you.

While doing pole transfers, make sure that you stress to your manager, about the proper tools that you need to do the job, and also, the help that you’ll need. The cable is heavy, and we don’t need anyone to be unsafe, or for the cable to be too heavy and damage your truck, hurt you or, anything else.

Check your work vehicle tires, we’re finding out that cracks are on the firewalls if so, please advise your manager that you need new tires.

Don’t forget to use your FVD everyday, the storms are putting voltage on things, and we need to test, test, test.

Inspect your tools daily, it’s nothing like being in the field, and at the last minute, a tool that you REALLY need isn’t working. Take the time to inspect them daily.

Please get the proper drill bits that you need to perform your job, techs are misplacing drill bits, or your truck has been borrowed, and now your drill bits are missing. Get them from your manager. We’re going out and purchasing them on our own, they’re not the right type, and it makes the job difficult to do. We don’t need anything to be more stressful than it already is out here, and we don’t need to be on a job longer than we have to.

Keep your truck clean, we can’t have items in the front of our vehicles. If we get in an accident, those items can fly all over the place, and possibly cause harm to us. Be safe.

Use ground tags when installing, or doing a repair at the customers premise. Also, make sure that they have a hood ground.

Please be where you’re supposed to be, and if you have to go out of route, notify your manager, and create a paper trail to cover yourself. If a safety is done on you, and you’re not where you’re supposed to be, that can open a can of worms.

The compony has been giving certain techs chainsaw’s for certain jobs without training, coming soon, techs required to use chainsaw’s will be trained on how to use them.

We’ve been having cable stolen since as long as I can remember, first of all, be careful if you witness the cable being stolen, report it to your manager, and make sure you put notes on that job, and keep your own personal notes. The company expects us to make our numbers however, if the cable is stolen, that’s out of our control. These notes will help out in the grievance process if you’re written up for your numbers.

In Jessica’s organization, she had 40 P.I.’s for the year, most of them came from hitting fixed objects. I know the second level Bruce Thompson has had 2 vehicle accidents, one was someone hitting a fixed object, and the other one was a personal injury. If you’re unsure about parking, or etc. get out and look. Survey the area before guessing on what to do.

For the digital temporary techs (this is just for your information), the company has no plans on releasing you anytime soon.

As always, be safe out here, and social distance, the virus is still out here.

Kashi

December 2022

Happy Holidays!

Just a reminder that we’re still in the holiday season, technicians have already been called in for weigh-ins. Please be mindful of this.

Just for your information, for safety celebrations, the company should spend $15, on each tech, for meals.

I have updated Incentive from the company, they’re offering monthly rewards in the amount of $100 Tier lll for efficiency, $125 for Tier ll for efficiency, and $175 for Tier l for efficiency. The requirements are as follows…

No safety Life Threatening Deviations Zero unprotected AbsencesZero COBC Violations Meet Performance TargetsEfficiency Cut over Percentage-94%

In my last report, I mentioned about using certain codes when working overnight, please make sure that you verify with your manager, about the code that you’re supposed to use prior to entering what you may think, is correct. Without getting your managers approval, it can be denied, which means, you will not be paid. Also, keep up with your hours, just incase it’s some type of discrepancy with your check.

A grievance was filed out of Local 3513 (in Mississippi) about the company using ST’s, and FT’s to do DT work, to avoid hiring DT’s. An arbitration took place, and was loss, because it was said that the ST’s, and FT’s, aren’t doing any different type of work.

Please remember that the Network Ops employees, will not be assigned, no more than 10 hours of OT in a calendar week, during 4 months in 2023.

It’s the end of the year, and we like to use our vacation time, and be home with our families, make sure to check E-link (it’s like our work Bible), to see exactly how much more time you have remaining. Do not check Ease, Ease doesn’t update our time if we do not manually go and move our days that we’ve moved to other days, and etc. E-link does.

Please report ALL CITATIONS IMMEDIATELY! Also, be sure to check the speed limits frequently while driving, they change often. If you’re in a school zone, even if the lights aren’t flashing, SLOW DOWN, and do the school zone speed limit…They have cameras on some of these signs.

Around this time of year, people need money for the holidays, and other different types of things. They’re breaking into our company vehicles, so please, make sure that you secure the company’s tools/equipment, and park in safe places. Also, make sure that you keep your head on a swivel, and protect ourselves. It can be dangerous out here around this time of the year.

Last but not least, I want to end on a good note. For both core, and wire tech jobs, AT&T, must maintain the jobs until the end of 2023. This means that, when a technician in these job titles, leaves the company for any reason, they must be replaced, and/or another job opportunity will open up, and it will not be any surpluses, through the end of 2023.

Have a safe, and blessed Holiday and New Year!

Kashi

November 2022

Hello all!

Make sure that your cones and chalks out, even if you jump out of the vehicle for a second. We don’t know who’s watching, and we always want to be as safe as possible, at all times.

In Article 4.06B, Network Ops Employees will be assigned no more than 10 hours of overtime in a calendar week during 4 months in 2023.

-ACE…it’ll be the months of January, March, November, & December

BFS…January, October, November, and DecemberCFO… February, March, April, and NovemberCNIO…January, April, November, and December

Our holiday party is approaching, and we have a blast y’all, please join us on December 10th.

You don’t wanna miss out on the Barlow’s dance off, they be doing the worm on the floor, and everything!

As always, be safe, and social distance

Kashi

October’s 2022

Greetings everyone!

The company has went back to putting cones out again while we’re pumping gas. Please spread the word.

Get involved, we feed the homeless every year around Thanksgiving time, we also have the MLK march, and other committee activities, we’d love to have you join us.

The company have already been asking for volunteer’s to go out of town from the storm, make sure you keep your eyes, and ears open.

When dropping a ticket to the C.O., put in your ticket exactly what you need. For an example, if you need a circuit wired up for internet service, ask to also verify that you have sync, or check dial tone, and verify the coil is good. Most of the C.O. technicians, will only work what’s on the ticket.

Check your YouDocs often, and read what’s in there carefully, people are filling grievances, and haven’t been written up, because they see a coaching discussion in YouDocs. Checking your YouDocs will also allow you to see what your manager has placed in your file without your knowledge. These things need to be addressed, because it can lead to a write-up.

Make sure that we’re putting our time in daily, if you go on vacation, put your time in before you go on vacation.

Do your training on time, if not, it can be a failure to follow.

If you’re forced to come in, and can not come in, call and let your manager know in advance.

Change your truck number in GCAS when using someone else truck, so that you will retrieve your credit for windshield time.

When you’re at a customer’s home, make sure that you have a good ground, tag it, and put the BAN/customer’s phone number in the NID.

Vacation picks are coming up, if you know that you’re going to be off during that time, please give your selections to your manager, so that you will not hold up your whole team.

As always, be safe out there, and social distance.

Kashi

AUGUST 2022

Hello everyone!

Recently one of our fellow technicians passed away, & I would like for us to pay him our respects by bowing our heads in a moment of silence…..Thank you.

If you’re interested, or have any questions, or concerns, about the TKTll test, please contact Casey at Caseymoses@yahoo.com

So I’m hearing that the company is asking us to start going out of town. Keep your ears open for your chance to go, and make some extra money.

I know that we have been going into the central offices, and wiring our own circuits, because sometimes the C.O. tech doesn’t respond in the time frame that you need them to however, please make sure that you’re dropping a ticket, so that they can make sure everything is wired correctly, we all are being measured, and it’s only fair to drop a ticket.

We are being required to pick up one or two jobs after a certain time, I’m getting calls about it being really stressful, and hot. Take your breaks, and if you’re feeling ill, don’t be scared to pick up the phone and contact your manager to inform them of what’s going on. Our safety comes first.

Please make sure that you have all of your PPE on before climbing a ladder. Make sure you’re taking the time to test properly also.

If your badge isn’t working to get inside the C.O.’s that you need to enter, notify your manager. He/she can get it working within minutes.

Please be careful out here on the weekends/your days off, what you do in your personal car, reflects on your job. If you have an accident, or get any citations. It must be reported to the company immediately. Every so often, the company check our driving records and, we do not want them to find out something that we haven’t reported.

Please make sure that your securing your personal items, in your personal cars, and your capital tools, in your company vehicles before leaving the yard, we’ve been having quit a few break-ins lately.

Guys, at first we had to only worry about Covid now, the Moneypoxs have reached GA, be careful out here social distance, and wash your hands more than you have before.

Kashi

July 2022

Cameras are being installed on certain yards, please be aware of this.

We all know that sometimes Snow globe doesn’t track all of our miles, also if we need to use another technicians vehicle and, for whatever reason, we forget to put our own vehicle number in the system to make sure that we’re getting our miles, the company has a new App that we can download to avoid this, it’s called, “The tech to vehicle App”, You download it to your work phone, and let it run in the background, it tracks all of your miles, even when you have to switch to another vehicle.

Safety has been coming out on techs, and catching them wearing tinted safety glasses in the customers home. Please wear your clear safety glasses inside of the customers home.

I mentioned this in one of my reports before, and we’re still getting written up for not wearing our safety glasses if we have tools on us. If a tool is touching your body, you must have on your safety glasses.

Management is now offering EAP to us when we we’re in meetings that involves some type of discipline. I’m looking into, why all of a sudden they’re offering EAP, and haven’t been offering it to us in the past. Keep your ears open, and contact me if you hear anything about this situation.

Make sure that you’re looking at your Snow globe daily to check your numbers. This can help prevent write-ups. Make sure you’re closing out your jobs with good narratives so that, IF you’re written up, your narratives will show if something was out of your control. Also, by keeping up with your numbers, you’ll be able to determine how many jeps you have, and maybe you can contact your manager about what you need to do, in order for you not to get another return, and help your numbers.

I’m currently participating on safety calls for construction, if anybody gets a notification on an upcoming meeting, let me know, so that I can put that meeting on my calendar.

As always, be safe out here, and make sure that you social distance, the virus is still out here, and it’s real.

JUNE 2022

Happy Father's Day!!!

Core, bonded orders are back! So, if you dispatch on one, it’s not an error.

If you dispatch on a ticket in error, we no longer get 15 minutes to get it taken off of us. It will count against our DE, the moment the job is returned.

I’ve been getting calls about fiber training. The training was placed on hold for a couple of weeks but now, the classes has started back up, so please be on the look out for your call.

If you’re on a cap plan, please follow it, and if your numbers are still failing while you’re on your plan, your manager should not write you up for it. They should give you another plan that help improve your numbers…that’s on them.

Core, if you had rollover days from the previous year (no more than 5 days), and you manger told you that you can not roll your vacation days over, this is incorrect. Get with me, and/or file a grievance.

Please contact your manager before returning a job, the company is cracking down on this, please cover yourself.

Safety checklist, if you do not have the items in your vehicle that’s on the safety checklist, DO NOT check it off. If the safety crew comes out on you, and you’ve checked something off, that you don’t have, you’ll be falsifying records, and will possibly be written up for it.

As always, be safe, social distance, and wash your hands frequently.

-Kashi

MAY 2022

Hello! Greetings everyone!

I’ve been getting grievances because technicians are getting written up for not putting in their time BEFORE, they go on vacation, and on their off days. Please make sure you’re putting your time in, BEFORE time.

The company can force us to work on our off days. However, in Article 4.06B it states that if you give your supervisor, a valid personal reason, with advance notice….you SHOULD be excused. If you already worked your 12 hours overtime for the week, the company can not force you to work any additional overtime, and you don’t have to give any type of notice if so. This only changes, if it’s a substantial situation.

If you have an 8am-5pm shift, or maybe a 7am-4pm shift, and somehow you notice that your schedule have been changed, (to like a 10am-7pm) your schedule have been shifted, you should be paid the overtime rate. Please check your schedules daily, sometimes the company even change your off days.

If you used company time to get the booster shot. The company wants you to upload your vaccination card, with the booster on it.

The bees, and wasp are back out in full force, please make sure that your first-aid kit is fully stocked, and with the proper items, and get extras if you need them, (like the sting relief wipes, and etc.) When managers do our safety checks, they don’t want anything in the first-aid kit to be used, or opened. (I know, makes no sense) Also, get your wasp spray stocked up in your vehicles properly, stored in a box, straight up, with the lid on top. It’s a safety hazard for it to be just flying around in the vehicle.

If a customer offers you anything, like money, food, and ESPECIALLY ALCOHOL, please decline the offer, and let them know that we can not accept anything from customers. Guys, if you take alcohol, and put it in your cooler, even if you do not drink it, and you try to save it for when you get home, the company can terminate you. It’s not worth it. DO NOT DO IT.

As always, be safe, stay 6 feet away from others if you’re not wearing your mask, and wash your hands frequently.

APRIL 2022

Greeting All!

If you request vacation time off that was not picked during your original vacation selection in November 2021, and it’s not an available day for you to use on the Ease calendar for the day that you want, and you ask your supervisor, if you can take the day off, and he/she denies it…they can do that, for the needs of the business.

We have an additional cash opportunity, it’s called the Fiber Door Tag initiative. The company is giving $25 payouts, for fiber and copper migrations, for door tags placed on doors, on or before 4/1/2022, and ordered within 30 days of tagging. The company hasn’t said anything to the union about this as of yet, so please, check your emails.

If you haven’t picked your vacation from last year, please let me know, it should have been completed in November 2021.

Also, if you have time that was supposed to rollover from last year to this year. Please check to make sure it’s added to this year vacation time.

If you Jep a job, (especially if you’re on a plan), and it states for you to call before you jep a job, please do so, even if your supervisor is off, reach out to the duty manager, so they will not get us for failure to follow.

We’re getting new managers, with new expectations, I suggest, that when you’re on high time, going out of route, or ect., that you text/email your manager, instead of just calling them to cover yourself.

We have new Ride sharing requirements, they are as follows:

-Do not report to work if have any symptoms listed on the assessment.

-Regardless of your vaccination status, YOU MUST WEAR A FACE MASK.

-Ensure good circulation

-Drive with windows down (if possible)

-Or set the air system to non-recirculation mode.

-Only 2 people allowed per vehicle

-Any changes done to the radio/AC/ or navigation, is done by the driver only.

-Sit as far away as possible from each other.

-No eating or drinking when sharing space in vehicles

-After completing the trip, please wash your hands, and sanitize all touched areas.

-Consult your supervisor if you come across any issues.

The numbers have been down in Georgia, as far as people being hospitalized with the virus however, it’s not completely gone. So, as always, be safe. The company has lifted wearing masks inside the buildings but, please keep a good distance if you’re not wearing a mask, and wash your hands frequently.

MARCH 2022

Happy International Women’s Day!!

The company has a upgraded GPS system, that monitors the route that we’re taking to get to our jobs. If it’s not the route that they think that we should be taking, they will pull you to the side to have a discussion. Please don’t stop to get breakfast, or get gas before your first job.

The safety crew has been coming out a lot, and one of the new things that they’re asking us about is, how to use the new green ladders. If you need a refresher, please refer to the PLE training course A.S.A.P.

Again, if your manager calls you in the office, please ask if it’ll result in disciplinary action. Just recently, I had a situation where, the manager, tried to force a tech into saying that he was guilty of something that he didn’t do, and when the tech stood his ground, the manager threatened his job, and told him that he was going to call asset protection. Well, a call was made to his boss, and the whole situation, was dropped. Keep us in the loop.

We’re getting written up left, and right about our numbers. Please make sure that, if you have to return a job, in your closing remarks, make sure that you state the reason for the return. Most situations are out of our control. This will help when you file a grievance, and we have to request your records.

I know that the company has approved us to wear our bluetooth’s while driving however, please keep your head on a swivel, because if anything happens, one of their first questions will probably be, were you distracted by your bluetooth.

During your lunch break, please survey the parking lot. If it’s congested, don’t park in it. Find another place to park, or another place to eat, to prevent any accidents.

Every week, we get $400.00 to order supplies from upfront. Some techs are helping themselves to other techs supplies, which is causing them from being able to complete their jobs, without having certain tools/supplies. Let’s not do our fellow co-workers that way. Place your own orders.

When the safety guys, or the National Safety crew pulls up on you, remember that you can read the answers from your yellow safety card, when they ask questions. They can not deny you of that.

If you don’t wear eyeglasses, or contacts, we still get money that we can use towards a pair of shades. Don’t let that money go to waste. Get your shades.

Boot allowance for Utility Operations…

Utility Operations have not received their 2022 annual boot allowance, AT&T Labor Relations have been contacted, and our members in Utility Ops, should have received their 2022 annual boot allowance on March 3rd, 2022.

As always, be safe, wear your mask, cover your nose, and your mouth.

February 2022

Greetings all,

If you have been written up for not being compliant with the company, for the vaccination, I strongly suggest that you file a grievance, to get the time reduced from the three years that it’s going to be in your record.

If diagnosed with the virus, and you’re asymptotic, you’re supposed to quarantine for 5 days, when you return to work, you still have to wear a mask. If you’re symptomatic, quarantine for 5 days, and when you’re symptom free, if you had a fever, it has to be gone for 24 hours, without taking any fever reducing medication. When you return to work, wear your mask.

Remember, that you’re not compliant unless, you’re fully vaccinated. I’m getting calls from techs saying that, they just got their 2nd shot, and when they uploaded it in the system, the system is saying that they’re fully vaccinated. This is incorrect. You’re not fully vaccinated until 14 days after you’re 2nd shot, (or 14 days after your 1st shot of the Johnson & Johnson). You also, MUST upload your vaccination card, even if you’re fully vaccinated to be compliant. If you’re not compliant, you’ll be sent home, on a unpaid suspension until you’re completely compliant.

You can not use vacation time for the time that you’re sent home for not being compliant. It is a suspension, unpaid.

When selected to go out of town, it goes by seniority, you’ll also need to be qualified to do the jobs that are placed on you. I’ve been told that some managers are going by the overtime equalization report, or by your performance numbers. This is incorrect however, if your numbers are not so great, and you go out of town, and they get worse because, you’re out of town, and conditions are worse than they are when you in town, you may possibly get a step of discipline when you return to your yard, please keep that in mind.

Make sure that you get in contact with your supervisor, if for whatever reason you have to leave work, you need to speak with them, and if they don’t answer, text or email them. If your supervisor isn’t on duty, reach out to the duty manager. When doing so, please make sure that whomever, responds, and that the response is on record, just incase your questioned about leaving. If not, they’ll say that you neglected the job by just leaving.

We’re getting new 1st, and 2nd level managers, with that being said, if you’re written up, and you make a side deal with your supervisor (without your representative putting it on a settlement), when the next manager takes over your team, what your old supervisor promised you, is null and void. Your old supervisor isn’t answering, or returning your calls, to verify that he/she removed if from your record, and if it’s over 60 days, we may not be able to assist you. So please, file a grievance, and get it put in writing.

Do not put your tools in your pocket, this is a safety hazard.

If your JDSU or fiber splicer is lost, or stolen, do not try to replace it yourself, and not report it to your supervisor. This can result in you getting a step of discipline, and or getting terminated. Please report it ASAP.

If your training, and your riding with someone, and you don’t feel comfortable because of Covid, advise your manager, they should accommodate you. Also, during the ride, please don’t fall asleep on the company’s time, stay alert, and place your cellphone in the back of the vehicle turned off. Just because you’re the passenger, doesn’t mean that we don’t have to follow the company’s cellphone policy, like the driver does.

As always, be safe out here, wear your mask, and cover your nose, and your mouth.

January 2022

Good evening everyone, and Happy New Year!

The techs that’s been approved for a job accommodation, will be being shipped surgical mask before February 1st, 2022. Techs will have to wear two masks at a time.

If you did not meet your end of year appraisal requirements, it may possibly stop you from getting a job that you’re applying for, per HR. If you’re trying to get a different position, please sit down with your supervisor to see where you stand.

Martin Luther King day will be observed as a holiday, per Article 5. Those who do not work the holiday, will get paid regular pay. If you actually work the holiday, you’ll get paid holiday pay.

No matter if the company paid for the time that you were vaccinated, come February 1st, 2022, you’ll have to upload your card showing that you’ve gotten your 2nd dose.

If you were written up and, the step of discipline should have been removed from your record but, you still see it on your dashboard, please schedule some time with your supervisor, to get it removed.

I’ve been asked if the Johnson & Johnson vaccination have a booster, the answer is no.

Please remember that if you’ve finished working a job, and for some reason you have to get out of your company vehicle, put your cones, and chocks out, as well as your emergency brake has to be set. Along with having your safety gear on.

Let’s not let our guards down, thinking that after 5pm (if your still working) that a manager, safety person, or your director, won’t come out to do a safety on you. Keep your head a swivel at all times.

The Omicron variant is spreading massively, and fast. Please wear your mask, cover your nose, and your mouth. Also, wash your hands frequently. Be safe!

December 2021

Hey everybody!!

Contractually Employees with a Monday thru Friday schedule will be the only ones that’ll have the Friday before Xmas off. If you’re scheduled on the weekends…the Fridays before Xmas is not observed for the holiday. If Christmas (or any other major holiday) falls on a Sunday, the following Monday will be observed as a holiday, for everybody.

If written up for DE and it’s a situation thats out of your control and, you file a grievance, please have proof. For an example: if the cable is not pulled into a building for you to complete your job, keep notes on that to help with the grievance, so that I can compare your notes with the records that I’ll have your supervisor pull.

If you finish a job, and for some reason you have to get back out of your truck, put you cones/chalks out. Put your safety vest on, and if you have your tools on, have your safety glasses on as well.

After the holidays, the company like to have us go weigh in, so after you eat all of that good holiday food, keep your weight in mind.

Make sure that you check your first aid kit to make sure that you do not have expired items in it. If anything is opened, it’ll have to be replaced.

If you make a deal with your supervisor for a step of discipline that he/she gave you, and they do not keep their word on when it’s going to come out of your record..and it’s after the 60 days. We may not be able to assist you. It’ll be in your best interest to file a grievance, and get a settlement that is recorded. Your manager is not your friend.

You earn, the business field services will be discontinuing the you earn incentive at the conclusion of 2021. The company will run the program through the end of 2021, and fulfill December payouts in January once results are finalized. In 2022, the organization will utilize the you deserve platform for discretionary awards.

Just a reminder that the vaccination deadline is February 1st, 2022

Be safe, mask up, covering your nose and your mouth.

Happy holidays everyone!

Kashi

November 2021

Greetings all!

We have a new Wireless device policy update, we still can not use tablets, cellphones (including text) however, now we can use hands-free technology that may be used for, voice calls, and navigation using a company device but, only if permitted by law. The wireless devices that may be used are: Bluetooth headsets, vehicle integrated communication system, and Bluetooth hands free speaker/microphone devices.

If you get a message stating that Nicole is in the field, make sure that you take a break to make sure your in compliance. I’ve been told that when a safety is done on us that, no one is 100% and that, they will find something. Please make sure that we are as close to 100% as possible.

You can’t have loose items in your cab and you also can’t have more than one beverage in the cab.

Vacation selections are coming up, please make sure that you answer your phones, and checking your email so that you’re able to get the days off that’s you need and thats available.

I know is getting cold outside but, we’re still obligated to keep our coolers with water in them, just in case we have to rinse out our eyes or rinse off our hands.

We’re supposed to order supplies up to $400 weekly in upfront, please do so because, if we are not equipped for our jobs, the supervisor will ask you why didn’t you order what you needed. Ask your peers, or your supervisor for the item numbers if you don’t have them.

Bucket truck techs, make sure your filling out your dot logs. We don’t want anyone pulling up in us and it’s not filled out.

Please make sure that if your supervisor calls you in the office, that you ask if the meeting is going to result in disciplinary action. They get you in there without union representation, and we need to be there to assist you with any type of tricks that they may have up their sleeves. As Tony always says, these managers are not our friends.

If you call in and you do not want your manager to put you down for sick time, do not mention that you’re sick, because if you do, they’re obligated to put in sick time for you and that’s an occurrence.

Keep your personal business to yourself, and don’t discuss it with your supervisor because, when the time comes and they need to cover themselves, they will use what you said to them, AGAINST YOU.

Don’t forget that on MLK day we’re now off, and that day is paid however, we are working for a company that’s open around the clock, if you’re scheduled for MLK Day, just like any other major holiday. We have to work that day.

All benefit questions go to Yolanda Pearson, pls do not wait until the day before to reach out to her, benefit cases are time sensitive.

As always be safe wear your mask, cover your nose and your mouth. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

October 2021

Good evening all!

Please do not wait until the last minute to file your grievances, we have 60 days to get the whole grievance settled, you do not have the entire 60 days to file your grievance.

Do not drive your company vehicle through the drive-thru, when the pandemic first started, (excluding the bucket trucks) the company allowed us to do so however, that has been lifted, and we can no longer go through the drive-thru.

Please wear your safety vest in apartment complexes. Our safety vest should be on when we get out of our company vehicles.

If you are bulked, and unable to clear your bulk, please make sure that you contact your supervisor 2 hours before your shift ends, to let him know that you’re not going to be able to complete your bulk. Your manager is supposed to use the overtime equalization report, to see who can catch those jobs. Before they were not using the overtime equalization report, now they have to. If you already picked up a job, you can finish it, even if it takes you into overtime, as opposed to someone coming to finish the job, or stopping you.

When you volunteer to go out of town, your numbers reflect on you, and your manager. In the BellSouth days, our numbers reflected on the manager who you went out of town to help, that has changed so, please be aware of that when volunteering.

If you’re selected for bucket truck training, and you’re unable to make it, please let your manager know prior, to the training class. Let’s give our peers a chance to fill that spot.

Technicians should follow the alternate dispatch guidelines, if you have any concerns about going into customer’s homes. The company sent out an email stating that, if the customer has answered “yes” to any of the COVID-19 exposure questions during your pre-call, you do not have to enter into the customer’s home, you can you virtually send them job related pictures/text messages, and the customer can share pictures, or a video of what they’re seeing in the home. The guidelines should have been emailed to you by your manager if not, ask your supervisor to provide you with this information.

As always, be safe, wear your mask, cover your nose, and your mouth.

September 2021

Greetings Everyone,

If you’re in a construction group, and your supervisor is looking for someone to be a standby, and no one is volunteering to do so, per the contract in Article 4 it states that, in these circumstances, where it’s not enough qualified volunteers, the general manager, and Ed Barlow should meet to discuss alternatives before forcing overtime. Let me know me if you’re aware of this not happening.

A grievance has been filed regarding the DT’s, and contractors doing their work. We will be meeting with the company about this issue.

For those who have been going out of town, in Article 9, it says that, after a minimum of 3 consecutive weeks, an employee may have his/her spouse, or a immediate family member travel to their work location or, you may go home as well. The company will reimburse you.

I’m the past yards have been broken into well, it’s happening again. If your supervisor has advised you to lock your capital tools in your cages before you leave the yard, please do so.

Ed spoke on this already but, I want to touch on some things before I end my report.

AT&T has agreed to make Martin Luther King Jr. Day a holiday, this makes me happy so I wanted to mention it again.

Also, we will have no involuntary surpluses among the outside technicians through the end of 2023, this is GREAT NEWS, and one less thing that we have to stress about.

We’re still in a pandemic so, please be safe, wear your mask, and cover your nose, and your mouth.

August 2021, Greetings everyone!

If your supervisor pulls your GPS, and tells you that they’re doing so because someone in your group has gotten into some type of trouble, and they’re making sure that you’re not doing the same thing. Please call me.

Per management, we’re supposed to order supplies through Upfront every so often, please do so, if not, they’re trying to get us for failure to follow. They’re saying that we’re going out on jobs, and we’re not fully equipped with what we need to complete the job.

We use to go through a 3rd party company to get our Motor vehicle records to drive the company’s vehicle, we are no longer using that company because of various concerns that technicians were reporting…now you can either go on the company’s time (after clearing it with your supervisor) and be reimbursed for the cost to get it or, go with your supervisor to let him/her pay for it on the spot.

Everyday I get benefit related calls, it is very important that if you have benefit related questions that you call Yolanda Pearson, she is our benefits liaison.

Don’t forget to do your Covid assessment daily, try to remember not to dispatch before you do your Covid assessment.

If your supervisor calls you in his/her office, please ask them if the conversation is going to result in disciplinary action. If so, you have the right to stop the meeting and request union representation. It’s been reported that supervisors are trying not to get the Union involved and making side deals with technicians, and as Tony has stated in almost every union meeting, your supervisor is not your friend. They can change their mind about the agreement, or you can even get a new supervisor before it’s supposed to be taken out of your record. Please make the right decision, call the local if you want to explore your options.

The Covid-19 Delta variant has reached Georgia, and the numbers are getting higher and higher, it’s been reported that it’s spreading faster than Covid. Please make sure that you’re washing your hands after touching door knobs, gas pumps, and etc. wear your mask, and cover your nose and mouth.

July 2021, Good evening everyone!

For the technicians that are out of town, and going out of town, your performance numbers count as if you were at your regular yard.

Make sure that we are doing our Covid assessment before picking up our first job.

Look at your numbers and make sure that you're getting your windshield miles, I’m hearing that techs have been traveling for over 45mins when out of town… make sure that you're getting that credit.

We have GPS on our trucks, and our speed limits are being tracked, please be mindful of the speed limit.

If you’re traveling out of town and traveling more than 4 hours, you’re supposed to stop and rest, be sure to do so.

Managers are doing DPC rides on us, when they get a certain amount of harsh braking from a technicians vehicle, they pull your GPS, and do DPC’s.

Remember that if any contractors are working in your area, you’re allowed to work overtime.

Our extension ladders are being replaced with ladders called Giant Ladders, these new ladders are coming soon and have a 375 weight limit.

Please make sure that you stay hydrated at all times, it’s getting hotter and hotter out here.

If you live close to your yard, please DO NOT go to your house in the morning before your first job. If you have a situation, and need to go home for whatever reason, contact your manager to see how the both of you can work it out.

It’s been said the Nicole has been coming out on technicians, and during her visit, she’s been making sure that the emergency brake on our company vehicles is pressed down, enough to where it doesn’t click. Please make sure you firmly set your emergency brake when parked.

A new strand of the virus has surfaced, with that being said, be careful and wear your mask..cover your nose, and your mouth, and wash your hands frequently.

June 2021, For the longest some of us have been advised by management to be off the yard by 8:15, and if we’re having any issues, to leave the yard and come back. Well, during one of my safety investigations, that is wrong, and it’s a safety issue. From now on, if you’re having issues dispatching, advised your manager and stay on the yard until dispatched.

Everyone, please check the inside of your company vehicle doors, to verify the size of your
tires. Tires have been blowing out, due to them being the wrong size on the trucks. Make sure your tires match what’s in the door.

For the BSW crew, the company is still allowing contractors to work therefore, you still have unlimited overtime.Please be advised that the company is now looking at our harsh braking, take notes of the times that hear your harsh braking going off, and your not harsh braking.

If your safety vest is not zipped, or Velcroed up, it’s a safety deviation. The safety guy says, that if it’s open, it could get caught on something.

The face mask policy has changed, if customers are fully vaccinated, they do not have to wear their mask. I don’t know how we would actually know for sure however, please wear your mask inside customers home.

Please do not take pictures on your company phone while driving, then send the picture in a group chat, with your supervisor on the chat. That’s definitely a reason for your supervisor to investigate, and pull your vehicle up to verify that you were moving, or even your key inside of the ignition. Please park, and remove the key from the ignition, before going to get your phone to take any pictures associated with your job.

Remember that we get UP TO 4 hours for each vaccine.

Lately, we’ve been slow on work but, don’t worry. The company will be getting 5,800 more sites, that will provide us with more work, including…Auto Zone, Starbucks, and Sally Beauty.

We’re getting new ladders that lock to strands, do not do mid spans without calling your supervisor.

Accidents have been reported to happen after 12 noon. Please make sure that you take your union breaks to get refreshed.

Safety observations are happening just about everyday lately, please work safe.

Last be not least, wear you mask, cover your nose, and mouth, and wash your hands frequently.

May 2021, Please remember that the company is giving us up to 4 hours to go and get your vaccine, your manager is responsible for inputting your time. Make sure you have the proper paperwork showing that you went to get your vaccine.

Recently, we’ve had some issues with technicians gas cards not working, if you go and help your fellow technician, please make sure that you use his/her AT&T ID and Gas mileage, just incase you have to fill up your own company vehicle, so that it doesn’t send a red flag to whomever.

Please be advised that using the OTV code, only lets the company know where you are, it doesn’t give you time for what you’re doing...please contact your supervisor to verify what code you should be using.

Periodically make sure that you’re making appointments with your supervisor, to see if disciplinary records are removed out of your records, in the time that they are supposed to be removed... we don’t want you to miss out on any job opportunities, and we just need to stay on top of it to keep things up to date.

Make sure that you’re not putting tools in your uniform pockets, if the safety crew come out on you, they will report anyone doing so.

We need to make sure that we’re safe at ALL TIMES, & wear our proper PPE, as I mentioned the safety crew has been out lately, please make sure that you’re testing the poles properly. For an example...If the safety crew comes out and don’t see fresh dents on the pole from your hammer, they will go back to your supervisor and report that you did not test the pole properly.

Please make sure that before entering ANY At&t buildings, that you wear your mask. Techs are being reported for entering buildings without a masks on.

We do not want to walk into a building, and someone has the virus without symptoms, and get sick or, take it home to our families so, wear your mask please.

With that being said, wear your mask at all times, cover your nose, and your mouth, and be safe.

April 2021, Several technicians are getting calls in regards to the positions that they applied for, please make sure that you’re answering unfamiliar phone numbers so that you will not miss out on your job opportunity.

Also, get with your supervisor to see if anything is in your record, that is not supposed to be in there, or should be removed.

If you get NJA, inform your 1st level before doing 3 and 4 hours of training. Involve your supervisor, and get approval.

The company have been installing new GPS units in our trucks. They are more sensitive, Please be careful.

The ice machines should be back up and operating since being turned off for the winter. If they’re not, notify your manager.

Local 3204 is having a Drive-In movie night on 4/17. Parking starts at 6:30pm, and the movie starts at 8pm, Jumanji 2 will be playing.

Although the company is giving us up to 4 hours to get the vaccine, please make sure that you get the proper documentation proving that you went.

The company is allowing contractors to do some of our work. Per the contract, the resident Machine Operator, will have been offered unlimited overtime, prior to the company contracting work out.

Effective now, Utility Ops is looking into updating the YouEarn incentive program, some of the things they’re focusing on are...

*Metrics targets being pushed down to the Area manager level opposed to the Director level.

*Increasing payouts at each level...

Example: Tier lll up from $50 to $100

Tier ll up from $100 to $125

Tier l up from $125 to $175

They are also trying to bring back doubling up so, if a technician meets Tier lll all 3 months in first quarter, the payout will be $300.

Last but not least, let’s keep the spread of this virus down, and get rid of it. Wear your mask, and cover your nose, and mouth.

March 2021

Greetings everyone,
The company is currently bargaining for the weight limit to go from 275lbs to 300lbs, I will keep you updated. Effective immediately, if you are caught with a cellphone in the cab of the company’s vehicle, the company has put it out there that, they’re suspending technicians on the 1st occurrence.

We have been notified that contractors are doing our work, connecting fiber and etc. Please reach out to me if you witness this taking place because a grievance needs to be filed, so that we can keep our own work.

Some of us are being selected to go out of town, please make sure that you’re following the speed limits, and definitely do not to go over 70 miles per hour. When going over 70 miles per hour, it sends an alert to the company. Also, when going out of town, if you are supposed to stop and rest at a hotel, please do so, after a certain amount of hours the company requires technicians to stop and rest.

If you’re unable to access buildings because your badge isn’t activated, please advised your supervisor, and if that doesn’t work, please reach out to me.

I’ve been getting phones calls about, if the vaccine is mandatory, the answer is no. Openings for jobs will be posted in the near future, please make sure that you go to the CWA website, and look at the selection activity report to make sure that you have not been skipped over, on a position that you applied for.

It’s getting warm outside, and the insects are finding their way back inside of the terminals, please make sure that you stock up on the insect spray to protect yourselves from being stung.

When driving the company’s trucks, please make sure that you are driving safely, also be aware of all objects around you.

If you take any capital or regular tools inside of a customers home, and you happen to place them down, when you walk away, please make sure that you pick those tools up, because if you forget to do so, and you get back from going to get something out of your truck, and that capital/regular tool isn’t there anymore, the company will blame you no matter what.

Last but not least, wear your mask, cover your nose and mouth, and be safe.

February 2021
Hello everyone, thank you for all your thoughts and prayers for me and my family…

The company wants us to be off the yard by 8:15, please make sure that BEFORE you dispatch, to do your Covid assessments. The company is asking for our Covid assessments to be completed by 8am. It has been brought to my attention that a couple of yards have been broken into and several things have been stolen out of the bins of bucket trucks. Recently the company advised us to start bringing in our capital tools and locking them up inside, in our lockers and/or drawers, please make sure that we are doing so, so that if, our yard is broken into, our capital tools are inside the building, locked up and so that we will not be written up for failure to follow.

DWA’s have been added back to our jobs to be used when necessary during a dispatch. Effective immediately , the company has informed us that, they have come up with a new process called, Core To Complete Installation. What this means is, the Core Technicians are to complete installations during a helper ticket dispatch instead of sending the original installation order back to the Wire Technician to complete after the cable trouble has been resolved. If a re-visit occurs after following this process, it will be charged to the Core Technician. Earned time will be applied based on extra things needed during the dispatch, such as placing/selling AirTies.

If you are at a gas station and you are not parked at a pump getting gas, please put your cones out. Parked in a parking space, require your cones to be put out. If you have carry-over days from last year, please make sure that your supervisor has moved them to this year. If anyone has had a death in their family (meaning a close relative), please reach out to Yolanda Pearson for your keepsake. Effective immediately, the company is offering technicians up to 4 hours during work hours to get the Covid-19 vaccine. Also, February 10th (which is tomorrow) between the hours of 10am-4pm, Covid testing will be available at the local, at 279 Logan Street.

January 2021 Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone!

I hope that everyone enjoyed the holidays with their loved ones in the safest way possible although we still have Covid-19 around.

It’s 2021, and not a lot has changed with the company. We still need to wear our mask in customers homes and in ALL AT&T buildings. It’s been said that, technicians are entering buildings without their masks on. If you are caught doing so, you can be written up.

Let us remember that, we are not only wearing masks to prevent us from being written up but, we also wear them so that we can protect our family members at home virus free. Let’s try to keep the spreading of this virus down as much as possible.

I know that the company wants us off the yard by 8:15 each morning but, please make sure that we do our circle checks. I’ve been advised that a technician was not aware of their tail light being out and someone advised them at a red light. It’s our responsibility to check these things and get a ticket in to Fleet, if anything needs to be repaired with our company trucks. If Fleet does not assist you in a timely manner, please reach out to them or, notify your manager.

Please do your Covid-19 assessments BEFORE you dispatch on your first job, this also keeps the spreading of the virus down.

If you haven’t been tested or, would like to be re-tested for Covid, on February 10th, we will have a drive thru Covid testing here at the local from 9am-3pm. Please wear your masks until it’s actual your turn to be tested.

A lot of us have been out on vacation for the holidays, make sure that upon your return, that you check your trucks to ensure that you have all of the safety items that we need daily. Sometimes when we’re out, other people use our vehicles and move things around. If your supervisor comes out and do a safety on you, and you can not locate any of your safety items, you can be written up. It’s our responsibility to check our trucks before leaving the yard and remain safe at all times.

December 2020 My union meeting report...

*At the Willingham Drive yard technicians got a letter in lieu while wearing their mask, it has been said that the manager was holding meeting inside of the building at some point, and a technician ended up testing positive for Covid. Please let me know if meetings are being held inside of buildings.

*No ride alongs should be taking place with any managers, or your peers...because the company will blame us for getting Covid at the end of the day.

*Vacation selections started November 1st, and runs through December the 15th. Please make sure that your manager is calling around in your crew for everyone to pick their vacations. Keep me posted if not.

*Make sure that you’re washing your mask often, make sure they are without holes in them, and that your mouths, and nose is covered.

*An additional 6 months have been given to technicians who have had anniversaries, and have not received their anniversary lunches/dinners because of Covid.

*Please make sure that you pay attention to your checks. It’s been reported that some technicians have not been properly paid.

September 2020

As we have been going through the ups and downs of COVID-19 and what we should be doing to protect ourselves, we still need to understand the company has policies that they expect us to abide by. Every day when we go to work we have to take the COVID-19 assessment test. please remember that you’re answering those questions for COVID-19 only.

If you run into an issue with a customer please contact your manager immediately and let them come up with a resolution. We have had several instances where customers do not want to put on a mask or answer the technicians questions on the pre-call as to whether or not someone in the home is ill. We are asking our customers these questions for our Protection and if you have an issue again please notify your manager it is their responsibility to find a solution that does not put your health at risk.

We have been out on several representations in the construction groups, please be aware that they are doing safety blitzes throughout the construction crews and right now they are finding people with no chocks out. If they find more than one safety infraction they are sending people home immediately. Please look out for each other, if you see a coworker with no chocks or no cones stop and say something it could save their life or at least their job.

The company has recently informed us that they will be hiring contractors to do MDU installs. this means that the contractors will be placing micro ducks with pull strings. The company has also opened up job vacancies for field services technicians this is a wage scale 4. Their job will be to use those micro ducks to pull in fiber. I have been checking to find out if those jobs are term or permanent positions. As soon as I find out I will let everyone know.

I recently received three shirts that I ordered over 18 months ago from the uniform program so I’m hoping that means that they are starting to send out uniforms. The uniform arbitration was last month so we should have the decision back from the arbitrator sometime in October.

Please keep checking back on our website so that you can stay up-to-date on our local meetings as well as the community service events that 3204 is participating in. Even though we still have to work through COVID-19 there are things that our communities are doing such as free testing so keep in mind that our Community services committee is up running so, please feel free to contact the union hall and volunteer to help us out.

August 2020

Good evening everyone, as most of us have been saying during this meeting we all need to be very very careful how we go forward, make sure that you are washing your hands, wearing your mask, and staying 6 feet apart.

I have been on several conference calls and zoom meetings with the national CWA safety committee. There is a PowerPoint that explains aerosol spray from the mouth. It is being distributed from the national safety committee. It explains how small aerosol particles are projected from your mouth when you sing, cough, talk and even breathing heavy. Just follow this link

As you were going to work each day you now have to get on the yes OK Covid app and answer those five questions if for some reason you need to answer yes to one of those questions and the company send you home and tells you it is without pay you have the right to file a grievance. For the core technicians it will be article 1.09, for the wire technicians it will be article 4.01. For my utility operations technicians your contract is very clear you would be sent home with pay if you have a problem please let me know.

All of the managers got a new shipment in of cleaning spray hand sanitizer mask gloves and booties. Check with your manager if you are running low on any of these items and if you have a problem getting these items from your manager please let me know.

The company has been going around some of the vehicles and taking pictures I highly suggest that each technician videotape your vehicle so that you know every dent and ding that is there we do not want the company to come back later and suspend you for not reporting an accident.

For the wire technician there is a 14 hour cap on overtime you can refuse to be forced after 14 hours. One example would be if the company is forcing six days you know you automatically have 8 hours of overtime now once you get 6 more hours of overtime you can refuse to be forced and go home at 5 o’clock. Keep in mind you must work your scheduled hours. Some of the technicians have been letting me know their managers are requiring them to notify the company first thing in the morning or on certain days, our contract does not say that and they cannot make a policy up to supersede the contract if you have any questions call me.

The company had 146 wire technicians volunteer for the buyout they excepted 143. None of the technicians selected were in the Atlanta area. As always I depend on each and everyone of my technicians to keep me informed so I can stay on top of situations please do not hesitate to call me.

June 2020

We are now in the month of June we have made it this far even with everything going on with COVID-19. Some startling news we received the NL RB has overturned a ruling from previous administrations, the new ruling states employees can be disciplined for union talk while on the clock even if it does not interrupt their work. In light of this we need to be very mindful, when we are on our lunches or our breaks we can call the union hall to file grievances or you can contact your Job Steward if you have questions. Please do not use the company phone to call the union hall or your Job Steward do that from your personal cell phone. Please continue to wear your masks your booties and change out your rubber gloves at every house. We still have technicians that are testing positive and due to the HIPAA regulations the company is not telling us who they are or where they are, so please be mindful keep your social distancing going and be safe out there. If you need us for any reason please call me at 770-595-7565 or the union hall at 404-688-1256.

May 2020

Let me start by saying THANK YOU!! To all of our members. Many of our technicians are, and have been at work during the Covid-19 shut down. In the past couple of months the company has been made aware of at least 4 technicians that became sick with covid, due to HEPA the company did NOT tell the technicians in the work groups involved. The Union understands the seriousness of HEPA violations, however, we felt that giving the work center information would help the technicians that continued to come to work. As the company has us reporting back to work we still need to take precautions. Please make sure you have at least the minimum required equipment ie. mask, gloves, hand sanitizer, and booties. Remember the company has sent out over 25 emails telling us to be cautious so if you need anything please let your manager know. We still need to work safely. Ed has spoken with Nicole about the WiFi mapping, if you feel comfortable please continue to do the mapping but remember not all homes are safe so use your best judgement. Please, Please, Please, remember we all still have jobs to do but we also need to lookout for each other. I have been doing accident investigations for all that I know about, so please call me when your manager gives you a date and time so I don’t miss it. Each technician is responsible for requesting union representation. If you need to file a grievance, you can go to website www.cwa3204.org look under “file a grievance” then grievance info sheet. Once you fill it out fax it to 404-688-6236

March 20, 2020 for emergency situations please call me on my cell 770 595-7565 or email sm4120@att.net

January 2020

Happy New Year, As we start a new year let’s look out for each other. The company has not changed the way they are doing business. If your manager shows up on your job stop what you are doing and be prepared, make sure you have all your safety gear where you can get to it. Open your truck and do what you can to lead the safety check. Way to many of us are having conversations with managers as we work and the managers are watching us work unsafe, they won’t stop us but they will write us up. Wire Technicians are suspended on the FIRST safety infraction!

If you are having trouble with your vehicle, turn it into fleet. If you drive an unsafe vehicle and something happens the company will hold you liable. Don’t let your manager talk you out of doing the right thing because he “needs you in the load” he will not put his job on the line for you so, turn the truck in and your manager can decide what to do next.

We will be starting health and safety training again soon so please keep in touch via Facebook or the website.

September 2019 meeting

I want to start by saying THANK YOU!! To everyone that stood strong with us, and showed the company we were serious. We can’t sit back now. Please stay informed and come to the meetings, get on FaceBook, or our 3204 website.

Right now 9-4-19 we are trying to have someone from the bargaining team to come to the union meeting to go over the new agreement. Please stay in touch.

If you have an accident investigation please call me as soon as the company notifies you so I can get a union rep. Don’t go into a meeting alone.

I am trying to find the new website to order uniforms, if you have the information please send it to me. sm4120@att.net

Report for August 2019 Union meeting

The end of last month the executive board was at the 77th CWA international convention. We had the privilege of attending the Minority Caucus conference a couple of days before the convention. The caucus was very informative we had several people that talked, one of them came from the 2020 census and gave out information letting us know that it is against the law for any of your census information to be used outside of that department. He went on to say that it is actually a fine plus jail time. They are trying very hard to get a good count because that is what drives the money that the government gives to the State and county programs so we need to do our best to help them inform as many people as possible.

I know we are working without a contract and there are several rumors going on, let me assure you the union is still here, we are still representing folks. if you feel you need a union rep in a meeting with you and your manager please request us. If for any reason you are told by management that you cannot have a union rep we need to know immediately.

We are getting a lot of questions because of the surplus please make sure that you call and speak with Ed Barlow so that you have all of your questions answered.

As always please call Yolanda Pearson for any benefits questions you may have.

Blue Monday, red Tuesday and Thursday, white Wednesday, and Black Friday. Mobilize

May 2019

WIRE TECHS:

On April 24 we finally got an answer to the grievance we filed against the company for violating section 4.405 of the CWA/BST U-versus field operations network addendum concerning the 14 hour overtime cap for wire technicians.

Consistent with section 4.01 of the U-verse addendum, wire technicians should be scheduled 40 hours per week. hours worked outside of the scheduled hours are not included in the 40 hours; however, this time does count towards the overtime build for compensation and for the overtime cap In section 4.05.

When an employee is scheduled to work overtime such time worked should be applied towards the 14 hour overtime provision in section 4.05. The employee may decline overtime offered which would exceed 14 hours during the particular week without having to furnish a reason except when long-term service difficulties exist or when substantial service interruptions occur. The company, however, should not reduce any employees scheduled overtime solely because the employee has worked more than 14 hours of overtime that week prior to the scheduled overtime.

Any employee who has already worked 14 hours of overtime in a week can refuse a request to work non-scheduled overtime. Once an employee has met the 14 hour overtime cap, The technician should not be required, without consent, to complete an assigned task unless the work can be completed in a reasonable period of time.

The company signed off on this agreement on April 24 2019.

Core:

VF imagewear will no longer be the vendor for the uniform program described on page 310 of the BST agreement. The AT&T Southeast uniform program ordering website will be shut down on 5/26/19 for a period of 4 to 6 weeks to transition over to the new vendor Image Solutions. If you need to order uniforms please do so before 5/26/19.

BSW:

The company has initiated training on “one man bore”. The Union would like to get your opinion on how successful this training has been. We did send two jobs stewards to attend the training at different locations. The feedback that was received was that even though this process can be done it is actually not saving the company any time or money by only sending one technician on a bore. It is our understanding that one technician doing the boring by himself would take approximately two hours, but two technicians doing the exact same job could finish in 45 minutes. The reason for the time difference was contributed to the fact that while one person can’t work as fast as two and still maintain the same level of safety. In order to maintain the proper level of safety the single person must slow down.

September 11, 2018 Union Meeting

Executive level grievance B18-ALL-003

The company is violating article 4.07A of the collective bargaining agreement by assigning wage scale 31 work “fiber splicing“, to wage scale 5 employees.

Due to recent confirmation that field services technicians are not placing connectors on fiber network terminating wires, I have withdrawn the above reference grievance without president or prejudice. In Unity, Billy O’Dell.

An executive level grievance has been filed on the overtime cap for wire technicians. The union is asking all wire technicians to notify their managers in writing that effective immediately they will not volunteer to work any overtime at all, and that any and all overtime hours worked will therefore be considered mandated. This request is necessary because the company believes that your overtime cap of 14 hours only comes into play when they force you overtime not when you come in on your off day. The union completely disagrees with this. If you have any questions I have the full letter and package sent by the district that I can make available to you please call me.

For the technicians that drive vehicles requiring hydraulic fluid it has come to the attention of the union and the company that when repairs are being made to the vehicles, hydraulic oil spills are being left in the beds and on the decks of the truck. Going forward we are requesting that you send photos of any hydraulic fluid that is left in the bed of the truck to Mike Callahan at mc2267@att.com or 404-702-4385. The company is working on fixing this problem but has asked for our help.

As always please make sure you have the proper foot ware for the job. Make sure your boots have a good sole and are laced up past your ankles for your own safety.

January 2017 Report

Happy New Year!! The Metro Atlanta Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (CBTU) is having a winter membership drive: Jan 17th to Feb 18th. To join contact: AtlantaMetroCBTU@att.net AT&T SE Labor has notified the union of the following items:

For the network operations 10-hour overtime months in 2017 the company has designated February, March, April and November in the organizations under Walsh, Maus, Regan and Wood.

“Based on positive results in the Fleet Mode trial and resulting in 29% fewer accidents, TFS will begin using Fleet Mode for technicians. Approximately 200 TFS techs and all Business Services techs will be in the rollout (those that have smartphones). The program will expand as techs get smartphones. The app will be paired via Bluetooth to a device in the vehicle that will activate at >15 MPH, it disables incoming messaging, so the technician will not receive calls or texts. It also disables outgoing calls except emergency calls”.

The company will be moving work from C&E to TFS. On a call with the company trying to get more info, we were told: 1. The reason for the move is due to the volume of work in C&E; 2. This move involves less than 200 full time employees worth of work; 3. This move will not result in a surplus.

Solidarity

Susan Moss

770-595-7565

VP CWA 3204

BST VP Kashi Brown

CWA Local 3204

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