July 10, 2008

We met with the Company in formal session on Wednesday and Thursday.  The tone at the table was very tense.  AT&T is doing their very best to put every roadblock before us to prevent us from achieving a contract.  The behavior of AT&T Business Unit leaders in their treatment and respect of the Union is despicable. 

We are currently on call and continue to work on proposals.  We are preparing mobilization activities to let the Company and the Business Unit know we want a contract.

President Henderson met with various members today.  We are encouraged by the support our members continue to show.  We will continue to work on increasing their militancy so the Company at every level of management as well as at the table know – WE WANT A FAIR AND EQUITABLE CONTRACT!  And, when do we want it –NOW!  President Henderson continues to be a huge support at the table and to the members.  

 We will meet again tomorrow at 11am with the Company.  We’ll keep you posted on the outcome of that meeting.

Stay strong!  Be vigilant!  RAMBO!

July 8, 2008

We met today in formal session with the Company for the Dover Center.  A few pi9eces of language were passed across the table and we had a long discussion around the Area Wage Determination (AWD) process which is being explained and defined in the center today for workers there.  CWA has been pushing AT&T to get the AWD in place since we began bargaining.  We do not know what the outcome will be yet but the process is well underway which is a good news story.  There are still many questions which are unanswered.  CWA will continue to work to get answers on issues like whether the AWD will be retroactive or how long the process in total will take.  Local President Bill Henderson let the company know he was not happy with how long the process has taken thus far.  He also let them know that had it not been for CWA the workers at this location still wouldn’t have the process working toward completion.  AT&T has committed to let us know when the AWD is submitted to the Department of State (DOS).  CWA along with President Henderson will ensure that DOS does not drag their feet.  We’ll do this by putting pressure on them through the Department of Labor. 

We reviewed the status of all open proposals and we will be working throughout the evening in preparation for our next formal session, tomorrow morning beginning at 9:30 a.m.

Thursday for anyone who has on a red shirt President Henderson will hand out free sodas from 11:30 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.  He is looking forward to seeing and greeting everyone.

May 7, 2008

We met today, May 7, 2008 with the company in formal session.  The company passed a number of proposals and rejected a number of our proposals.  Since almost everything was in the company's court we were not prepared to respond to the company's proposals or rejections.  We will be prepared for the next round.

We did clarify a number of issues today and we have a number of open questions on the table specifically around recall rights for the surplus workers.  As soon as we receive the response will will post that information.

We have been able to clarify that the Health Care benefits for the surplus wokers will run through the end of the month.  At that time COBRA will be available to the surplus workers if they can afford it.

We have also been notified by the company that as of next week all remaining workers will be returned to a 40 hour work week.  Based on what the company stated this was a benefit issue.  We have been hitting the company very hard on this issue as well, so I think all things considered they made the decision based on the leverage being applied.

We are in recess until June 3, 2008 at which time we return to formal bargaining.  During the time in between the sessions we will be doing considerable leg work trying to be fully prepared to complete the contract in total if at all possible during the next session.

Stay strong.  Move to plan ratchet. 

May 6, 2008

The Union and the Company met in session yesterday and today.  Both the Union and the Company passed a number of proposals across the table. AT&T is still living in a fantasy world trying to justify what they have done and we continue to tell them that AT&T needs to do the right thing.   

The Company will be putting out a message to the workers being laid off to clarify their “muddy” vacation and personal day policies; which were not explained to the workers when they were hired.  The message is that the vacation policy they are determined to stand by is one of accrual.  This means that any employee who was told at the end of December that they had one week of vacation to take in the following six months, has only accrued 17 hours through this week and that is what will be paid upon separation from the company.  Due to the Union’s persistence, it will also make clear that if an employee being laid off took a full week prior to this week that the difference will not need to be paid back; as had been told to some by their supervisors.  

For those who wonder who the “corporate suits” in the office yesterday and today are, they are there to work on their defense to the Union’s allegations that AT&T is violating the law.  

The Union continues to propose recall rights for the laid off workers since all indications from the Department of State are that the demand for the new passport card has them staffing up elsewhere.  In addition, we are seeking termination pay retroactively and Alliance funding for training/retraining.  

Medical benefits for the laid off workers will continue through the end of the month; however anyone who participates in a Flexible Spending Account must incur eligible costs before leaving the payroll in order to not lose the money they have in the FSA.  

The Union bargaining team remains on call today ready to bargain a fair contract!  We are scheduled to meet with the Company again tomorrow.

 May 2, 2008

The Union and Company bargaining teams met in session today.  The Company countered some of our proposals; but they fail to realize what a fair contract is all about.  At the end of today we are still miles apart.   

Both the Union and the Company are on call and ready to meet.  We are scheduled to meet on Saturday morning.  The bargaining committee is strong. 

A fair contract will be earned in the workplace.  Stay strong and let management know we are not letting up.  There will be a meeting of all Dover stewards at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday at the Local 1298 office in Dover. 

April 29, 2008

The Union and the Company bargaining teams met today.  After much discussion on the recent lay-off announcement, the Union passed a complete proposal with the exception of benefits and wages. 

The Union reiterated our surprise at the behavior of AT&T in the manner in which this lay-off is being done and the lack of notification to the Union and the employees.  The Union continues to work to minimize the impact to the workforce with our requests for severance, recall rights, Alliance training, and transfer plan and rehire consideration for these workers. 

Dover Union members met with New Hampshire Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter who pledged her assistance.  Governor John Lynch had assigned Cara Osborn from his staff to be a contact person for any issues and Michael Power from the New Hampshire Workforce Opportunity Council will be available at the Mill work location Wednesday and Friday of this week to assist our members.

The Union bargaining team awaits AT&T’s response to our proposal.

February 28, 2008  

We met yesterday and received part of our requested data.  The company passed an incredibly retrogressive proposal. We adjourned and we are doing backroom work at this time, working on gathering other information and putting together a comprehensive proposal to pass back to the Company. As soon as we have completed the proposal and schedule the next meeting we will let you know. Stewards please attend the meeting on Saturday, March 1, 2008.

February 28, 2008   RE:     Report on Dover Bargaining We met yesterday and received part of our requested data.  The company passed an incredibly retrogressive proposal. We adjourned and we are doing backroom work at this time, working on gathering other information and putting together a comprehensive proposal to pass back to the Company. As soon as we have completed the proposal and schedule the next meeting we will let you know. Stewards please attend the meeting on Saturday, March 1, 2008, Stay Strong!  Remember the Plan!

Wednesday, February  27, 2008

We met yesterday, Tuesday, February 26th as well as today Wednesday for bargaining. 

CWA has a number of open data requests (a data request is an information request on policy, practice or cost associated with benefits, center workings and break downs of employee status, etc.) we worked hard to get responses to the data requests as this information is the major foundation for all our bargaining over economic issues.  The bargaining team reviewed the data and we are in the process of assessing it.   We passed a number of demands across the table.  

We have not scheduled the next bargaining session yet as we have legwork to do before the next session is scheduled.  Once the date is scheduled for the next meeting we will post it on this site. 

In the meantime, ask your stewards about the steward’s army.  Everyone’s efforts are needed to achieve the contract you deserve!  Support your bargaining team.

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

The bargaining team met today in session.  CWA gave the company counter proposals on a number of issues which the company rejected.  The company then responded on a number of data requests. In the afternoon the Union team members caucused; putting together a comprehensive proposal for the company along with a number of related issues that we needed to follow up on.  We will continue to work on the Union proposal tomorrow.  We will meet next with the company on February 26, 2008.  At that time we expect to have received numerous outstanding current data requests and we will be submitting an additional data request to the company. 

Stay strong.  Keep up the fight.  We will keep you posted as we make additional progress.

Tuesday February  12, 2008

Negotiations kicked off today in Bedminster, New Jersey for the newly organized AT&T call center in Dover, New Hampshire.  The CWA bargaining team chaired by CWA Staff Rep Lois Grimes-Patow, Local 1298 President Bill Henderson, along with Dover members Darlene Perry, Bob Egan, and CWA District One Staff Rep Pat Telesco met with Company bargainers who passed several proposals to the Union.  We will be responding to the proposals in tomorrow’s session.   Stay tuned for more information on our fight for a fair contract.