AT&T Mobility Conference

Hosted by Greg Wyan, President, CWA Local 4100 in Detroit, it was a very full and educating 3 days with speakers including:

Larry Cowen, President, Communications Workers of America

Bob King, President, United Auto Workers

Bill Bates, Assistant to V.P.-Telecommunications Director, CWA Headquarters

Claude Cummings Jr., Vice President - District 6

Topics included the AT&T/T-Mobile merger and how this will help protect the jobs we have and create new ones.

Unit meetings included topics and issues with Retail Sales Stores, Call Centers, and Mobility Technicians such as safety, attendance and MyTime Schedule Bidding.  We discussed the 5 components, the 5 key behaviors, the 4 "R's", CFT's, and Plan offerings.

In the Movement Building workshop, we heard from Kris Harch, an organizer for the Service Employee's International Union and ACORN.  The Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) aims to organize a majority consituency of low- to moderate-income people across the United States.  He talked about the need to work together and the importance of starting a coalition for good jobs and strong communities.

In the Communicating Trade Unionism workshop, Kurston Cook, the Young Worker Program Coordinator for the national AFL-CIA, is developing the younger worker program.  It's focus is on educating, empowering, and mobilizing the next generation of union leaders.  Educating the younger work force about labor history, giving them a voice, and empowering them to be participants is how we stay strong.  A good place to start is at 'cwacustomerservice.org'. This is a blog for CWA Customer Service Professionals to see what customer service issues others have and to suggest and create solutions to problems customer service workers deal with everyday.

In the Grievance and Arbitration workshop, John Quinn, CWA District 3 Council, discussed proper grievance proceedures, note taking and preperation for Arbitration.

The beginning of February, 2012, begins District 6 Mobility bargaining for their contract.  Mobility members have been getting together and mobilizing for the last year in prepriation for their upcoming contract.  Our contract, in District 9 is justover a year away.  We need to start thinking now about coming together as one. Don't wait till 2013.  It may be too late.  Think about your union brothers and sisters as bargaining begins for District 6 and show them support.

Rick McMaster - AVP Local 9417

FINAL BARGAINING REPORT | March 3, 2009 | A Message from your CWA Bargaining Team CWA AND AT&T MOBILITY FINAL BARGAINING REPORT WAGES/ECONOMIC ISSUES: 1. The General Wage Schedules for all employees will be increased at every step of the wage progression schedule as follows: 2009 1% 2010 2.5% 2011 2.5% 2012 2.5% All employees will also receive a $500.00 lump sum payment upon ratification. Effective Jan. 1, 2010, new hires will be covered under a new pension plan.This is a cash balance account that allows vesting at three years and graduates contribution amounts by age. 2. Job Upgrades for the following titles: Wireless Technician I and Wireless Technician II titles will be eliminated. All existing Wireless Technician I and II employees will move into the Wireless Technician title at the wage schedule associated with the current Wireless Technician II title. CSR 1 reps in the Technical Support Group will be upgraded to a new title of Customer Support Specialist with a new maximum rate of $683.00 for year 2009. Current employees in the Technical Support Group above the new maximum rate will receive the general wage increase based on existing wage rates. CSR I reps in the Office of the President will be upgraded to a new title of Client Service Specialist with a new maximum wage rate of $672.50 for year 2009. CSR I reps and Clerks in the Workforce Operations group will be upgraded to a new title of Workforce Administrator with a new maximum rate of $632.50 for year 2009. Care Function Evaluation—The Company will evaluate the CSR functions to see if additional titles should or could be created. 3. Article 14 Force Adjustment Severance Payment—Increased from a maximum payment of $12,000 to $15,000. 4. Article 19 Basis of Compensation On-call pay—increased from $28 to $32 for each day of such assignment. Relief Differential—Employees assigned the duty of performing managerial opening and/or closing (Key Holder) will receive a 10% differential payment for each hour the employee performs this work. 5. Article 20 Travel Travel time exceeding normal commute time when on a temporary assignment will be paid as work time. Mileage reimbursement for use of personal vehicles will be reimbursed at the IRS Standard. 6. Letter of Agreement 4 Sales Compensation Plan Minimum at-risk commission pay of $12,000/year for years 2009 and 2010 and $12,500/year for years 2011 and 2012 for those reaching 100% of their targeted goal. National Sales Compensation Committee –to be reestablished. 7. Letter of Agreement 11-Sales Quota Relief Establishment of quota relief for 8-hour increments of time (8 aggregate hours in a calendar month) for discipline purposes only. OTHER ISSUES: 1. Article 3 Definition of Employees If the Company reclassifies from Full Time to Part Time, they will seek volunteers first and then force in reverse order. 2. Article 11 Seniority Seniority will apply to all Articles and Letters of Agreement. Middle two digits of the Social Security Number will be used as a tie breaker when employees have same seniority date and same last 4 digits of the Social Security Number. 3. Article 13 Work Assignments Laid off employees will be given priority placement for rehire. 4. Article 15 Non-Discrimination The Company will not discriminate against an employee because of one's position or membership or non-membership in the union. 5. Article 17 Company-Union Relationship Increase union time for Stewards from 240 hours to 300 hours. Up to 20 Union Officials throughout the Orange Contract may take or pool up to 960 hours each/year (20 X 960= 19,200 hours). 6. Article 22 Vacations Company will maximize the number of vacation weeks during the most desirable vacation periods. 7. Article 23 Holidays Holiday schedules will be posted by 12:00 noon on the Friday two (2) weeks prior to the Holiday. 8. Article 24 Excused Days with Pay (EWP's) Change in hour increment availability from two (2) hours to one (1) hour. 9. Letter of Agreement 1 Personnel Records Employees will be provided a copy of all disciplinary write-ups. 10. Letter of Agreement 13 Job Satisfaction (Monitoring) The Company will make every effort to review call observations within two (2) days of the employee's next two (2) scheduled workdays with the understanding the coverage is to be done in a private area. 11. Letter of Agreement 17 The Alliance Committee Establishment of a new committee to explore the possibility for improvements and to maintain and enhance the skills of the Mobility workforce. 12. Letter of Agreement 20 Strategic Alliance Committee Establishment of a new committee to explore innovative methods of operation which would modify traditional workplace relationships and maximize employee satisfaction with their work. 13. Retail Sales Scheduling Trial Retail Sales Group trial to explore more effective methods of scheduling. Upon completion of the trial, the Company will review the trial results with the Union and consider input. Upon ratification, in addition to the above-mentioned changes, all other Articles and Letters of Agreement not mentioned will carry forward from the 2005 Labor Agreement into the newly bargained-for 2009 Labor Agreement.