CWA/AT&T MOBILITY BENEFITS BARGAINING REPORT  July 23, 2008   The CWA and AT&T Bargaining Committees for Mobility Health Care Benefits held meetings in Atlanta, with the assistance of a federal mediator, in another attempt to reach a tentative agreement. Unfortunately, even with this assistance there was no agreement reached between the parties.  The rules under mediation require that particulars of these discussions and meetings must remain off-the-record and confidential, so there are no other details we can share. The Union is now preparing for the last step in this bargaining process, which will be to take our proposals before an arbitrator who will decide what our health care benefits plan will be beginning in 2009.  The arbitration hearing is scheduled for September. The CWA Bargaining Committee wishes to thank you for all of your support during these difficult negotiations.

 

CWA/AT&T MOBILITY BENEFITS BARGAINING REPORT  July 1, 2008   Yesterday your CWA National Bargaining Committee spent a majority of the day preparing a counter proposal that is very fair to our members and to the Company.   It was our intention to reach a new agreement by yesterday’s deadline.  Unfortunately for our members, the Company returned to the table without the same intention.  During our meeting, the Company reviewed our counter proposal, and then simply stated that they would not have another proposal even though there was still more than five hours left before expiration of the agreement.   An hour after both sides left to go home, the Company called and said they had changed their minds; they did have a counter, and asked us to meet at 10:30 p.m.  It would have been great if we could report that this last proposal the Company presented late last night moved away from their high premium, deductible and out-of-pocket plan they have been proposing the entire time we have been bargaining with them – but we can't.  The Company proposal had only minimal changes and still also includes a new hire component that would make health care out of reach for many years.  This shows no respect for our members who work to produce the double-digit quarterly growth that keeps them as the number one wireless company.   The Company continues to think that our members should pay up to double-digit percentages of their income in premiums and deductibles before their proposed plan would pay a dime in benefits.  They continue to think that our members should willingly accept this hardship and without the Company even sharing any of the savings they would begin seeing!  This is what they think of their employees! If the Company had only used this time to really work with us to reach an agreement that doesn't rob our members of their hard earned income and simply shifts more money into their bank accounts, we might have reached a tentative agreement. The next step in this process is to meet together with a Mediator who will attempt to facilitate us reaching a tentative agreement.  Mediation will begin on July 14 and continue up to ten days.   Mediation is an "off-the-record" process that is not binding to either party.  Discussions during this period may not be used by either party in the event that no agreement is reached.  The CWA Bargaining Committee thanks you for your continued support during this very difficult round of negotiations.

CWA/AT&T MOBILITY BENEFITS BARGAINING REPORT  June 28, 2008   Bargaining resumed yesterday with a counter proposal from the Union aimed at maintaining our arguments that the company has the ability to provide a quality Health Benefit package for our members. The company threw out a lot of numbers but had no data to substantiate their claims.  Since the first day of bargaining, the Union committee has repeatedly requested copies of their alleged sources -- but the Company cannot provide it.   We made our point clear that we are willing to work with the company to look into ways to contain their health care costs, but not by simply shifting the cost onto our members.  Time is ticking and the Company's tunnel-vision approach is preventing us from potentially reaching an agreement.  As CWA President Larry Cohen said while speaking about health care during the convention, "The Company needs to get off our backs and get beside us." We’ll be back at the bargaining table subject to the Company's call. Thank you for all your support.

CWA/AT&T MOBILITY BENEFITS BARGAINING REPORT  June 16, 2008   The Bargaining Committee met again with the Company on Friday with demands that they provide outstanding data still owed to us.  It is still apparent that we are the only ones who came to this table to look for possible solutions to what the Company says, but can't show, are problems with the current health care plan.  Instead, the Company wants us to simply put forward another proposal with "shot in the dark" ingredients of retrogression!  But we are not interested in giving into the astronomically impacting demand the Company proposed on June 4! The Company's suggestion that, for a family, an employee who earns the average salary within Mobility today should have to pay out more than 17 percent of their annual income before the plan kicks in is insane, let alone unreasonable and immoral!  We feel that the Company has wasted enough time avoiding the questions and they need to get serious if we have any chance at reaching a tentative agreement!  They need to DO THE RIGHT THING! The Bargaining Committee appreciates all of the support you have shown!! Bargaining has been recessed and will reconvene on June 27.