June 17, 2010

Bargaining Opens June 21 on AT&T Internet Contract

CWA's AT&T Internet bargaining committee will begin negotiations with AT&T for a new contract covering nearly 5,400 workers in Districts 3, 4, 6 and 9. Bargaining will take place in Dallas; the current contract expires July 17.

Key issues include wages, protecting and improving benefits, job security, protections against subcontracting, improved scheduling and time off. 

Members of CWA's bargaining team are Bill Bates, National Telecom Director, chair; Donna Bentley, District 6 Staff Representative, co-chair; Carrie Turner, Local 3411; Derrick Blackwell, Local 4900; Toni Bennett, Local 6215, and Linda Gonzalez, Local 9400.

Click here for updates on negotiations and to access bargaining reports and news about mobilization.

AFL-CIO Young Workers Summit Shows Promising Future for Labor

The AFL-CIO's first-ever Young Workers Summit drew more than 400 young people to Washington, D.C., last week, generating ideas to mobilize younger workers and strengthen the union movement.

"It was an awesome experience," said Chris Lane, a "Next Up" conference speaker and the youngest-ever president of CWA Local 2201 in Richmond, Va. "I was so excited and motivated and recharged by it, especially with all the networking I was able to do."

Lane was 31 when he was elected Local 2201's president four years ago. "I talked about how the younger generation has a set of issues and concerns, wages are a big one, and the older generation may be thinking more about defined benefit pensions and health care," Lane said. "I told them that neither side can survive without the other, and together we can thrive."

Through workshops and group discussions, participants called for a "Next Up" constituency group; a national youth summit every year; Next Up member representation on AFL-CIO local, state and national organizations, blogs for young workers and many other ideas.

CWA's Next Generation committee, launched at the 2009 CWA Convention, also is building energy throughout our union. The committee will meet again later this month and will report on its progress to CWA Convention delegates next month in Washington, D.C. 

For more on the AFL-CIO's Young Workers Summit, check out the "Next Up: Young Workers Forum" page at Facebook.com.

Community Education Center Workers Join CWA in Trenton

Workers at the Bo Robinson Community Education Center in Trenton, N.J., wanted a union and they overwhelmed management's efforts to stop them. The workers at the privately-run center that helps former corrections prisoners transition back into society voted unanimously, 54-0, last week, for CWA Local 1040. The unit has 69 workers total.

Management pulled out all stops to defeat the workers' campaign with regular captive audience meetings and multiple distributions of anti-union literature. Two weeks before the election, the company brought workers in from another location, claiming they were needed "if there was a strike."

"The workers stayed united and could not be swayed from their hunger to get a voice on the job," said Local 1040 organizer Connie English, who with local staff representative Chris Young, assisted the campaign. Fair pay, job security, respect, and an end to arbitrary treatment were the issues driving the workers' campaign.

Local 1040 now is assisting the 50 workers in the center's professional unit who also want union representation.

AFA-CWA Members Support Striking Spirit Airlines Pilots

Spirit Airlines flight attendants and other AFA-CWA members showed their support for striking Spirit pilots by joining them on picket lines at numerous airports during the pilots' five-day strike.

"Spirit flight attendants are committed to assisting  pilots in achieving the best contract possible," the Spirit AFA-CWA Master Executive Council said. The flight attendants are in mediation over their contract.

The Air Line Pilots Association said Spirit's demands would have forced pilots to work more hours and pay more for family health care, while company profits continue to soar. Spirit was ranked as the most profitable U.S. airline by pre-tax profit margin last year.

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CWA Local 1022