Union authorizes AT&T Mobility strike; could begin today
As unfortunate as it might be, it looks like our scoop this past Tuesday was indeed spot-on and AT&T Mobility reps could be preparing to strike as early as today. While often necessary, strikes are never a good thing and in almost all instances everyone involved hopes a strike can be avoided. Sometimes a good old fashioned picket sign-wielding march around HQ is inevitable however, and it’s looking more and more like that is the case for AT&T Mobility reps fighting for what they believe to more fair compensation, employment and working conditions.
Thanks for the image, Papi!
Here’s what we know: The Communications Workers of America (CWA) union has voted, with a huge 85 percent yes vote, to authorize a strike for over 20,000 unionized AT&T Mobility employees. If union leaders do not come to terms with AT&T, the strike could begin as soon as today in 37 states where contracts are set to expire at 12:01 am tomorrow, February 8th.
Here’s what we think (thanks, tipsters!): There will be several states that do not strike initially, if indeed AT&T Mobility workers do strike. Among those states are Texas, Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and possibly Oklahoma and Indiana. Many of the workers in these regions may be called upon to cover heavily-trafficked stores in striking regions which will no doubt create a bit of tension. In fact, low-traffic stores in strike states may even be closed temporarily to provide more coverage in higher volume stores. Beyond that, we have word that staffing agencies are already being called upon (as early as this past Tuesday, in fact) to seek out coverage for stores in affected regions which certainly doesn’t go far to instill confidence on AT&T’s side of the bargaining table. Of course we’re hoping this is merely a cautionary measure and AT&T is still doing everything in its power to avoid a strike.
Any strike is not to be taken lightly but in today’s economic climate we’re rooting extra hard for both sides to put in overtime at the bargaining table until an amicable and mutually beneficial agreement can be reached. We also hope that striking AT&T employees bear the current economic conditions in mind when coming in contact with temporary workers. Millions of Americans have been laid off over the past year and work is work. In the end, let’s all just hope for a quick resolution so we can get back to making snarky comments about AT&T’s 3G speeds without the strike looming over our heads (joking fellas, you know we love you).
Thanks to everyone who sent this in!
come on man you dont make a 100k get your head out your ass lets be realistic… you should be supportive becuse if verizon was in the same position id be rooting for you…
I was a loyal employee for dobson communications for 12 years. when dobson was purchased by att, things changed for the worst. i love the service that they provide, their customer service is great, but as a company they treat their employees like dirt. they are very age and experience level looking to dismiss for the least reasons. they cut pay levels and are looking to do the same now. the ony ones that have survived the dobson purchase buy att are ass kissers that don’t know anything about retail sales.
the managers and those above them are pencil pushers, and couldn’t sell a phone if their life depeneded on it. ask greg malita, he can’t do anything but fire and make peoples live miserable, but can’t sell a phone!
selling att as a premier reseller is so much better then working for corporate! no union fees and giving the customers what they should have and need, not the bs corporate employees are forced to sove done their thoughts, plus we make more money than they do, cause corp only wants young, dumb, individuals, that work cheap, and don’t know how to keep customers happy and sell them the right plan and the right phone. here is a shout out to jude sullivan, still kissing ass i see, still have a job through the merger, guess lorie will have to stick to scotch on the rocks/
not bitter, just want to vent. my life is so much bettet working for a reseller than it was with att. they have a corporate ideal that changes everyday, depending on their mood that day. i love my job. tell everyone that every day. cor stores are screwing there employees and they both deseve it. most are inder trained and have levels of sales they can’t deal with. thepr managers, and those above then can’t do anything at a retail level. so if they go on srike, best wishes to you, cause att will hire scabs to do your job, and force you out like they did me, and many others.
did i mention, greg melita is the biggest ass hole in this business. he has no one but hisself and does harm to everyone else he deals with, unless it betters his sef. kinda like jude.
forgot to mention peter eckel a anther scrwup in the whole deal. another loser that made big bucks on the sale. for nothing done to make it work prior. thanls peter. enjoy. while you can.
From CWA email:
“They are trying to scare you. We have NOT called a STRIKE. We would have worked with an extension if they agreed to one. Tomorrow you will go to work like you did on Friday. We will work without a contract. They cannot lower your wages or take away your benefits or change your working conditions. You will work under most of the provisions of the old contract. However, our fight is not over. You and the whole CWA and all of your CWA brothers and sisters who work for the rest of AT&T will find ways to keep the pressure on AT&T so they do finally move on the things that are important to you.”
Wow, so this union is an impotent bitch? Working without a contract? Seriously CWA, if you want to give up, just sign the offered contract. If not, shit or give off the pot.
now i will admit that retail is easy work but we dont just sell we do customer service as well. now we also have to sell landline products and are being writin up for low performance in dsl or tv sales in a cellular phone store. That is why we are striking not the pay really but how att does not respect there mobilty employees. we are the strongest divsion but are paid the worst wages ans yes commision is worse u go from getting 1200 at least for a bad sales month to 1200 max for hitting 100 percent of your sales rate
I will strike if it comes down too it why……
why not … we are not tmobile or verizon we do have a union, i do pay 15 bucks a month to have a right for a goood paying job and guess what im not alone…. we need to show att that they caNT JUST GIVE US WHAT THEY WANT… last year alone they made 12 billion in revenue after they paid all the 500,000 employees. im tired of getting paidless and working twice as hard, dont get me wrong i love working at att but they need to take care of the front line we represent you ATT, word of mouth is way better then any lie you will feed the public !
umm some us voted no to a strike we respect our company and business needs and know who signs our paychecks, some of they stuff thats happening sucks but we’re living better then we have in years, in an area where big business is laying off and closing down before you can turn around. so don’t place the title of bum or a rant of at least you have a job to the mass of att employees. SOME OF US UNDERSTAND THAT ALL READY! and trust me we have no say in whats going on and no information……
CWA is a big disappointment, not only in communications, but in tactics.
This is a quote from the very first post listed after a google search for “beat the union negotiation strategies”
“The trick, if you want to call it that, is to ensure the other side believes you’re capable of making a deal without striking, while simultaneously ensuring the other side believes you have the willingness and capability to go with a strike.
Otherwise, they just assume you’re gonna strike or cave anyway, and suddenly your playbook is down to one maneuver.”
God, I wish the CWA leaders thought to google.
lcohen@cwa-union.org- President CWA
cjohnson@cwa-union.org- Spokeswoman CWA
unityatatt@cwa-union.org- Bargaining Team CWA
cshelton@cwa-union.org; rcollins@cwa-union.org; bhicks@cwa-union.org; srosen@cwa-union.org; amilburn@cwa-union.org; pflynn@cwa-union.org; emooney@cwa-union.org – District VP’s CWA
send them a message about the state of negotiations.
It says something about you as a person if you combat facts with vulgar language. I have worked in wireless for a long time and have only heard that reaction from the rare undereducated crass customer who hoped he could bully me. Your defensive tactics are not appreciated and don’t help!
Which “facts” are you addressing?
The union knows it is selling us out. Check out this link, a “do not distribute” memo to union bosses.
http://www.cwa9333.org/docs/Working_Without_a_Contract_Explanation.pdf
obviously, you have no clue what we employees do, nor the demands made upon us. Maybe, that is why you are not a CEO
we don’t sell, we are customer service reps, we have to say every word just right, notes just right, solve everybody’s problem with the phones they don’t know how to use or they have abused meet all kinds of metrics that are not only not accurate but we are being held accountable for or we will lose our jobs. we get told we cannot log off phone to go to bathroom which is an OSHA violation and we are to do it all in 900 seconds per call. have you ever fixed a screwed up blackberry, tilt or whaterver, said everything perfect, customer was thrilled, no reason to every call back and resolved every one of their issues which could be 5-6 and did it in 15 min?
many of you have no clue what the strike is really about . It is about how we are treated, we would like to be treated like human beings. did you know that many employees have had family members die, knock on deaths door and have lost their homes in forclosure. Do you know what they were told when they need to be off work to attend their own sheriffs sale? Unexcused, do you know that if your child is very ill and you have to go out of town for treatment? Unexcused. Do you know that if you miss 8 days for any of the above reasons? Fired. So quit telling us its about whinning for more money, you obviously have no clue and should not speak about issues you are not educated about.
Striking when other people are getting laid off. Not smart at all.
Be grateful for what you folks have: JOBS!
Listen…too many people are crying about their wages, benefits, etc at ATT. Reps and retail sales agents are unionized. I am an employee and am not unionized…I make considerably less than most representatives but have plenty more responsibities and bills. Don’t complain to me about anything – because I don’t want to hear it. I have 3 jobs just to make ends meet…if there is a strike, I will be fired from those other two jobs because I will be required to train those who are replacing the fools on strike. Wear Red or be angry or whatever – grow up. Times are tough for everyone. I do not even have healthcare because I cannot afford it. Mind you, I am widow with young twins. Grow up.
I am addressing any and all “facts” presented. I am just saying that a difference in opinion is an opportunity to learn, and many who are posting here prefer to jab at each other personally.
I would like to thank at&t mobility for terminating me in 2008. Not only did I find employment elsewhere in these tough economic times, but employment that pays 1 ½ times the amount I was making with at&t mobility. I will let you know, that by at&t mobility terminating 70% or more of it’s bargained employees has not only caused a bad reputation in Southwest Missouri as a place of employment, but as a last resort for those looking for employment in this area. As you may have noticed individuals are not “knocking” down the door to find employment at the Joplin, SBEUC call center.
At&t may have tried to deface my character by accusing of something I did not do, but at&t will not break my spirit and my determination to succeed in life.
I am not only saddened by the way at&t mobility treats some of their best employees, but disappointed by the way things have become politically corrupt in all Call Centers and Retail Locations.
I think it says it all when at&t has an attrition rate of 10%. Only 10% of their employees are still employed there after 1 year. Because they are either 1. Terminated for reasons that are frivolous or 2. They have made their employees life so miserable they quit. I have had many friends that were terminated for 2 or 3 seconds over their handle time when their attendance and Quality Assurance Scores were near perfect. Joplin, Missouri Call Center’s Favorite is to accuse their employees of altering doctor’s notes, and then terminate them. I would like to know what other call center’s excuses are for terminating those with good attendance, high QA scores, and good handle time?
I think it is time that CWA steps up and fights this company on how they treat their employees. If it was not for the Customer Service Representatives and Sales Representatives this company would be brought to it’s knees. It is time that all the employees step up and show this company they are not going to take their crap. Also, we need to get the word out to all the customer’s how at&t treats their employees. That is what is really going to hurt the company is when customer’s cancel service and go with another carrier who not only treats their employees with more respect, but get better customer service as well.
Because he gets hourly and hopefully your dumbass tipped him you stupid fuck. That is his compensation. So fuck off!
this is very sad day. What I understand from the Barg team, that the majority cave in and voted to take it to our members. We got nothing not a gad dam thing. Oh yes EWP can be used in 1 hr….big fucking deal. I would like to know each ones of the members that voted to take it to our membership. I would thank them for being puppets on ATT payroll and thansk for fucking us for the 8 year in a row. ATT won and we loss and with the so called raises from what I hear they will not cover the cost increase of our insurance in the coming years. I thinks we should be able to vote who we send to barg. for us…..
how do you think you got your pay and benifits? you cant be that blind, att did not offer that to you out of the kindness of their hearts.
My late husband worked for AT&T for 37 years, and he worked his way up from non-management (Union Member) to management. All because he retired as management, I, as his widow am not entitled to free healthcare for one year. If he had been a union member at the time of his death, I would get one year free and pay under 300 a month for healthcare after the one year.
I am not old enough to get medicare, and now I have to pay 700 a month to keep the health insurance. The sad part is that AT&T told me I would get one year free and pay the lower amount, but two dumbass fools in benefits made a mistake. Now after six months, they suddenly send me a letter stating my insurance will stop after March. Along with the letter was a bill for over 1300 dollars.
So all you future AT&T widows or widowers out there beware of what AT&T will do to you if your retired AT&T spouse passes away. By the way, the benefits are only good for 30 months. After that time, you are dropped completely.
Tired of that comment to. Go for it. Show the Corp Masters that Sparticus has arrived and there is no quarter given!