AT&T Southeast Bargaining Report #36
Today proved to be another lackluster day at the bargaining table. Yesterday afternoon, our bargaining team provided the company with two comprehensive proposals that would enable us to reach an agreement. These comprehensive proposals included a significant wage increase, with a cost-of-living adjustment, moving all wage zones to zone A, wage scale upgrades for several job titles, improvements to our existing healthcare plan with lower costs, company funded health savings accounts, pension increases, and many different improvements to contract language or work rule issues. The company was either unable or unwilling to respond to our comprehensive proposals. When our bargaining team met with the company today, they stated that they would rather deal with some of the smaller issues at the bargaining table. To that extent, the company provided our bargaining team with two small proposals, and neither of them dealt with the issues that are important to our members.
The largest issues at the bargaining table right now are wages and healthcare. Currently, the company’s wage proposal calls for minor increases that fall below anticipated inflation rates. The company’s healthcare proposal calls for large increases in premiums, deductibles, and out of pocket expenses. Our bargaining team continues to tell the company that they are at the table to improve the lives of our members, not to help the company fill the pockets of their millionaire executives. If you haven’t already taken a look at AT&T’s quarterly earnings statement, we recommend that you read through it. You will find that this is an extremely profitable company, and they have more than enough “free cash flow” to provide us with the wages and benefits we deserve. If you have some spare time on your hands, please join your brothers and sisters at the informational pickets taking place across District 3. The strength of our Union rests in the hands of our membership. Our bargaining team can only wield the strength you give them!