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Informational pickets at AT&T
By Betty Lin-Fisher
Beacon Journal business writer
Published on Friday, Jun 12, 2009
AT&T retirees and employees held an informational picket on Thursday in front of a downtown Akron company building to bring attention to protracted contract talks.
About 50 retirees and workers on lunch break chanted and held signs that said ''On Strike'' with the words ''Just Practicing'' taped on the signs because the Communications Workers of America have not gone out on strike but have worked day-to-day since the contract expired on April 6.
The CWA is negotiating with AT&T for five regional unions representing about 80,000 employees, including 500 in the Akron area. Another 32,000 workers of BellSouth have a contract that expires in August.
CWA Local 4302 employees at an AT&T engineering and central office building on West Bowery Street on lunch break were joined by members of the CWA Retired Members Chapter during the picketing.
The union represents installation and repair technicians, construction technicians, engineers, central office technicians and a few clerical staff. The pay for union members ranges from $9 per hour to $31 per hour, said Bob Wise, president of Local 4302.
The major sticking point in negotiations has centered on increased health-care costs.
Wise said progress is being made. ''It's just slow going. We're doing our part on the inside. We don't volunteer for anything. We're not working overtime,'' said Wise. ''We're going to continue to put pressure on until we get something fair and just and something both the company and union can live with.''
Reva Newman of Portage Lakes, president of the local AT&T retirees group, said retirees were concerned about negotiations and their benefits.
''Medical care is what most retirees are concerned about,'' said Newman, who retired in 1998 after 25 years with the company. ''When you're on a fixed income, you're in a world of hurt [with medical costs].''
AT&T spokesman Marty Richter said retiree benefits are not part of the negotiations.
''AT&T retirees, like our employees, enjoy some of the best health-care benefits in the nation. We take good care of our retirees and will continue to do so,'' said Richter.
Wise said while the company says retirees are not included in the negotiations because they are not under contract as current employees, the company is still trying to change retiree medical benefits, according to bargaining updates from the union.
Employees say they are going through a stressful time.
''I want to be able to do my job. It's extremely stressful. You don't know day to day if we'll be in the office or out on strike. There's a lot of tension,'' said Rita Erhard of Springfield Township, a 38-year employee who works in AT&T's engineering department.
Richter said AT&T's current proposals ''would preserve wages and benefits that are among the best in the U.S., including health-care plans that are among the most robust in the nation, with lower health-care costs than AT&T management, other AT&T union employees covered by recently negotiated CWA agreements, competitors and the national average.''
The company says it needs a more market-based health plan that brings employees more in line with other AT&T workers. The company said while it is growing in areas such as wireless, employees covered by these contracts are in the wired voice services, which continue to shrink.
Wise said union employees just want a fair contract from a company that is profitable.
''Yes, we are all in a tough economy, but in this tough economy, AT&T made almost $13 billion in profit last year. This is not a recessive company. This is a company that is doing well,'' said Wise.
Betty Lin-Fisher can be reached at
330-996-3724 or blinfisher@
thebeaconjournal.com.
AT&T retirees and employees held an informational picket on Thursday in front of a downtown Akron company building to bring attention to protracted contract talks.
Get the full article here.
Comments
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Go Steelers!!!!!, .
Posted 09:04 AM, 06/12/2009
Nobody believes they'll strike. Keep "practicing."
Posted 09:04 AM, 06/12/2009
I pay $1000/mo for health insurance for my family, how much do you think these at&t union members pay? If they go on strike they are nuts!
Barberton, OH
Posted 09:26 AM, 06/12/2009
$1000 a month? That sounds pretty high. I doubt it.
Akron, Oh
Posted 10:00 AM, 06/12/2009
AT&T is making record profits in this recession, and their executives are making tens of millions of dollars in salaries and bonuses -- why are they trying to shortchange their line workers, who contribute more to that company on a daily basis than accountants, lawyers, and MBAs?
Posted 10:04 AM, 06/12/2009
Bye-Bye Middle-Class
Canton, OH
Posted 10:27 AM, 06/12/2009
CWA : Stand Strong. .I know it is hard to make a stand and maybe strike, but you gotta do watcha gotta do. .NOBODY WANTS A STRIKE, but when they are making $$$ hand over fist, something has to be done. . ." I'm proud to be a Union Man, I make those meetings, when I can". . with apologies to Neil Young.
AKRON, OH
Posted 10:36 AM, 06/12/2009
Why should AT&T be different than any other employer, keep all the money and fringe benefits for Management and to hell with the employees. . .the ones who actual work.
RubberMan nailed it "Bye-Bye Middle Class"
Cleveland, Oh
Posted 10:44 AM, 06/12/2009
If they strike they are crazy. That being said I despise AT&T.
Akron, OH
Posted 10:48 AM, 06/12/2009
So CWA, y'all are willing to strike over what, $50.00 more a month out of pocket? Go ahead & strike, there are plenty of unemployed people who will be greatful for your jobs & won't cry about the health care costs. You can join your unemployed union brethern from the UAW & whine about how management is sticking it to you. What a bunch of ungreatful twits! You are your own worst enemy & you dont have the common sense to see it.
Go Steelers!!!!!, .
Posted 11:24 AM, 06/12/2009
For those who hate working for the unfair, ungrateful, selfish AT&T, here are some helpful links:
www.monster.com
www.careerbuilder.com
Posted 11:25 AM, 06/12/2009
"$1000 a month? That sounds pretty high. I doubt it." JustMeinB, when you graduate from highschool or your union lets you think for yourself, you will find that things in the real world cost real money. If you think I don't pay that or that many others pay more you are living in a bubble somewhere.Or do you really think that Obama is going to provide "Free healthcare for all(LOL)"? There is no such thing as Free Healthcare. If these union workers want to go on strike over $50-100 per month they are living in a cocoon.
Akron, Oh
Posted 12:31 PM, 06/12/2009
everybody wants an extra buck for their own, CEO's need to spead alittle joy & workers need to thank god they even have a job now a days.
Ravenna, OH
Posted 12:56 PM, 06/12/2009
Don't talk to them, replace them with those who WANTS a job.
Akron, OH
Posted 01:22 PM, 06/12/2009
If the CWA would think for a minute, they need to work together with management and rally for tort reform. Then health care costs would go down for ALL. God forbid they think outside of the box, though. The union didn't tell them to do that. Fire your so-called union leaders, CWA, & save your jobs.
Posted 02:04 PM, 06/12/2009
Go ahead and go on strike. Where do I apply for the replacement jobs
Posted 10:47 PM, 06/13/2009
POOR BABIES. Half these guys dont work, but want the world. They get too many benefits now....Let them show more greed, STRIKE FOREST, STRIKE. LOL..PAMPERED PETS IS WHAT THEY ARE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
