Pro-AT&T reader comments - Part 2

Big business, making hourly workers pay large premiums and large deductibles is their way of keeping the little guy little. Just like the company store at the coal mine communities of the past.
Retireees that helped make the company (at&t) what it is today, inspite of the current CEO, are not old tools to be thrown away. Loyalty IS a two way street. At least Mr.Whitacre was fair.

I am getting tired of hearing the union reps saying "the upper executives need step down." I agree that we probably have some large money amounts going to the wrong places, but understand this: I personally work anywhere from 50-70 hours a week in my management position, driving over 3000 miles a month to do my job. I am paid out at as level 1 management, and I am taking large hits like all other non-union employees, and my cost in benefits now scares me away from going to the doctor. The union reps make it sound like all non-union reps make a killing, where it is actually the other way around. Co-workers in my department are missing out on life because of the high demands of work, and our families are paying the price for it. We are not Verizon, nor are we GM, but the vast majority of us are not making the money needed to succeed in the world today. I forsee many people leaving non-union positions if we have to shoulder a larger loss in our salaries, down economy or not...

I am a 1st level AT&T manager. I have supervised union employees in the past and it was a great experience. We are all part of the same family and I have made many great friends on both sides of the line. That being said, some union folks out there need to realize that the company will do what it must to protect it's bottom line and remain a competitive force in the future. No, the company is not GM, and it's going to make sure that it does not become GM. If you don't believe that the UAW played a role in GM's current state of a affairs then you are blind. I did not receive a raise this year and I received a very small bonus. Is that a let down; sure it is, but there are more important things out there to worry about. We all make good money for what we do here and we all still have good benefits. I think we can all agree that the future of health care in this company is by far one of the largest drivers on the table right now. Pensions are going to go away eventually so you might as well accept that. Don't even count on it as part of your retirement. If it's there, great, if not, oh well. Make sure you plan your retirement well enough in advance so you don't have to depend on it. Now, back to health care...in response to a previous post, do you honestly believe that anything on the union's website is not propoganda? If you think that's the whole story then you are sadly misled. The union doesn't want you to know the full details about the negotiations. It doesn't matter how good or bad they are going. They will put a spin on any information so that you believe that your union dues were spent wisely and they fought a good hard fight for you when it's all said and done. One thing I have learned is beware of any informational source that claims to be the only true informational source out there. I have kept up with the union websites over the last couple months and find the vast majority of the bargaining updates there to be very unprofessional and it makes me sad. Management has been called pigs, been made fun of because they are doing their job to make sure certain employees are doing their work, and numerous other things. Some CWA members have chosen to act like children, in the false hope that making their supervisors job more difficult, they will somehow influence contract negotiations. Wake up. The union is a company also, believe it or not. Stop drinking the kool-aide and remember who really pays your bills...it's not the CWA. WE ARE ALL the network, and have all built it in some way, shape, or form. All of us play important roles in this company. Not just the craft employees. The bottom line is, everyone needs to contribute some for their health care benefits to help keep this company competitive and drive it into the futue on sure footing. It makes absolutely no sense for managers to continuously foot the bill to subsidize 100,000 craft employees benefits. This is not 1970 anymore and no longer is it the times where companies needlessly abused their employees and got away with it. I briefly worked for the company when our management benefits were picked up totally by the company and it was a little bit of an upset when that went away. But did that destroy my life or family because I had to start contributing each month to my health care? No it did not. It's time that there were incentives again to be in management. Craft benefits must be balanced. Oh, and to those of you that complain about the high salaries and bonuses of our upper management; I would hope that if I worked my way up to the top of one of the best telecommunication companies in the world, that I made a lot more than the average worker out there too. If you don't like it, work your way up and change it. Greed is not found in any one part of the company any more than any other. If you think you are being taken advantage of by the company, you need to really take a good look around. Take your salary and see how it compares to most people with similar jobs out there. I have a feeling we are pretty much all on the high side. Regardless of all the hype and drama right now, this will eventually blow over and life will return to normal. Until then, c'est la vie.

I have only a few questions to ask of both sides of this issue.

1. How much does the Upper Management pay for their HealthCare premiums, and how much is their deductible?
2. Now the same information for the Union Employees please?
3. How much of a profit-sharing bonus did Upper Managenent recieve this year? (Call it what you want, its the money over their regular wages)
4. Now the same information for the Union Employees in the Wireline division (where they sell Uverse, Mobility, and DSL)?
5. How much does Upper Management expect to pay for Childcare costs when they work forced OT?
6. Now the same of the Union Employees who would recieve about 2 hours notice that they will be working OT today, regardless of their family?

Once you can answer these questions, and keep a straight face when you say they are equal, I will be able to understand all this controversy.

I am an At&t employee - non union - and believe me when I say - these union people should start thinking with there heads - I am sorry but ALL Union people are replaceable - do us non union employees have to do the job of a union employee if they go on strike - yeah, but guess what - ask all the other Union employees that got canned on the last layoff about 2 years ago - why didnt the UNION help these people? - Guess what??? these Laid off employees have the EXPERIENCE with At&t to be inside and outside technicians - customer operations specialists- warehouse - so union people DONT think you are not replaceable - because guess what - YOU ARE - and if the union does go on strike, they better make it a long one - so the 40 Million Americans that dont have JOBS can slide right into there place - and it will be Experieced people who can perform your job and maybe even perform it BETTER - since they need a job.

If Union Members start paying more for Healthcare, do you really think you will have to pay less? Corporations never give back what they have already taken.

We as union members know you are paying health care premiums. We too, aren't stupid. We know we should help pay but maybe you should read what the company has put out on the bargaining...go to our websites to see all the changes and massive ones. We aren't complaining about making health care premiums but only the high costs they want to throw at us immediately. They won't even discuss our retirees geeze! Our pensions are at risk. Get real! We aren't holding out for more money or more of anything. We are trying to protect what we have to a point. Just because you have to sit there and take it, we don't!