Kansas CWA local president: Talks with AT&T 'not going well'

UNION YES! COMPANY PROFITS YES! OUR SWEAT & LABOR made this company function and it still does today.

Technology will expand further again and again. We WERE and ARE the network! STRIKE = loss on both sides. Standing up for what you believe in makes the world go 'round!

SPEAK UP, SAY SOMETHING. NO MORE SILENT OBSERVING! NO MORE EXPECTATIONS OF BEING HANDED SOMETHING THAT YOU ARE NOT WILLING TO STAND UP FOR ON YOUR OWN.

We retirees did not concede to company demands of concessions over the past 50 years to have it all taken away through deception, intimidation and coercion.

ZERO CHAOS = UNION BUSTING - implemented over two years ago. This is a planned sequence of events and you current employees are the pawns of this game of chess (life). Conveniently for the company, we are in difficult economic times.

I only have one drink of choice. Union Kool-Aid. Always have, Always will and boy oh boy, does it taste good!

STAND UP FOR YOURSELVES. DO NOT LAY DOWN or sit back and expect to be spoon fed. YOU are your union. You make the difference.

Yes, YOU!

Bellsouth did not follow through with the purchase of att, because of the damage of Katrina, the bottom line is att is a monster, and they do not care about their employees or customer. If you only knew the lies, games and bait & switch games they play on their customers they are ripping every last one of them off. Bellsouth loved their customers and employees. ATT loves their bottom line,if you make a customer complaint they just laugh, and throw it in the trash...And ONE DAY THIS MONSTER WILL BE THE ONLY PHONE COMPANY>>>THEY ARE JUST WAITING TO PURCHASE VERZION....

Go ahead and strike, we will be replaced by others? I think you miss the point. One issue of contintion is the replacing of our jobs by contract labor with pay equal to Catv installers. This is called a Job Security Issue to us. If those techies you speak of with their education want a similar job, you can apply now with Comcast. If we lose, and ATT could earn 24 billion in profits next year, and we will be at the same level of income down the road with Catv, and feel as you. The other issue is with the economy as it is, our retirement is relatively below those of comparable industies. I have 36 proud years in ATT and in a few more I can retire and draw 1200 dollars a month from my pension. Less than government, state local teachers, auto workers, postal, or many others. Were we have a good deal is with options of joining a 401K. This is our contrabutions to our retirement with some partial company matching funds based on corporate profits. Some how, ATT profits are increasing but partial matching is decreasing-Go figure! All with less and less employees! When a retired man who has worked 40 years is told that he has no more health care, or has to pick up a greater increase of the bill on his fixed income, he can't just go out and get a job to supplement it. (Just for the record, Telephone employees have average an higher age of retirement than of most any industry. Most men work into their 60's unless surplused by the company.) His and ATT agreements are being broken after saying you give your productive life to me and I will provide for you in your old age. Third Issue, again in case you missed it, ATT made 12 billion in profit in this down economy. Why should they cut benefits or forces so drastically? I had to work 63 hours this week because we are understaffed. I would love for you to join me and help out. Our wages are average for our work and education. It is not about wages as some try to say. I been in Electrical Engineering @ University level (Not a JR College) and have been in management. I now choose to be a facility Tech, because of the excess regulations and paperwork required of first line managers. 18 men, no secretary, and a lot of paper headaches. First and second line managers generally support the efforts of the union, because of what we get, they share at a slightly higher rate. Most managers do not want to work a strick. (Most? Never met one who was happy to do it.) Most young Techies I have met do not want to get that dirty, or work that many long of hours in wet holes in the ground, threw cold storms, hot summers, up week tall poles, or climb in attics and such. They want a clean job, and I don't blame them. It is not just playing with a computer as many think. Many can't pass the entrance test or the physical, or pass the climbing schools. Then the other schools. Don't believe me, try it. It is not simple basic electricity anymore. But I do appreciate you obvious and generous compassion and understanding you demonstrated of these matters and our plight.
P.S. We do have openings, non union starting around $12 an hour without much future called a premis tech. You have to pass a test and be able to be trainable to climb poles, and go threw attics. You need to check out the future, and come work for us.

Yea. You may be right. But it won't be long afterwards before they find themselves asking the same things that are being asked now by the current workers. How can a company be this profitable (and on course to be even more profitable this fiscal year)and justify the need to demand that workers give back what they have already earned? Nothing but smoke and mirrors. Feudalism is no longer sustainable.

Go ahead and strike!.. There are millions of unemployed technology workers that would love to take your place.

Please keep in mind that at&t made $12B after paying benefits. I want to see a company to profit and shareholders be rewarded, but they should also take care of their employees. The CWA is not asking for large bonuses and pay increases, just don't take away what is already there.

DAY after DAY after DAY we read statements based on WHAT??????? Not one of you know of any details in a proposal from either side so how can you type a statement??????

RE:" Here's a point to ponder. Why should the landline side of the company continue to pay nothing for their health care when the Mobility side of the company (district 6 anyway) has to pay more for their insurance? We're all in the same union, but there were some morons somewhere at the bargaining tables that let the Mobility insurance be separated from their contract, so Mobility has no say or control over their insurance. We have to settle for whatever the arbitrators tell us we're going to have to pay. Granted, compared to the rest of the world, the Mobility isurance is GREAT, but what's right about the Mobility premiums going up and not the landline side?"

We need to get out of the mindset of "if we can't have something then nobody should". The way this works is we all go up and forward, not down to a common low level of pay and benefits. It's easier to go to the negotiations and say "we want "X" benefit because our other groups have that", than to all lose it and then try to fight to get it back for everyone. Stand proud and support each other, any benefit degraded affects us all in the long run.
I certainly agree that there needs to be more transparency at the bargaining tables- some of the crap agreements recently are disturbing, who would agree to this garbage? Not the members I bet.
I would like to see after this contract gets done for all members to DEMAND more information as we go forward in future contracts, we have the technology to do it. The main thing to remember is this is OUR union, let's act like it.

I have been reading extensively on net and probably have read a lot of what is written on this topic. Here is my take. I think a strike is not an answer to anything. I really feel for those who will be forced to strike and at the same time feel for those who will be forced to cover for it. I bet that there are majority of people on both sides not wanting a strike. I know I don't and almost everybody I spoke to till date despises the idea of a strike. I just hope and pray that both parties show compassion towards other and try and reach a resolution fast which is fair to both parties. I believe that folks from both side show maturity and understanding in these difficult time and save thousands of people from both sides from all the trouble and hardship. In my view no job is worthless and unimportant. Every job is important. However I do feel sometimes that the whole world setup is not fair and not everybody is paid what they deserve. All I can ask and hope that everybody understand other persons situation by putting themselves in their shoes and then try and solve the problem the best they can. Compassion is the key here. Please support each other no matter which side you are on. When pain hits it hurts everybody the same and I can bet none of you would enjoy seeing others in pain and agony. I plead all of you to show brotherhood at this time and hope and pray for a quick resolution. Remember a majority of people's hands are tied on both sides and whatever happens they will mostly be following orders. I wish everybody gets a fair deal and all can be spared pain and hardship current and future both. All the best to everybody. May there be happiness and prosperity around in abundance for everyone.

Here's a point to ponder. Why should the landline side of the company continue to pay nothing for their health care when the Mobility side of the company (district 6 anyway) has to pay more for their insurance? We're all in the same union, but there were some morons somewhere at the bargaining tables that let the Mobility insurance be separated from their contract, so Mobility has no say or control over their insurance. We have to settle for whatever the arbitrators tell us we're going to have to pay. Granted, compared to the rest of the world, the Mobility isurance is GREAT, but what's right about the Mobility premiums going up and not the landline side?

It is simply amazing how blind some people are to the fact that this company is just flat out using this reccession as an excuse to make more money. The company made 12.9 billion last year that is after they paid out all salaries, including all the top executives 33million. That is after they paid out all benefits, after they paid out all the dividends, the supplies, the trucks, the fines, the placement of a whole new fiber to the node network. which all costeed somewhere in the area of 115 billion. I know that here in the valley the company placed approximately 500 fiber nodes to heat up uverse service to as many customers possible. The basic uverse package is about 6 time more expensive then the most expensive pots calling plan. And from the node it still runs over the same copper pairs that you pots(plain old telephone service) ran over. It funny how the company points out that the wireline or pots service has dwindled down 20% over 3 years which, hey what do you know was about the same time at&t started pushing dry loop dsl, and uverse. So of course we lost pots services but they aren't lost, at least 80% of the 20% mentioned pots lines were upgraded to the more expensive dsl or uverse service, oh and not to mention more then likely that one pots line turned into a wireless number, or two or three for those of us that have family plans. So how can the company with a straight face say the union members that work wireline services are the ones with the richest health care. That is like asking why did the ceo of this company make 22 million dollars last year? Because somewhere someone thought he earned it? Maybe, most of us don't. But i bet you ask most managers if the technicians that work outside everyday climbing poles in the rain sleet and snow to make sure that your, pots, dsl,uverse, and cellular service, no matter what company you have cell service through, keeps working deserve the benefits and pay that they have with this previous contract. Most of them will say they do, if you don't think so then your just lying to your self to make your conscience feel better about stepping on all the people that make this company what it is. As far as next year goes I can tell you right now that the company will pull a much bigger profit in next year. Simple math all the fiber they laid in the past year all the fiber nodes they have placed they are all making money already. They company will still place some but not even half as many as they did this year, so what does that mean? Easy it means instead of the company spending 100 billion next year to place more fiber/ and fiber node they will make money off of the the now placed and in service uverse services then they will only have to spend 50 billion placing fiber. Yup that means twice as much profit and at half the cost. And you want to act like we are going under come on how stupid do you think we are? Auto companies didn't go down because of health care they went down because of ignorance and greed. We aren't asking for more pay or benefits we are just asking that you be fair to us. I know that is asking alot from you people that have everything given and provided for you. But be reasonible, Don't just step on us because we are littler than you or so you think. there are more of us then there are of you. Oh and all of you crazy contractors that think you can do my work, i don't place or replace cable I fix it. And i still have yet to see a contractor make use of any trouble shooting skills the he or she might think they have. Good luck trying to do my job

Btw....my comment was in response to Jackal's post.

I'll make this very short and sweet. Well said sir...well said. :-)

CWA is splintered, broken and weak. I am sorry brothers and sisters we will cross the line in droves if there is a strike. Certainly I will. I am fortunate to have a good paying job in this economy. Let's get this over with..there is too much stress in the workplace and we can all jump for joy and celebrate when they fire tens of thousands of managers.

A lot of posturing by CWA, but no action!When a contract expires,it's over.A group that's afraid of how long the company can make it without them has no leverage in negotiations.

What's wrong with wanting to maintain a better level in the quality of our lives. I agree - this whole strike thing and at&t locking us out and the whole circus around it is all for show - FROM BOTH SIDES. In the end, though, we still need to eat, pay bills, etc. and all we have is our jobs. I'm on temp status, and hopefully will be made permanent. How fair is that me being temp performing better than many who permanent can be let go in 24 mos, then just be replaced again by someone who is getting paid half of what I was making - not right. There is nothing wrong with us, my fellow temps and I, wanting job security. Why should we all have to live in this insecurity of not knowing what will happen to my job once my temp contract is over? Union members don't want to strike - at least I know from me and my co-workers that we don't. It's been said, a work stoppage would not be good for anyone... not the company, not the employees(mgmt and non mgmt) and the customers. I am proud to be an at&t employee and will be even prouder once I know I have job security.

Quit threatening and go out on strike if you think you have it so bad. You will loose in the court of public opinion just like the over paid execs are. You will be just as bad as those you condem. Sounds mostly like propaganda coming from both sides. If any employer doesn't want to give you what you want, then go elsewhere and see what you get. Some people are taking crap jobs just to get by and would love to have the jobs that you do. Most of your jobs can be done with a little training. A lot of the techs have zero education or experience before coming to AT&T. They moved into technical positions because they had seniority not because they have any technical background. Sorry don't feel sorry for you, I have paid healthcare premiums for almost 20 years. BTW..... A-Rod made more money last year than Randall Stephenson(I don't agree with either!) for playing a game while Randall made the shareholders(you) money.

Okay, so first I want to clear something up with you Innocent Bystander, DON'T EVER ANSWER A QUESTION FOR ME. I am fully capable of formulating an intelligent response to any question that is presented to me. Now, I could go down your list of "points" and dismiss them one by one again but that would just be redundant. Now, you want to point out people who were making $100,000/yr. taking pizza delivery jobs? Okay, seriously where did you get that from, Oprah? Listen, there are a lot, A LOT of people who have lost jobs, but most people that make a base salary of $100,000/yr. have had a fallback plan for many years. So don't even try to attack me with generalized sob stories that do not apply to the masses. As for you being a buffoon, well you stated that there were hundreds of you in line for those jobs Wal-Mart opened up so it stands to reason you SHOULD know what the starting pay was. Well maybe not, you don't seem like the sharpest tool in the shed. As for the rest about me being greedy and being an idiot. Well greedy....sure, I am. I am used to negotiating my own pay and benefits and I'm damn good at it, I chose this job not the other way around. I can easily, EASILY replace it if forced to do so. Lastly, why am I not an officer?? Well it's simple really. Just as when I joined the military I follow the principal belief that you can never lead until you have followed. When I joined this company I was ASKED to, they ASKED ME. In the beginning I had two options, take a management position that payed more but had less benefits. Let me clarify that as well, the BASE pay was more but after OT I make more than what it would have payed. Just because you are a disgruntled, uninformed person don't assume the rest of us are. By the way, to answer your question about the 401K, it came from a national research study from WorldAtWork and the American Benefits Council. So chew on that for a little while, formulate another substandard response and then spew it out.

Until then.....

I just want to say this message and articles have been the only thing in my life that has made me laugh this last week. The stress of knowing I could be sent out of town at any minute to do a job I dot' know how to do has been awful. It's been fun to come here and read everyone opinion. I will say that I wish people would down talk 1st and 2nd line managers so much, people must realize that they have no control over any of this. I have my twenty plus years in and I can't leave now, so I cross the picket line like I must to keep my job and I hope the union gets a good and fair contract. At this point in my career and the way things are at AT&T I don't expect to ever get a bonus or increae or anything good again. Just leave me alone and let me work through my years. As far as working 12 hours I day. i have done that plenty, I used to be proud to work that hard during a big project and proud of the work we did. I was a clerk way back when and I worked so hard to get promoted, no college and I thought I would have a great job with great benies the rest of my life. I just wanted to provide well for my family, as a single mom I really wanted to be a manager so i could move up and do that. Now the treatment and the constant brow-beating has gotten the best of me. The good news is that now I can take more pleasure from other things in life. I think that is why you see so much passion here, we were all so loyal to this company.

really i get along with my 1st line managers for the most part, but once u get to 2nd lines..idk bout that, it's diff story...ours constantly scratches private parts and adjusts undergarments in front of the work place...must be an occupational hazzard...need a better health plan to medicate her i guess..my point is..i am on standby and ready to strike for the retiree's...not all about me...it's about those who made it for me..no reason for the retiree's to lose benefits after everything they did for the company...Randall was still crapping in his diapers when these ppl were making the company what it is today..randall has a plan alright...run another sucessful company into the ground...Randall the Rat! Time you realized you aint all that...guess the public should have ur phone number...that can be arranged

do u really know what we may strike about? Retiree benefits and retiree health care!! Got greedy ceo and executives making millions upon millions, but oh wait we want to cut the retirees out! If that doesnt make you understand and be upset against at&t I guess you dont have a heart or a conscience. Sleep well

Wilma, check your history, at&t didn't buy anything. SBC made the acqusitions, and now the companies are operating as at&t. It was about name recognition. And yes Bellsouth was too conservative, and I would still like to punch Akerman in the nose. He was a whimp, and he and the "Cowboy" rode off on their horses, with a golden parachute.

Cable cut in the bay area. Police Investigators believe it is an inside job. Have called in the FBI. Police and FBI say this was a deliberate act of violence and the person had to have the skill to know what they were doing. Put over 50,000 landlines out of business, 911, police, fire and hospitals. If they do get the person, and with a $250,000 reward. They most surely will. THis will not bode well for strikers expecting the public sympathy vote.

MANAGERS ARE THE FIRST TO GO ANYWAY!! GO CWA
NOW THEY ALL ARE NERVOUS AND WANT US TO BOW DOWN!!

Wilma, BellSouth had many opportunities and the resources to buy ATT any others but the weak upper managment were only concerned with their own little empires and were not willing to step up to the plate. Instead they sat back and let it happen and walked away with their millions free and clear...

"Make no mistake, this is how large corporations in competitive markets must be run to become and, more importantly, remain successful." No, this is not how corporations MUST be run. This is how corporations have ruined the American economy. IT'S TIME FOR A CHANGE. If greed at the top is condoned and celebrated, we'll never get out of this mess.

All the people who are ready to strike remember 1 thing. Your union officers are still going to be getting paid and they don't really care about the rank and file, they just want to "win". The economy is in the toilet, most people are losing their jobs or taking pay cuts across the entire country so why are you not willing to negotiate the smallest hit available? The unions need to look at the entire picture for once and relax their demands as they will get no sympathy from the general public, people will and are already lined up to take your jobs. AT&T already has contractors lined up to do your jobs and will add additional profits by not paying your benefits, how much of a raise will you need to make the money back, you will lose while on strike and please do not say it is the "principal" that counts. Once you walk hardball will begin and the company will have all the power to end it at their will, just remember the "people representing" you will be getting paid so what is their motive to end this?

Slap a coat of blue and orange paint on ol' SBC and you got at&t. Google "Whitacre Stephenson" and read. This one's first up and tells you about all you need to know: www.xchangemag.com/articles/07junfeat01.html. One type of CEO builds companies and a whole different type keeps them solvent. Once you taste the glory of reversing $30B of net debt, and then making $12.9B in net income, you don't stop eating. There's always another dollar to make and crumb to brush away somewhere.

Yep, at&t is swimming in money. Today. And if you're more than a few levels down from the CEO, you're a guppy. If you don't mind swimming with some sharks and piranha, it's great. If you don't mind giving a little blood, sweat and tears, seeing the company become successful beyond imagination and being told, "You did OK but you need to do much better - no raise or bonus" it's great. If you're looking for a pat on the back and a "job well done", this ain't the place for you. Drive a truck, drive a frame, or drive a desk - doesn't matter. Learn to breathe underwater and swim fast.

Make no mistake, this is how large corporations in competitive markets must be run to become and, more importantly, remain successful. Just don't mistake today's company with your father's company, or even your legacy company of a mere couple of years ago. Because all this work and profit could evaporate in the blink of an eye if the right moons align and another Ed Whitacre is lurking in the high grass in New York, Philadelphia or elsewhere.

If Bellsouth was doing so great why didn't they just buy AT&T instead of the other way around.

OG, the workers aren't asking for MORE, they're just asking that what they already have not be taken away. BellSouth consistently made huge profits in recent years; why is it unreasonable to expect that the employees who made the company run efficiently and effectively continue to be treated as decently as they have been? If SBC/at&t is expecting shortfalls, it's probably because their policies and practices aren't nearly as efficient or effective as the company they bought and they know that running the company into the ground cannot be sustainable in the long run. As they say at ex-BellSouth, the Flintstones bought the Jetsons.

Power,

You are correct there are a lot of clueless people on these boards posting. Your post was insightful, but you are also very short-sighted - and have obviously been union brain-washed.

Just because outside people cannot pass an initial test does not mean they are not capable of doing these jobs. Did you ever fail a test in school? Does that mean that you are an idiot regarding the subject, no it does not, you learn and then you can pass the test ...
Initial Tests mean nothing, there are many people that can do these jobs. You are very naive to think that a person cannot be trained for these jobs. Point is a monkey can be trained to do things like people can be trained to work or excel in sports. This company has been going for many years and many people have retired, there seems to be no problem hiring new people and training them to do the job!! These are obviously trainable jobs or the company would have folded when the first batch of workers retired.

You contradict yourself often by bragging about your degree and your level of expertise and experience and how you passed the test. Then, later, you say all a degree does is show you can complete a task.

The company shows billions of dollars in profits is true, but the company needs to make that money to expand it's product line, R&D , etc .. not give the union people more money and benefits. The executives have to make money for the shareholders so the stock and dividends go up for them. (Oh, by the way - that is YOU!)

You don't have the brain power to even fathom doing one of the executive's jobs! People harp on how much they make , true the numbers are quite large, but there are only a few people in the world that can successfully run a large corporation like this and to attract the best you need to pay the most money!

Why did the Yankees pay so much money for Mark Texiera? because they were willing to pay big money for the best player available. Is Texiera worth 20mil a year? hard to tell... is Arod worth 20mil a year? Many people will have different opinions on this ...

And, I do agree with you about the "Dr's" and the "Turds" statement, sounds like you are a very dedicated employee and is closer to the DR side.. but it is the "turds" and there are many of them who ruin for all you good workers .. they grieve when they are looked at wrong, they space their work out for a full day, call in sick, go on "stress" or some other dumb disability, complain about everything and the list goes on.

The managers are going to cover 12 hour days because they just appreciate having a job and will do whatever the bosses say. Their health insurance premiums are high and they get no overtime. There are pluses and minuses to every job, the union has to stop trying to get more an d more every year! At some point, the company profits will start falling and people will be whining because AT&T's stock is dropping and people are getting laid off.

Can't have it both ways , union has to look out for the company #1 and the employee #2 .. not the other way around.

Have a nice day everyone
O.G.

I wish these negotiations would end already! All this waiting around is getting so frustrating! "Managers" are on edge waiting around to see if they have to go to their assignments if a strike is called. Can't even make any plans for the weekend because of this!

Another AT&T Manager said "The frustrations of the bargainning between CWA with AT&T have turned occupational against 1st line management." I truly hope that's not true. My husband is an ET and has nothing but respect for his manager. In fact, one of my husband's barometers for how bad things are getting is the devolution in how the company is treating his manager. These folks are truly stuck between a rock and a hard place - seems the company is treating the managers worse by the day and yet they're going to be expected to carry the company should CWA decide to walk. Shameful.

It's clear that emotions are getting the best of everyone right now. The frustrations of the bargainning between CWA with AT&T have turned occupational against 1st line management. A strike will serve no purpose other than to inconvenience the lives of us managers FORCED to cover, and those of our customers. It's truly a no-win situation. I wish the best to the CWA and hope for resolution soon since it is in the best interests of everyone that this gets done ASAP.

After 30+ years as an employee of SCB then Bellsouth, now at&t, working as a CWA ST, and then moving to the management side some 10 years ago. My first thought each day is that it was a sad day when at&t took over Bellsouth, for which I would like to punch Mr. Ackerman in the mouth. I have seen my quality of work life go down ever since. I have seen my benefits go to pot, and I am yet to talk to a fellow manager that when honest is truly happy with his day to day job. Lets also make another thing clear. This is SBC under the disguise of at&t. Remember who bought who. I can not stand to see people who have either never been a true "Telephone Technician", or is so far removed from the job that they don't remember the skills and training needed to do the job properly. Not to mention the rapid technological changes in the telecommunication industry. Let’s face it, it "ain't your Grandpa's tip and ring" phone service.

I can't wait to see some of the newly trained managers come in after a day in the field, trying to repair a noisy line. It is going to be like the Three Stooges. The real Stooges will be sitting in the “Ivory Tower” trying to figure out what to tell the Stock Holders, when the “antiquated” plant, that is in dire need of a true upgrade, not just insufficient patching, starts to fail. We will hear “Randy” say “Oh, and by the way we thought we really had a good plan. I guess we overestimated our ‘CP09 Plan’. Perhaps Ya’ll could give me a ‘Golden Parachute’?”
For those of you who don’t know what it takes to do the job of a Service Tech, or Facility Tech, perhaps you should be aware that the last statistics I heard about 40% of applicants that make it to the testing process can’t pass the entrance test for the job. Then, if they pass the test, get through school, (I have had more than one “New Hire” wig out when it came to “Climbing School”) there is still quite a long time before they are truly ready to do the job. How many of you experienced Techs have lost hours of productive time training these “New Hires” to do the job right. And then how long after where they where reasonably proficient at their Job? I wonder how the Manager that has only worked in a Cingular store, is going to make out trying to repair a ped that is eat up by ants is going make out. I want to watch!

I pray for a contract that takes into account respect for the job you do everyday. Rain, shine sleet and snow, and on very unfortunate occasions hurricanes. I can’t recall seeing a member of the United Auto Workers surveying cable damage the day after him home was completely destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. And sleeping in a tent provided by the “Late and Great Bellsouth”.

It is inevitable that there will be some concessions from the union members before this thing is settled. For that reason alone it may not be a great idea to strike at this time. Don’t rush to give up what you have now. You still are getting paid, and you still have your benefits. However, I do understand how you feel when at&t comes off with some of the rhetoric they have put out. I believe they want a strike, or they think they do anyway

The grocery stores are union. The poor workers have to pay the union money while most make minimum wages. No health care for 18 months then the healthcare they are offered sucks. After paying union dues most will then make under minimum wages...

Hey tech with a degree,
You are an idiot, "nuclear war" button, i pushed it because you know I am right!
1) You see your an idiot i said 10% of people are unemployed, i didn't say anything about people working not wanting substandard jobs - read the news some time if you can read - some people are taking pizza delivery jobs that used to make $100,000 just to pay bills.
2) oh my gosh, i am so wrong now because my minimum wage figure was not exact!! That means I am a buffoon - still the fact of this statement was true!!
3) 94% of companies provide 401k and pensions, wow you are an idiot and you don't know the "real world" do you, where did you get those stats from the union?!
4) Your greedy period! Ask all your friends if they pay health insurance and they do! That is everyone's point - you think you deserve to get to pay no premiums , you are wrong!
5) An officers job is much too complex for simpletons like you. Check with your other 130,000 union workers, most don't have degrees and their jobs are replaceable. If you have the skills to be an officer, why are you not one? Your answer: "Duh, I don't know man, but I could be one easily"

Call me names if you like , I hope I pushed your "nuclear button" again, because you know I am right!

All jobs are replaceable and yours is too.

Companies do not owe workers anything!

I agree also if we are going let's go, get it over with and I'm union, I don't wanna strike but I'm tired of walking on eggshells! And all the arguing back & fourth, with xtra comments and the rumors. NEITHER SIDE know whats being really discussed.

I agree. I'm sick of the same insults being thrown around. 12 billion in profits, healthcare yada yada. We get it. Just strike already so we can get this over with.

You managers and union haters:

Let me say this, we as Americans as a whole have a come to believe that it is OK to accept what ever is handed to you. Why can't you stand up and demand better? You mention Wal-Mart, they fought hard to keep unionized labor out. So, that is why they still pay minimum wage labor and have substandard benefits for you people lined up to accept it. All the while, they make huge profits and squeeze out small businesses in our local neighborhoods. You need a degree to understand that? "If you don't stand for something, you will fall for anything"

Hmm. Here's an idea.

Let the union walk. Take a hard line approach. Eventually the members will either cross, go hungry, or find another job.

Ah, the witless banter continues I see.

All I want to know is when the union is going to walk so I can schedule a babysitter.

Corperate greed? Try Dumb Masses. Who gets the $12b in profits? Share holders. Who are share holders? Anybody who has stock including those with 401K's. It is you retirements!
Quit drinking to coolaid and learn something about buisness economics.

Of all the hundreds of posts and comments I've read, INNOCENT BYSTANDER, just pushed what I like to call my "Nuclear War" button. In light of his witless and uneducated post I will respond in kind:

1)Do you realize that of that 10% most will not work at a job they consider "below" their standard? Even if it means going without?

2)Thank you for showing your nescience of current law as minimum wage is required by federal law to be $6.55/HR until July, 24th when it is raised to $7.25/HR. I believe that would make it very difficult for Wal-Mart to pay $5.50/HR.

3)Actually my dear fellow, In 2008, 94 percent of companies provided some type of employer match to the employee’s individual 401(k) contribution, compared to 93 percent when the survey was first conducted in 2002.

4)We may not have to pay for our coverage, but I would say that it is only average to a little below. I have worked for companies at which I paid a small monthly premium but the coverage was 20 times more efficient and beneficial.

5)As for the pay of the Officers. Well, let me put this into perspective for you, combine the total compensation a teacher makes per year to that of a low-end officer and tell me that it is justified. Better yet, how about the pay of firefighters, EMT's or Policeman compared to an officer of a company. My point is this, there are professions that put the employees into danger everyday and they make peanuts compared to a person who sits in an office and counts the beans.

On a personal note, I rarely become offended by a buffoon like you but the comment insinuating that myself or any other union member doesn't have the degree's or intelligence to do the job of an officer is preposterous.

Do you union folks realize:
1) unemployment is up to 10% of the population - you hold good paying jobs.
2) Walmart just had some job openings and there were hundreds of us unemployed workers in line there for a $5.50 per hour job!! How much do you all make? $##.## per hour, thats what i thought! Don't give me "you are poor" crap!
3) Pension & 401k plans - most people in the "real" world don't have any of these plans, you have nice plans - HOW CAN YOU COMPLAIN ABOUT THAT?!
4) How can you complain about paying a little health care payment?! You have good coverage - companies cannot give health insurance for free to every employee - companies are in the business to "MAKE MONEY" so you can have a job, idiots!
5) Who cares how much the chief officers make, you all have to realize you don't have the intelligence to do their jobs.. look at your lack of degrees and check out their degrees... oh and have a conversation with an officer sometime and see how your intelligence is not near one of theres.

Come on wake up UNION people!

You need the company to make money, so they can keep you employed and give you the good benefits and pay you get now! Don't be greedy and compare your pay to the executive officers!

Match your health benefits with the managers of AT&T, they pay huge premiums but don't complain, they are just happy to have a job and will do whatever the company asks of them.

Cross the picket lines if you are smart!!!

Resign from the UNION

ALL THIS IS IS CORPORATE GREED AND YOU MR JOE BLOW PUBLIC...YOU TRY TO WORK IN RAIN,ICE,SNOW,AND STORM'S LATE AT NIGHT IN THE COLD AND HEAT..TRY TO DO THE WORK WE DO EVERY DAY
IT TAKES A LONG TIME FOR A REPAIRMAN TO LEARN THE CRAFT!! WE SHOULD BE PAID MORE..BUT ALL WE WANT IS A FAIR CONTRACT THAT WE WERE PROMISE BY THE COMPANY(ATT)WHO PAID THERE TOP CEO $33MIL for SETTING ON THERE BUTTS DOING NOTHING!

To the person that said the Union employees have lttle training and are underworked. You make me laugh. You are well on your way to being a 3rd or 4th level in this company. Because that this where they put all of the idiots that think thay know everything.

I doubt highly that the co will lock anyone out. However - if CWA calls a strike - I hope its members realize that it will be a long one (not 4 days like it was last time). The company is holding all the cards this time, whether the union wants to believe it or not. No one is irreplaceable and, if you don't believe me - ask anyone who was involved in the Air Traffic Controllers strike in the 1980's. Good luck to all.

I am a very proud IBEW 21 member that works for at&t. cwa and ibew are full of very hard working honest individuals that care about the financial health of at&t. we just want a fair contract for the hard work we have already done in the past and will continue in the future. a few years ago at&t asked ibew and cwa to help lobby state legislature in illinois to obtain a state video franchise law so at&t could offer uverse. we worked very very hard on our own time to get that law passed. ibew 21 also conceded to allow contracting out of some of our work so at&t could save $$$ to beef up the landline network to offer video (uverse). the cwa and ibew have continually worked with at&t (even in mid contract) to preserve the financial health of our company. we are not lazy and we do care. we are definetly not underworked or overpaid. the job that I work as a repairman requires a shit load of training on and off the job. we stand by our company when they stand by us.

What exactly was project easter bunny?