No apparent contract movement from AT&T, union

Union! What union, thanks to district 4 and district 9 settling. The company can send all the managers in those areas to go and support any area that tries to strike. Personally I think the union and the company need to get their heads out of their butts. We all need to work together; to me it’s pretty simple why the employee needs to have the union on its side. At&t treats the premis thechs like dirt, making them work until 1,2,or3 in the morning is just wrong. Firing them when they are sick on the 3rd day is wrong! Firing them when they take to long on a job is wrong! This is no lie, talk to them and at&t will treat everyone just like that if they think they can. Customers, Customers hate at&t everyone I come across wishes their was another provider and don’t use the cable company and an excuse. They don’t like the cable company either they say they are worse. There’s no accountably at at&t customers have been slammed everywhere I go. The big joke is that if you hate some one give the phone company their telephone number and they will provide them with untold misery and the at&t globe is the death star. Its shameful!! People need to realize that just because someone went to school and earned an MBA. It doesn’t make them a leader! The company thinks they know their customer wrong! I know the customer because I resolve their problems everyday. The company thinks they don’t need an educated labor force but everyday I see the importance of our need. I do almost everything outside phone, DSL, uverse and I can say my skills go far beyond just installation. The repair work I do for the company involving DSL is far beyond what the company originally trained me on. I can tell you the business model that says you can get by without technically trained workforce is a failing business model. At&t just doesn’t get and neither do most of you. I don’t know why there are many contracts when there is only one phone company.

BY THE WAY, for all you guys that are complaining about the union......You are obviously not involving yourselves with the functions of the union. Do you even attend meetings?
Before negotioations commence, a bargaining task force meeting takes place. This is to discuss issues that have caused problems in the past, and prioritize your suggestions.It also decides and directs the bargaining team what issues are strike issues.... all members should recieve bargaining suggestion forms prior to negotiations. VERY few are ever returned to the union. That was your voice. Then the suggestions are covered at a meeting, and then each local membership should speak out, then appoint who should attend the BTF meeting to represent their interests. Here was your voice as well. Then at the meeting all these things are done, given what the membership has provided. Shame on you for not involving yourself and doing nothing.
I would suspect that the bargaining team for district 4 would not strike, if they met the issues that the MEMBERSHIP ultimatly decided were strike issues. All issues are prioritized 2 or 3 times before the final product is reached.
So please consider this before you blame anyone. However, I do agree that Dist 4 should have held on this all contracts were in the same place. Att has been playing the game very well, and has been putting this together for years. I believe that the most important issues are not really healthcare at this point, but protecting future work, so that we can come back to the table in better times. Times are definitly tough for your union. Please stand united to get through these difficult times so that we can move on and do a better job next time. (no, im not a cwa leader). Without the union, you would be one of those posting here that are putting you down about how good you have it, and how bad they have it. You have these things because you have a union voice. Without that, you would be without. Just like them. If more workers had the oppurtunity for a union, they would think differently, and better conditions would prevail; ultimatly having a better economy. Some people just can't understand because they haven't been here. Stand united. Don't let the negatives in this forum take away your determination for a better life for yourselves. You will usually only hear from the very few that always feel negative, and don't really understand how democracy works.

Stay strong, stay united. Weve got a lonnng, HARD road ahead, and att is definitly attempting to break us, DON'T LET EM, as well as those here on the outside who believe they have the answers. The union isn't perfect but its better off here. Don't wait for someone else to make a difference--YOU ARE THAT SOMEONE ELSE!!

P.S You can do it, and i am not a dummy !

I have to laugh when the company talks about "market-based" health care. Presumably, if Dr. A costs $150 for a visit but Dr. B costs $100, I as a consumer should go to Dr. B because he's cheaper, in the hopes that Dr. A will realize he's losing patients because of his cost & lower his fee. But what if I don't like Dr. B? What if he's uncaring or less competent than Dr. A? I should still go to him because he's cheaper??? What if I am having a heart attack? Should my husband instruct the paramedics to take me to the cheaper hospital 20 miles away, or the closest hospital 5 miles away, even if it costs more? A few months ago, my mammogram revealed 2 lumps in one breast. I had to go for a different kind of mammogram + an ultrasound. Under the "consumer-based" theory, I should have said either "gee, those tests are expensive, are they really necessary?" or "I think I'll call around to some different clinics & see who will do it for less money." Um, NOT!!!!! (I'm OK if anybody cares, they were cysts). Anyway I'm sure any intelligent person would get my point. Except Uncle Randy the bean-counter & his minions. The only thing "consumer-based" insurance with high-deductibles does is cause people to put off going to the doctor or skimp on their medications because of the high cost, which eventually will cause worse health problems down the road. Obviously our nation's health care system needs a drastic overhaul, but just throwing your hands up in the air & shifting the costs to your employees to the extent that it only pays off if you're seriously ill or injured, that's not right.

TO: Posted by Anonymous | April 23, 2009 - 10:28pm TO QUOTE (PROBRABLY YOU):

"Posted by medical professional | April 22, 2009 - 10:37pm
By the way 8,800 cost would break down to 733 a month which is a cost for family medical a lot of people would jump at to have."

You're right, its not $700, its $733.

Why dont you address some of the very real issues I've pointed out in my post rather than the hypotheticals. Thats right b/c people who can only pretend to know what they are talking about use rhetorict and insult as cheap uneducated come-backs.

BTW, when our family is on welfare after the 40% cut in pay I'll think of you, hey maybe we'll punch out another baby sheep!!! So let me thank you in advance.

baaaa baaaa baaa

MeganR

The 700 dollar figure would have been the cost to cover that CATASTROPHE under the deductible plan. READING IS FUNDAMENTAL. I forgot sheep can't read.

I don't mean to be a cheerleader but - AWESOME POST by MEAGANR | April 23, 2009 - 6:16pm . You said it perfect!!!

Okay so now that there are 'medical professionals' posting on here let me join in the fun. I have been a medical professional for my entire adult life. I am also a proud CARD CARRYING MEMBER OF THE UNITED NURSES ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA.

You know what we have found? Those with no health coverage AND those who have high deductibles are the ones who have are at most risk of getting life threatening illnesses. You want to know why? Because when mom and dad have to make the choice between milk and diapers and having regular annual checkups guess what they are going to choose?

Someone on this post stated that families would jump to at the opportunity to have full health coverage for $700/month. Do you realize what you are saying?

If AT&T has its way wages of will be cut by 40%. So my husband would be bringing home $2284/month. Now subtract your $700 from that that leaves you with $1584/month. Let’s just pretend for a minute that I want to live in a two bedroom ghetto apartment in San Diego $1200, that leaves us with $384 dollars. Now, you do know that San Diego pays some of the highest gas prices in the country, I filled up for $45 at an arco today, (so x4weeks $180) we now have $204 dollars, plus SDG&E, plus groceries, plus incidentals…are you starting to get the point here. This isn’t even factoring in my PHONE BILL FROM AT&T! Are you starting to see what CWA is fighting for?

What everyone needs to start seeing is that CWA may be negotiating for 100,000 employees, but if their families are also covered you’re looking at possibly 400,000 insured people. If they have to opt-out of health coverage b/c its too expensive these people will fill up our ER rooms, not be able to pay and then the state will pick up the bill. And who do you think pays that bill? YOU AND ME in TAXES!!!! These people won’t be able to pay for preventive care so when their kids get sick, they stay sick which means missed school, spread of disease, and possibly failure related to sickness.

I say AT&T needs to cover their employees so the rest of us don’t have to.

bay area management poster 10:14- it is ashame about the spewing venom, but it appears the union breeds that into their members. Instead of trying to understand what you where illustrating, just know this is like a child, who once they see that treat or toy they want, there is no further way to reason with them. The child will have a tantrum until they either get what they want or wear themselves out. Too, bad. AT&T is a great company, but in reading some of this comments, it is interesting how some people think they are working for the union, instead of the company.
Let it go, they cannot be reasoned with, just be happy you know you tried. Don't let the snakes bite you by offering out a kind hand.

To bay area att employee | April 22, 2009 - 10:14pm:

That is a horrible way to treat and speak to other people. We as management employees wanted to help someone on here to understand how the High Deductible HSA-Qualified Health insurance Plans (HDHPs) really works. The explanation was no more than an attempt to explain and reassure someone seemed stressed because they misunderstood how the plan works. I would be extremely upset and stressed also if I had the same understanding as the person did. You can fight to keep the same benefits all you want, but in case it doesn't happen, it would be helpful to understand the new plan. You took an innocent attempt to help someone and turned it to something else. Thankfully for others who might appreciate the effort, I will not stop trying to help when I can.

What I don't understand is the complete venom spewed by you and other CWA members to management that are not against you! Most of us would like this to be resolved without harm to anyone, but of course there are a few bad apples even among us. Unfortunately, there seems to be more CWA workers who are angry at management because we don't agree with your philosophies. I personally think we need to stop fighting amongst ourselves with bitter words as it doesn't solve anything. You have your way of thinking and I have mine! There's absolutely no jealousy or bitterness from me as a lot of CWA members like to post, but I do believe in working for merit not seniority. I still have a job because I've proven myself to be an asset to the company, which is also the way I earn my compensation and advancements. I take pride in my own accomplishments, but because you have a different philosophy doesn't make us enemies - it just means we think and believe differently. I do wish you luck in your fight!

Where are the "temps" making 70,000 plus a year? Is this with overtime or base wages? If it is with OT, it is not a dependable 70,000 a year. I work in the Digital Electronics Group (DEG) in the midwest. We are top craft, on the top pay scale and only make 63,000 a year.

Earl this posts for you.
The cwa local 9400 has a great website cwa9400.com and on it in the mobilization flyers ect area they have a letter for businesses it's www.cwa9400.com/House%20Pics/1372414535.pdf in it they post Randall's phone number and email address just as an FYI..

TO medical professional - MAYBE IF YOU ALL STOPPED PRICE GOUGING THE CONSUMERS - WE WOULDN'T BE IN THIS MESS. STOP CHARGING INSURANCE COMPANIES $300 FOR GAUZE AND $2000 FOR STITCHES, etc. SO B4 YOU TRY TO REMOVE THE SPECk OUT OF OUR EYES - REMOVE THE LOG FROM YOURS 1ST.....thank you

I worked for AT&T for 38 years and think it is amazing after all the success they have made, that at&t wants to basically cut the pay of their loyal employees by increasing health care costs and cut their pay. Also at&T wants to throw their retirees to the wolves... Personnaly i am outraged and if someone has the phone number for Randall the ceo..plz post it..i want to call him directly. I think he needs a reality check...i have two bum knees and a bad back due to the blood, sweat and tears i put in for this company! I would love to see Randall climb a pole or crawl down into a manhole...I loved working for at&t...but randall the RAT is about to ruin what i worked for!! To hell w corporate greed and Randall the RAT!!!!! I am sick an tired of him wanting to outsource more to India and God only knows where else....get rid of the RAT and we will see this company prosper even more!

ok u say $733 a month...y the heck would any sane person working for a company who is now at #8 in the fortune 500 allow the company to take back what the employees deserve...hell the employees made at&t the 8th most profitable company in the fortune 500!!!!!!!! Y should at&t be allowed to think it is ok to take back benefits, pay etc when they are making so much money and freely admit they will continue to do so? This middle class citizen will not stand by and let corporate greed eliminate the middle class!!! People need to wake up and see the facts

Whether it be landline or wireline, there is no real difference per say. Yes landlines are dropping, BUT, Uverse & DSL users are not. Both of those are still considered landlines per say. Dial tone, Uverse(repair), and DSL is still done by the same employees, outside craft.

On a side note, for us outside technicians, we are exposed to the elements more than mgmnt. We should get better health care just for that reason alone. When we have a major cut cables, we are the ones working 36hrs straight sometimes whether it be in nasty a$$ manholes or pits that's are constantly having to be pumped out because the rain storm we are working in. And where is the duty mngr, he sit's in is truck watching us with the A/C blowing or heater keeping him nice and cozy or better yet, at home sleeping. Yes, I know it was my decision to take this job, but that also involved me having great benefits at the time. If I wanted OK benefits like the company is offerring us, I would use my pin and get into mngmt asap. But for now, that won't be happening because I still like the job satisfaction I get when I find a covered up damaged cable or wet splice and being able to restore dial tone for all my users.

By the way 8,800 cost would break down to 733 a month which is a cost for family medical a lot of people would jump at to have.

The point was (should we speak slowly in grade school terms)that would be a rare incident. The CWA wants you to believe that would be the norm. Do you know some of their part-time employees make $78,000 dollars.

If you want someone to pay your way get on the Medicaid system and let someone who is unable to find work have yours since you have no interest in being contributing member of society but a robot used by the CWA for their own gain.

Research this information instead of swallowing the CWA line try a third party for information and stop thinking the world is out to get you.

To "so called medical official"
u sicken me

Are you saying $8,800 would be the amount owed by the AT&T employee in that scenario? If so, good one, I'm sure you confirmed a lot of people to strike with that! I could not afford a $8,800 doctor bill.

U DON'T WORK FOR AT&T?!?! Why do you care if we or AT&T pays the deductibles? You are going to get your greedy little paws on money somehow.

S.O.B.
Save our Benefits

(quoting AT&T national spokesperson Walt Sharp):
" ‘We want to continue providing good health care, but we need something that is more market-based. We cannot have this group of employees in the declining part of the business have the best health care," Sharp said. "Yes, we are seeking some changes in health care, yes we think it's a fair and reasonable request. The kind of health care that these core contracts have is virtually unheard of in today's era. We're looking to keep health care benefits, but we need something is much more reflective of the market place.’
He said the wireline business of the company has declined and is expected to continue to decline.

If it's declining so much,why don't they spin it off like Lucent? Because they KNOW it's the backbone of all services!

Wireline the company and the press refers to is landlines. Wireline that the CWA workers and others refer to means the lines run cell towers in the like. The company is not saying they are decreasing wirelines to run things like cell towers. They are referring to landline customers.

Both sides should clarify this and stop hiding behind jargon to make their points to the public

One question please! Any unofficial AT&T management spokesperson answer...

What Logical reason is there to shift these costs to employees? I would give up any raises and entertain premiums if our beloved company were to show its profits staying still or inches of decline. Wireline is the base of ALL AT&T.

I also would like to point out, not many of posts are speaking out on Job Security/Transfer clause AT&T wants to delete. OUTSOURCING...

For me and mine- Heath benefits and Job Security #1. Please managers try to justify American Jobs moving to India, Mexico, Philippines etc...

I started with DSL over 10 years ago, watched it flourish and prosper to the $$$ making machine it is. We went through SEVERAL, trial and M&P changes to make it work. Hours of conference calls, mailboxes, call q's, Jeop codes, CLEC this and Non-CLEC that. Year after year change after change building the provisioning process hour and day by day. We AT&T employees often tell the M&P people what works and what doesn't. WE ARE THE ONES WORKING THE WORK. And then to have my job position be threatened to be moved overseas, GREED!

To this poster:

My daughter fell off a water slide last year and landed on her head. The total hospital bill was over 35,000 not including all the follow ups. So as I see this, I would have to pay my 2200 deductible, plus 10% of the remaining 32,800. That's 3280, plus my 2200 deductible, plus 10% for the multiple follow ups for the next 6 months. Sounds like a great plan. NOT!!!

1. If your daughter did fall off of a water slide and hit her head that is a catastrophic accident.

2. You would have to pay your deductible and then 10 percent of any remaining up until you had reached the 11, 000 mark or whatever the plan calls for your max out of pocket and your deductible goes towards that max out of pocket expense.

This injury is not a normal injury it is a catastrophic accident and while terrible should not be the burden of everyone else. You can not compare a plan to plan unless you compare usual and reasonable expenses like common colds, flu, broken arms from a fall. Everyone should not have to pay in case someone has an extraordinary event. Would you want to pay life insurance rates for a smoker because you might have a friend who is a smoker?

Hospital bill 35,000 dollars
Follow up MD estimate 1200 dollars
Total bill 36, 200 dollars
__ 2,200 deductible

= 34, 000 dollars

_ 8, 800 dollars assuming out of pocket max 11,000
= 25, 2000 dollars paid by insurance company

AND YOU COMPLAIN!!!!!!! THIS WAS A CATASTROPHIC INJURY

The root word for catastrophic is catastrophe . A catastrophe is an event resulting in great misfortune.

If you strike lets hope it they company does not choose to cut off your health care for you would be footing the entire bill.

EVERYONE PLEASE READ>>>>>>

Whether you support the CWA or not AT&T is lying to the consumers. Even though we are currently under negotiation the reality is this. Wireline is the backbone to AT&T's infastructure. You can not get DSL, UVERSE, POTS, WIRELESS without the use of WIRELINE. AT&T uses the existing copperwire to serve everything. Copper will be around for awhile unless at&t runs fiber to every prem which will cost the company BILLIONS of dollars to accomplish. So all customers and employees of AT&T need to understand, that this CEO Randell Stephenson has no IDEA how this network runs. The employees of AT&T wireline, mobility, etc.. they have built this network. Not the CEO, nor any top level executive, but hard working middleclass men and women. Those are the one who should get the millions of dollars in bonuses not the $425 bonus they received when the company made 12.9 billion in profits last year.

If Randell Stephenson thinks that the wireline is not that important to AT&T, think again. Wireline is the source of UVERSE, wireless, POTS and DSL. The CEO of the 8th largest company in the US has no clue how this company runs. Give me your millions and I'll run this company the way it's suppose to be run.

My daughter fell off a water slide last year and landed on her head. The total hospital bill was over 35,000 not including all the follow ups. So as I see this, I would have to pay my 2200 deductible, plus 10% of the remaining 32,800. That's 3280, plus my 2200 deductible, plus 10% for the multiple follow ups for the next 6 months. Sounds like a great plan. NOT!!!

the wideing of the gap between the rich and poor -- means the removal of the middle class.

I am a 53 year old Communications Technician. I have beeen a tech for 22 years and I have 31 years with AT&T legacy. My Father who passed away 2 years ago was a 2nd Level manager who gave 35 years to AT&T. During his retirement years, "the Golden Years", he would periodically ask me if I knew if there would be a raise on his pension. Of course, he never received a pension raise, but he did always have his medical benefits.
I consider myself a hard worker. I still enjoy the part of my job where I fix circuits and make customers happy. I have been blessed with good health at my age and am rarely sick. I would like to retire some day and be able to survive.(before I would have said live comfortably but that's pushing it).. My 401k is more of a 101k (like everyone else). My pension is ok as long as I can wait to 62 years old to retire so I can collect social security, also. However, if I have to pay for medical benefits, I would have to choose between them and food, shelter, transportation, etc. I think you get the picture. I can't just let go of that without some kind of fight. I'm afraid that the future of our country will be the rich and the poor, no middle class. I hope I am wrong

Union members beware of the propaganda that they are spewing. trying to get you to accept the companies retrogressive proposals . using fear tactics and saying the health plan the company proposes is not that bad. With so many take backs you will be earning less money --40% less!!!! STRIKE WHILE THE IRON IS HOT

I totally understand you being upset with the insurance plan as you currently understand it to be; however, it's really not that bad. I am also a Management employee with a $2300 deductible for my family of 2 (one of which is a child under 3-years of age). I've been under this plan for two years and have yet to even meet my deductible.

Union Members please ask for clarification or call the insurance company so a disinterested third party can explain it the 4:39 and the 4:40 posters are correct. You have misinformation if you think each person in your family has to meet that deductible if you have a family plan it is for the family - all well visits which include infant vaccines- physicals- mammograms-are fully covered. You never have to pay at time of visit as the provider must send bill to insurance company first as they have no way of knowing if deductible has been met. So you actually don't get billed for service till min about 30 days after visit.

You are confusing your deductible with the out of pocket max. I am a Management employee and I can tell you that it's not all that bad. I have a $2300 deductible for my family of 4. Insurance kicks in after I meet that deductible (except for well-care which is covered 100% right away) . I have an out of pocket max of $11k/year (in network). Once I meet my deductible the insurance starts paying 90% of dr visits, prescriptions, etc leaving the other 10% up to me to pay. Since my deductible payments go against my max, my max is now $11000 - $2300 = $8700. Now every time I pay the remaining 10% charge not covered by insurance, that goes against my out of pocket max. The only way I would ever hit my out of pocket max would be if something catastrophic happens to someone in my family. I hit my deductible every year (paid out of an FSA account) but I have thankfully never hit my max. It sounds bad but it's still much better than what I had previously when I opted for HMO's.

Again, it's:
- $1,500 Individual
- $2,200 Family
It is accurate to say that the enrire amount (negotiated in-network) cost is payable at the time of service. However, the SHOTS FOR INFANTS would be 100% covered under the preventive care as a well baby visit. Annual/preventive care appointments (well baby, well kids, GYN, Mamogram, etc) are 100% covered. It's the emergencies, sickness, etc. that are applied towards the 1,500/2,200 deductible. Once the deductible is met, the plan covers 90%. You can yell all you want, but that doesn't change the fact that you are either mis-informed or mis-understand the plan. This is called a High Deductible HSA-Qualified Health insurance Plans (HDHPs) that can be paired with a Health Savings Account (HSA).

Many people find themselves paying more of their own medical care costs as corporations ditch traditional health plans and move toward high-deductible health insurance plans coupled with tax-advantaged health savings accounts.

The HDHPs are known as consumer-directed health care, these plans seek to drive down health care costs by placing more of the responsibility and cost burden on consumers. In other words, if the consumer has a greater financial stake in getting better and cheaper health care, they will invest more energy into the process.

I am correct in my numbers. I have a family of 5. Unless you receive ALL the information available to union employees, please do not reply.

A deductable is- if my daughter (5 year old), was to break her arm on the playground, the doctor bill could be around $2,500. THAT $2,500 IS DUE AT THAT TIME BY ME. Once I, have reached my $4,000 deductable, (meaning I have to pay ALL out of pocket expenses up TO $4,000) THEN AT&T will kick in my health coverage).

please know the facts. CO-Pays ARE ALREADY BEING PAID BY EMPLOYESS!

LET ME BREAK IT DOWN MORE FOR YOU NON UNION at&t eMPLOYEES...ONCE I PAY MY $4,000-$8,000 DEDCUTABLE, MY INSURANCE WILL KICK IN. SO EVERYTIME MY KIDS ARE HURT OR ILL, I PAY THE ENTIRE BILL OUT OF MY POCKET UNTIL I REACH MY LARGE DEDUCTABLE. BASKETBALL INJURY, OUT OF POCKET $1,200, SHOTS FOR INFANTS $650, STITCHES $950, HOSPITALIZATION, ENTIRE $4,000 IN ONE MOMENT DUE.

Why wouldn't AT&T say to it's employees "In order to pay for your medical, we will not have wage increases. Your wage increases will go to pay for your medical."???

I will tell you why, THEY ARE NOT GIVING US WAGE INCREASES EITHER! So, no wage increase AND large deductable??? Does that sound like a company thats profits continue to SOAR not PLATEAU?

Where's Ed? Bring back Ed out of retirement!!! Randall go enjoy your LIFETIME medical for you and your family.

It's not $1,500 per person, it's a $1,500 deductible for the individual employee or $2,200 for the employee and covered family members.

That would be $1500 deductible per person.

To the poster who said they would have to pay a deductible between 4,000 dollars and 8,000 dollars.

There is no 4,000 dollar to 8,000 deductible read the information on the CWA site. 1,500 to 2,200 deductible. You are not required to pay the deductible - you are required to pay cost of service until you meet the dedutible. If that service is well visits like a physical or Pap smear for women or childhood immunizations there is no cost. There would be a small monthly contribution towards your health care of I think I saw for the family plan $81 dollars a month $972 dollars a year. If for some reason you met your deductible you would have to pay 10% of cost of service. So if you went for a $90 dollar office visit after meeting your deductible it would cost you $9.00.

With pretax health savings account you will be likely saving money. Even if you have a chronic illness which requires several non-well visits per year. Health care savings accounts carry over from year to year. The most difficult part would be the first year. I would be fighting for each employee to receive a lump sump in this account to make up for change to deductible plans easier.

Does anybody have any real sound information on whether or not we are going to strike? All the information we get is so general, no details, just mobilization stuff and some stuff we are ( negotiating) .

Please review items below EVERYBODY SHOULD READ. I am an Employee, I love my job and I am great at what I do. I EXCEED my company's expectations per AT&T's PDP.

-We already pay deductables and co-pays (amount depends on PMO HMO
-We are not "asking" for more of anything, just retain benefits already allotted
-AT&T will not, repeat NOT negotiate healthcare for retiress (higher deductables on fixed incomes)
-AT&T OUTSOURCING- we are demanding American jobs STAY in America (call DSL tech support to see)
-AT&T wants to delete Lump Sum Pension
-AT&T wants to eliminate healthcare and Pension for new hires (now asking for 2tier structure)
There are many other issues you can look up and read about

And to the bozo who talked about why I cant invest in my healthcare? This is bigger than just me and my income. Prioritze my budget? Give me a break. Some employees live paycheck to paycheck, not by choice, widowed, single parent, spouce in Military etc. Its easy for you to say sure, I can pay the $4,000.00-$8,000.00 deductable. With NO wage increases, what a paycut.

People- we are happy that we are employed. Why would you, fellow Americans, want us to take paycuts and pay higher premiums??? Because other People have lost their jobs? All the more reason to stop AT&T from pretending they are in a crisis and stand up for all the workers who did not have the power to say NO

To post at 11:05am "MANAGERS WILL TAKE OVER THEY DID IT BEFORE" LMAO LOL!! When was this? We went on a minimal Memorial Day Weekend strike in '04, THAT WAS A JOKE! We cleaned up their mess for weeks and customers could not get through. I will say with 100% fact Managers in DSL CAN NOT DO OUR JOBS. Good one! laughing

If you are a AT&T 1st level, 2nd level or GMngr posting on here, you have absolutely no power. Your anger is because you have no job security and you have to pay deductables. The higher you go in AT&T management the better benefits you have. I would be envious of my direct reports too

We are fighting the good fight.

This is in response to the idiot stating that I want redistribution of wealth. First, I never said I wanted redistribution of wealth. What I said is I would rather see the money go to those who are actually working for it, instead of some fat old board members who play golf all day. Lets not over emphasis what they do. The Telecos are already in place (by previous visionaries). These current guys inherited these positions and the company would still run if they weren’t in place. So, if there was going to be some cuts and the top executives were going to cut their pay down by 90 percent (which would still be 100 times more than the average union worker), then I would be willing to talk about my wages. If management is soooo concerned about making profits for their shareholders, then they should start by cutting their wages, and not just a couple of million. None of them should make more than a million dollars, because no one is worth that much, unless you created the company.

Your argument is going to be that I shouldn't be telling someone how much they should be making, yet you tell the union that they shouldn't be making what they are. So, pick one, should we be Capitalized society therefore, what is wrong with the union trying to get the most they can get? Or should be a Fascist society and allow ATT to determine how much everyone should be making?

I'm a union member with somewhat, conservative opinions. I don't agree with many of the political views of my union, however I pay my dues and I realise that my wages and my benifits are a direct result of my Union. The facts are that At&t can pay good wages and provide good benifits, and in return they will retain good employees. I worked for a private phone company prior to moving to Southwestern Bell. That company trained me to work on communications equipment. I worked for that company just long enough to attain the skills to move on to something better. This is where At&t is steering their labor force if they succeed with their plans of cutting wages and benifits. At&t has techs in my garage who absolutely amaze me with their knowledge. I do everything I can to absorb information from men who have been on the job for more than 30yrs. We have guys who started with teletype machines and now work on cutting edge fiber technology. We have techs on the cutting edge of their industry. I've seen these guys troubleshoot and solve problems for customers when their equipment providers were standing around scratching their heads. We have the best techs in the industry because we offer the best wages and benifits in the industry. If At&t changes that our customers will be the ones who lose.

**best post today*** BY MEGANR April 21, 2009 - 7:33pm Yeh i noticed its the same guy. you can tell this guy has an agenda, calls blue collar workers monkeys , keeps mentioning the election, he has a serious deslike towards Obama. this guy has a grudge and you can see it in all his postings.

Okay so there seems to be a lot of "anonymous" postings here. But based on the style of writings it seems to be coming from the same person. I've been following the postings on this website concerning the at&t/cwa negotiations very close. If you will knowtice person who is anti-cwa uses the same rhetorict in each of his/her postings words such as "ungrateful, craybabies, lazy, and greedy"

To you Mr. or Mrs,
Why not apply some of those quotes to AT&T.

You obviously have never worked for AT&t, you allow yourself to be manipulated by what you read in the paper of on the "Fixed" news channel.

According to what you think my husband and I are ungrateful for his job, yet loyally he shows up to work on time and ready to work. Ready to listen to people like you complain about his/her bill. Complaining, insulting, threatening. You dear have never had to listen to someone threaten you or your family b/c they decided to talk too long on the phone.

My husband has been loyal to this company for 10 years, he's been proud to say that he works for a AT&T. Now this year they are telling him they want to cut his wages by 40%. You sir tell me where the greed lies now.

If this proposed insulting contract is ratified we will qualify for welfare, food stamps, oh and yes Medicaid. SO YOU SIR WILL BE SUBSIDIZING MY LIFE. Just in case you cant understand that last sentence, YOUR TAXES WILL GO UP, because everytime my child with severe asthma has to go to the ER because we won't be able to afford the medications that keep him stable; the state will be paying the bill b/c we wont be able to afford the ER visit either.

Before you compare our healthcare package to the big 3, try to understand that the faulty product produced by the big 3 was what brought them down, not the benefits package.

So sir in conclusion if you honestly believe we are ungrateful, come walk in my shoes. Oh and have the balls to put your name on your posts.

Oh goody, now we have you implementing the "redistribution of wealth" strategy,too! Thanks, I don't think the government trying to do it is quite enough. Thank God for the likes of you assisting in the cause! (NOT)
There is this thing called the Board of Directors, there are people called shareholders, there is something called R&D -look it up. Lots of places money can go besides to you, just because you think someone has too much.
Why don't you not just get another job, but go live in a Socialist country and then you can be sure no one has more than you. But WAIT, no, stay here and give someone who has less than you, some of what you have!! Instead of looking to who has what, that you will never achieve, look at those who have less and then start your giveaway program with yourself.
Or, maybe Mr.Obama can use you in Washington to further his cause.
What a resentful moron you are.

Those of you who are complaining don't realize that the only question is where is the money going to go. If the company succeeds in taking away benefits from the union workers, this savins is not going to be passed on to the consumer. These savings will be given to upper management in the form of a bigger bonus. Therefore, the question is where do we want to see the money go. I personally would rather see the money go to the one hundred-thousand union workers. If each union member has 4-6 people in their family that is aproximately 1/2 million people whos lives will be better. Instead of a handful of old, fat, greedy, bald rich guys.

don't mind this J_CK @SS he is objectifying us because he has very lil exposure to the outside world.

How can we? You asked to be paid extra everytime you have to work behind your scheduled hours.

You complain about working outside- you complain about people who work inside behind a desk at a computer. You complain that the company made a profit and you did not get some more. What will make you happy?

Have you checked what some of the part-time CWA staff makes as high as 78,000 dollars maybe you should see what they are up to?

Curious if your Union dues are more than your medical expensense can be?

Hey all you Chickens With Attitudes-a manicure will make you feel so much better! Don't worry, be happy-you got you a job. Like Larry the cable guy-just get'er done instead of "I'm gonna get me some of that"-works much better.

maybe momma didn't hug him enough or maybe daddy hugged him too much.

TO POSTER ceo assist | April 21, 2009 - 11:49am I can respect what you say but i clearly disagree with you. but the other poster Anonymous | April 21, 2009 - 2:20pm it is clear what he is about - comparing the workers as monkeys , this is a low person with some serious social issues.

Ha! Don't worry, someone is just a teeny bit irritated because apparently they can't get a manicure-don't tell them we also get French pedicures on our pinkies! OMG-they will go balistic!
This is below ground-zero-some of these jealous, chip-on-the shoulder, bad asses aren't even on the radar. But, that is what the union thrives on-if it weren't for these people, how would the union collect all their dues. Guess they serve some kind of purpose.