Still strength in union numbers?

Quit acting the part.

ugh, hello? the d4 contract passed but to a major surprise to anyone i know. we all voted no but it still passed. i was \actually surprised but that's because i'm stupid; at least according to everyone i know. i'm tired of being called stupid

I think one of the problems with the US unions is perception. My dad was a tradesman in the 50-60s. At that time, you had to support union shops and buy only union made tools, cloths, etc.. Now days, the union members want the American wage, but are not supporitng American brands and made items. I've seen way to many foreign trucks/cars that have a "Proud to be a (insert union name here) member" bumper sitcker. Give me a break. I drive 90% US made parts contents GM cars & trucks. I will not support any union that does not require its members to do the same. I also will not allow contractors to do work at my house if they show up in a PO4NS. I've been a member of several unions in the past. I'm not now nor will I ever join one again. I started 38 years ago with Western Electric so I have spent the majority of my life in the Bell System and its pitiful remains. There's at least one computer company that offers two tiers of PC support. One at $12.95 to talk to someone in the US and free to talk to someone somewhere that you may or may not understand. I would like to see a count of how many union members go for the free help!!! I bet not many.

How does the union "require" people to buy American.

You aren't in a union and don't see the irony in that?

Good luck on your own.

Thumper

I live in a small town in Idaho between the city I live and work there are probably 8 or 9 call centers that all employ several hundred people. Most of these places pay around 10-14 MAX an hour and have a benefits package that youy would pay around 350-400 a month for insurance for a family of 4. The one Union center that essentially does the same job pays with comp plan 20+ an hour with a 4 person family paying less than a 100 a month for a benefits package better tahn any of the others. So yes UNIONS MATTER, UNIONS ARE GREAT FOR WORKING AMERICANS, NEVER BELIEVE THE ANTI-UNION RHETORIC CORPORATIONS TRY TO FEED YOU!!

My Acura was built by American hands in Alabama. In my book....that "counts"! Best care I ever had.....8 years old and 200K+ miles with more to come.

I think one of the problems with the US unions is perception. My dad was a tradesman in the 50-60s. At that time, you had to support union shops and buy only union made tools, cloths, etc.. Now days, the union members want the American wage, but are not supporitng American brands and made items. I've seen way to many foreign trucks/cars that have a "Proud to be a (insert union name here) member" bumper sitcker. Give me a break. I drive 90% US made parts contents GM cars & trucks. I will not support any union that does not require its members to do the same. I also will not allow contractors to do work at my house if they show up in a PO4NS. I've been a member of several unions in the past. I'm not now nor will I ever join one again. I started 38 years ago with Western Electric so I have spent the majority of my life in the Bell System and its pitiful remains. There's at least one computer company that offers two tiers of PC support. One at $12.95 to talk to someone in the US and free to talk to someone somewhere that you may or may not understand. I would like to see a count of how many union members go for the free help!!! I bet not many.

AT&T...greedy, unfair, and immoral(yes im i disgruntled employee being forced to work 6 days a week barely making 40hrs all while working on the "future" of the corporation in uverse)

They made a mistake when they wrote it..... It should have said, "We The Corporation" instead of "We The People"!

Good question. Are the large corporations sitting on America's soil being ran with our country's interest at heart as their # 1 goal?

As the article states, "Companies are changing, the nature of their businesses is changing and how they make their money is changing.". If in fact corporations are changing the way they make their money (which they are), we as Americans need to decide the best ways corporations MAKE THEIR MOENY that ensures their "changing" business plans ARE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF AMERICA. How do we as a nation determine how much money a CEO is worth? How do we as a nation decide how much overseas job outsourcing is fair? How do we decide as a nation to oversee corporate America's agenda that has the United States in it's best interest and NOT the CEO, Shareholders and Leaderships paycheck. It's evident, corporations are not being run with American interest at heart. Chrysler took taxpayer bailout money only to close 2 assembly plants in St. Louis and keep Mexican plants open. Citi & BOA took taxpayer money, only to give HUGE bonuses to their CEO's and Leadership employees. So, with this being said, corporations don't have American interests at the top of their agenda. I see the best way is to have a good mix of FAIR regulation, union involvement and flexible employess (including CEO's) that ensure Corporations that sit on American soil are in fact keeping American interests as the # 1 agenda of their "changing" business plan. I'd like to see discussion around if AT&T does in fact have American interests as their # 1 agenda. Let's investigate AT&T's CEO's paycheck. Let's investigate Leadership's paychecks. Let's investigate job outsourcing to overseas countries. And, first and foremost, let's investigate HOW AT&T and other corporatons TREAT THEIR EMPLOYEES. Whether or not they take taxpayer bailout money is not the issue. Are the corporate giants acting in the best interest of America?

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 !

Cry babies?? I'm sure you are one the wiz bang low level management that AT&T has. The only reason anyone would be a low level manager at AT&T is the same reason small towns are able to get cops. Bad pay but they get off on the small amount of power the wield. Don't be jealous of the union, low level management will be run in and out of hear even faster than union members.

What a bunch of cry babies ! Can't stand the fact of having to work for a living ? AT&T watches (daily) union members , sitting around, playing games on their computers, taking long lunch hours, personal calls, personal emails, calling in sick constantly...then when their confronted about it, they cry " I'm going to file a grievance because my manager won't let me have any down time"....go get another job !!! AT&T would probalby be a better company without you!

CWA is no real Union it's a company union they are in only for the good of the company. hide under a union name for more money for ATT

Just to let you know in NJ IBEW 827 has just locked up high cap customers along with the res.+ small bus. customers we got with last summers contract. Along with no layoff till 2014.So much for that union.
And the outside techs over here in NJ are changing with the Verizon we can do a Fios or Copper work and anything in between.
And future hires have retirement benefits in NJ.This is the problem with the internet stories like this one,write a story don't check your facts and make blanket statements. Those who read and take this story as fact should do their own research.
Thank you I feel better. IBEW 827 rank and file member...

They're falling like flies, in my office, quitting. Must of us are realizing we can live with less rather than put up with the AT&T management anymore. Bully's, all of them, their mother's should be ashamed of what they have become.

I agree At&t not only treats the union members like crap but they treat first and second level managers even worse. Forget low morale , try no morale.The upper mngmnt of this company is going to destroy it.

Well, sounds to me from listening to you all..quote: "It's almost a micrcosm for Americas middle class. Both are being squeezed into nothingness". IF THAT'S TRUE...THEN SOUNDS LIKE PEOPLE IN UNIONS SHOULD GET OFF THEIR DEAD BUTTS AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT AND QUIT LAYING AROUND AND TAKING IT. I MEAN THE MEMBERS TOO! WAKE UP!

good article. a lot of info to ponder. still strength in union numbers?? The answer is a big YES. Union density is down around 7% across the labor force in usa. In the "heyday" it was in the 30% range. Unions are needed because they are the only counterbalance vs corporate agenda's. If unions become extinct, the "middle class" will disappear. Labor laws will be manipulated and removed from the books if unions were not there as a counter voice.
Telco wireline (pots) is declining. I work for at&t (IBEW21) in Illinois. I work in the "wireline" department as an outside repairman. I repaired my last "pots" wireline dialtone over 3 weeks ago. I have worked over 60 hours a week in the last 3 weeks. Wireline is the backbone of the wireless network, dsl network, and uverse network. That is what we work on these days in the wireline network.
I do agree with you that changes are on the horizon and need to happen with technology changes and the way telco's do buisness. Unions are here to stay for a good reason.

I coundn't agree more. I'm Legacy AT&T (prior to SBC merger) we have lost thousands of workers since the merger to dismissal after dismisal. In my center it's 1 a week. These are employees with 15 years and up in service. It is obvious they are firing as many as possible to create high turn over and very unhappy workforce

AT&T and other telcos seem to have choosen the sat tv bis model. They already have been running it in thier call centers for a while. It's the model of always hireing always turning over the workforce. Treat your employees like crap and you won't ever have 100% at full pay or benifits. AT&T for one has already put this into motion. They have hundreds if not thousands of workers who are classified as temps even after 3 4 years. In their call centers and wireless stores the are hireing at all times. Wonder why? It's a choice they have made. It's a little harder in the higher skilled areas. But they are breaking off parts and haveing non union or lower paid titles do the work. It's almost a microcosm for Americas middle class. Both are being squeezed into nothingness.