AT&T union talks affecting 112,500 proceed

Don't worry brothers all you jobs will eventually be taken over by contract help little by little....

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 !

To Posted by billy bell | April 20, 2009 - 11:06am

Huh?

www,mp3newswire,net/stories/9002/iphone_att.html replace comos with periods. interesting article, AT&T does not want to lose thier golden egg "IPHONE" - its only best for them to give us union members a JUST contract . because we are the babckbone to wireless.

If I can't respond, delete all my posts and any mention of my posts. Selective editing needs to be unilateral!

To Posted by observer | April 19, 2009 - 10:16am
What part of the preceding post do you not understand? If you have any questions please review billy's earlier posts or just post the questions.

To Posted by billy bell | April 18, 2009 - 10:50pm
"What's up? It seems the tension level is down from previous weeks."

It does appear reduced...you haven't been posting have you?

"I have been doing a little "window work" applying a new release on some equipment,"

Would it be the "stratum clocks" you had posted about in the past? I continue to search for these "stratum clocks" but still can't find them nor can anyone else. Did you mean startum clocks?

"and the midnight rover seems oblivious to me or the Fujitsu contractor on the other floor."

From your earlier posted gps coordinates you are in China. Where are the at&t COs located there?

"I'm taking notes because I've read that this stuff takes years and years of training,"

Do you read Chinese and/or Japanese? Do they provide english instruction in China for you?

"and once you join the union and threaten to strike, no one can do your job."

Lets go over this briefly; you don't know what type of equipment you are working on and you don't which continent you are working on.

Your goofy posts are all the proof that anyone needs about why SCABS will never be a solution far at&t.

Billy--Of course your'e an idiot, he didn't have a clue what you were saying, and out desperation wrote an unintelligable response. Which in turn, exposed the real idiot.

Posted by billy bell | April 18, 2009 - 10:50pm

Spoken like a true idiot. Before you speak read, maybe then you might make sence. Never said you couldn"t do it. Said it will take training and experience. It takes alot more know how then you will probably ever know how. Good luck though. Maybe you should keep to what you know best, and let us actual telephone men and women take care of this.

What's up? It seems the tension level is down from previous weeks. I have been doing a little "window work" applying a new release on some equipment, and the midnight rover seems oblivious to me or the Fujitsu contractor on the other floor. I'm taking notes because I've read that this stuff takes years and years of training, and once you join the union and threaten to strike, no one can do your job.

And your point is? I have seen some jobs performed in Tijuana that I couldn't or wouldn't want to do.

Employees generated millions of dollars last year through referrals. We have already proven our loyalty and those referrals paid for our medical care!
Not many people could do my job as long as I have done it. Most people who see me perform my job for 10 minutes say so themselves.

You can find the oatmeal on aisle-3, prunes on aisle-7.

To Posted by Anonymous | April 14, 2009 - 10:48pm

Just when I think I have read every stupid remark there is...something like your post shows up.

I have to believe that you think you sound cute or funny. Maybe it is to little children but this is suppose to be an adult site.

Could anyone help me line up some contract(scab) work during the strike.I was thinking I could maybe stay in a CWA member's basement or garage, and throw some extra money from my per diem their way,to kinda help out.I especially like the weather in the Valley area, and I'm really quiet. Thanks in advance.

"Your funny, just goes to show when you can't understand the reasoning all you can resort to is ignorance. Trust me if you were a co worker of mine you wouldn't be saying anything to me."

Who could get a word in edgewise?

I'm LMAO now!

Your funny, just goes to show when you can't understand the reasoning all you can resort to is ignorance. Trust me if you were a co worker of mine you wouldn't be saying anything to me.

You SCABS can stop picking on our Union brother.We know he is insecure and is afraid you will show him up if there is a strike.We have been carrying him for so long,we are used to it.

make sure to post all of your corrections to my last post in a timely manner.. Grammar 101 is now in session.. LMAO

Shows how brite you are who ever asked for proof of anything. I said proof read this, since you people are so intent on correcting grammar and spelling I figured you understand that request, guess not. Sorry guess I just pushed your feable brain a little to far, again MY BAD. Maybe while you continue practicing your proof reading skills, maybe you can work on you comprehension a little. Yeah that mean learn to understand what you read. Maybe then you might be on the same page as the rest of us. GOOD LUCK WITH THAT!

To Posted by Anonymous | April 13, 2009 - 9:26pm
"The only proof is....you like to see yourself type.Did you attempt to make a point with your rambling manifesto?"

He provided information and structured it in a logical manner.

You provided cheap shots.

Maybe you can't comprehend common sense and logic...SCABS can't'

If you have anything intelligent to respond with why don't you do it and grow up?

The only proof is....you like to see yourself type.Did you attempt to make a point with your rambling manifesto?

To Posted by Anonymous | April 13, 2009 - 1:44pm
"Why is it that if you post something negative about the union you are a scab? Brainwash mentality. I am a dues paying member of CWA for over 27 years, and I still say they have no balls. You aren't showing AT&T anything but hesitation."

While there isn't anything wrong with wanting to vent you should consider this: Whether I or any other UNION brother or sister agrees or disagrees with you this site is not the place to be negative about the CWA. If you really feel this way please go to your Local and discuss it. You can also call the District or National and let your feelings be known...which I firmly support and encourage.

Proof read this one buddy, we'll continue to discuss the important stuff.

To whom ever that obviously has no clue. I never said we couldn't be replaced, anyone can be replaced. I simply made the point that we cannot be replaced as easily as you seem to think. It takes time for any newbie splicer to learn his job right after school, that would be the reason mangement send a newbie on ride alongs for the first few months. You know as well as i do you can't tell someone straight out of school here is a locator, sidekick, 965, and some hand tools go find out why all the people in this neighborhood has static, he or she will be pulling their hair out before they even breakout their hand tools. If we go out on strike, sure there are some people that will be able to get by, never said they wouldn't be able to. They just won't be able to do what me and the majority of my fellow union techs do now, not for a while at least. you claim to do 4 to 8 jobs in an 8hour day, doubt it. Obviously not the type of work I am referring to and diffenately not the type of plant I am accustomed too.

Why can't you get it through your fat head though, this is not about you and me, my skills compared to yours. It is simply about what the company is trying to take back from us, for what? So they can make more money. Not bigger profits theyt are going to make that anyway. Think about it why do managers get what they get? Simple they are represented by anyone that has the power to try and protect them therefore they get what the get cause the company can do what they want to them. It sad that you think it is about union greed, WE ARE NOT ASKING FOR ANYTHING MORE THEN WE ALREADY HAVE!!!!! If our contract stayed exactly the same we would be perfectly happy. What is the company trying to do that is so bad you ask?
Well lets see even though they for see at least a double in profit for next year and the years to come, they want to change how we get paid, 60%/40%. Do you know what that means? It means lets say just for figure sake you make 1000 dollars in 2 weeks, you are gauranteed 600 of it the other 400 is decided upon whether you meet their requirements for sales, productivity, quility, whatever they decide will be the underlying factor. they can say oh wait but you didn't meet your sales requirements for the month you only sold 5 services not 10 therefore here is half of the 400 you earned. or for you outside techs maybe your boss does 2 qualities for that 2 week period 1 you get 100% one you get 50%, oops sorry you don't deserve the other 400 you earned were going to give you 300 of it. don't you see how much bull that is.

Or how about the company saying sunday is just another day. time and a half is not neccessary we will give you time and 1/10, wait if sunday is just a regular why the 10th, cause sunday has always been considered a religious holiday that is why wether you believe or not, go to church or not, it just is.

Lets tchange the 49 hr rule to 56 and then lets bring back forced ot. So for all those people who work ot, we can just cut you out and force the people that don't care to work overtime to work.

Lets see I think we can get away with taking away 2 of you paid holidays presidents' day and the friday after thanksgiving. WOW lets nitpick a little more.

Lets get rid of the differential pay people get for losing their whole day and make it only appicable after 700pm, which means all you people that work 11 to 730pm or 12pm to 8pm we won't pay you differential til after 700pm wow 1 hr of differential pay not worth volunteering for the late shift is it.

Then the big issue healthcare, lets make you guys pay out of pocket expenses, where as you have not had to do before, because it just getting to expensive for us, the company that pays out more in one years salary to the ceo then anyone of you can make in 250 years. must be hard for him. NOT.

Oh wait and while you grab you ankles for us we will just tickle your throat a little with this one.
Lets just pull you pension to a screaching hault. no more contributions. Oh and the retirees, lets just throw them in the trash we don't need them anymore. They're old news, no pun intended, They can just go back to work to survive, And for future reference there will be no more retiring on the companies dime, that'll cut into my bonuses too much. Can't have that now.

AND ALL WE ASK IS THAT OUR BENEFITS, CAUSE THAT IS THE REASON MOST PEOPLE CAME TO WORK FOR THIS COMPANY IS BECAUSE IT BENEFITS THEM, STAY THE SAME.

AT&T is not a sweatshop, it's a profitable company even in the midsts of a reccession. The reason AT&T is what they are today is because, we the people of the working class enjoy working here, it's always been a family and friends type of company. Why are you so intent on changing that?

Why is it that if you post something negative about the union you are a scab? Brainwash mentality. I am a dues paying member of CWA for over 27 years, and I still say they have no balls. You aren't showing AT&T anything but hesitation.

To Posted by Anonymous | April 12, 2009 - 6:57pm
"CWA no-nads.Contract has expired with no action from Union.This shows me AT&T has upper hand.CWA is afraid to make a move!!!!!!! What a bunch of cupcakes!!!"
Why doesn't the company just lock out the UNION workers? They could be done with the pesky CWA forever. Everyone knows why...at&t couldn't stand a long strike and WOULD QUIT FIRST. The only cupcakes in this situation are the scabs who think like you.

To posted by Anonymous | April 12, 2009 - 3:09pm
"your" empty is possessive.what does my empty possess? what you mean is "you're" empty.think again about that seat in class!

Even with this post your grammar is incorrect. What type of sentence is "what you mean is "you're" empty"? Please learn to use capitol letters at the beginning of a sentence. Also please improve on your sentence structure.

I should have posted: This alone proves that you are empty between the ears.
You still haven't addressed his factual post you merely continue to stall by "grammar/spelling" attacks.
This continues to prove that you are empty between the ears. You don't have anything intelligent to post do you? How about posting something to support the SCAB/at&t position?

I love it! This board has gone from a bitter battle about the contract negotiations to a lesson in spelling and grammar. It's probably the most efficient use of the space anyway. ;-)

"your" empty is possessive.what does my empty possess? what you mean is "you're" empty.think again about that seat in class!

To Posted by Anonymous | April 12, 2009 - 12:21pm
"anyones is actually anyone's.maybe you should sign up too."
You missed the point completely. You could only criticize his spelling and not his ideas...so you took the cheap shot approach. This alone proves that your empty between the ears. I didn't claim to be a grammar or spelling expert...but you need to improve. Please learn to capitalize the first word of a sentence.

anyones is actually anyone's.maybe you should sign up too.

To Posted by Anonymous | April 11, 2009 - 5:52pm
amazed in the valley--"while you're on strike,could you invest some time in a GED class.spelling isn't that complicated."

Your post demonstrates that you are unqualified to criticize anyones grammar or spelling. He at least had something valid and factual to post.

Fish or cut bait....what are we waiting on??

amazed in the valley--while you're on strike,could you invest some time in a GED class.spelling isn't that complicated.

It seem to be going around that all it takes to do an outside techs job is a couple months worth of computer based training, well I got news for you. The average cable maintenance tech went to school for splicing for about 6 weeks 2 weeks splicing and 4 weeks advanced trouble shooting. And if you were lucky enoough to have a good teacher you might have learned to apply most of what you are taught. But then that tech gets sent back to his or her respective garage where he continues to ride along with what ever tech management see fit to teach. Now based on what i have experienced you learn quick who's brain to pick when you need an answer to a problem and who you know will not be able to awnser. It takes an average of 6 months to a year just to get enough of a grasp of what you are doing in the field to get by with the numbers management expect. About 2 years to get comfortable with the plant you are working in, and that is for the more technically inclined tech. Some techs we have barely get by are dumb as a box of rocks. But they still learn how to get the job done. But some that are more technical become a goto person for management usually become somekind of specialist so to say, CANNOT be replaced. You may think you can do my job and you maybe be able too. But it takes time, Its not just about training it is about experience. WHOOPTY DOO you have 15 yrs experience contracting. You still don't have the knowledge of my plant or the experience trouble shooting it that i do and guess what you never will. Because if we do go on strike, your time scabbing will be short lived. Sure the company has money to hold out for a while but I gan gaurentee you that they won't hold out long. To much at stake it is going to cost them too much. By the time you figure out what area is what will be right back to doing what you do best contracting, and we the people who have worked to make sure this company is what it is will be right back to working as at&t bargained employees. For those of you that think the company is going to just fire us and hire you. COME NOW, are really that stupid. The company has already invested too much in us to just let us go, and just start over from scratch training new techs, while you spend 1 month trying to pull your head outta your asses the company and the union will be resolving the issues and when it is all said and done you will be right back in the unemployment line. Don't for a second think any mokey can do my job if that was true, the company would have impelemented a monkey training camp. That would be funny though

To Posted by crazy contractor April 10,2009 3:28pm
Do you mean cut cable or cut drops? I would hate to see someone attempt to put a 100+ pair cable in any type of closure with them all "buttoned up".

you drive to the hole in the ground someone dug and cut the cable.you pinch plastic things on like colored wires.you put on plastic sleeve and fill with epoxy.you're right,I don't have those troubleshooting skills!

You can say that again, scabs are scabs! no matter who you are!

To Posted by Anonymous | April 7, 2009 - 9:51am
I hear you. I'm sure there are some laid-off techs from other outfits that would love to show AT&T what they can do.
Not exactly sure what you mean by "I hear you". But I agree with you what you posted about the laid off techs. Overall we have the finest telecom jobs in the USA. The envy and resentment is also in your post. There aren't any secrets on why these jobs are so coveted. The pay and benefits have been earned through hard work and good bargaining. Both of these are occurring presently. If we allowed your scab type of thinking to affect us this job would be like a Walmart job. Always remember when we win the nonunion employees win since our pay and benefits are used as benchmarks for the nonunion sector. So even scabs such as yourself benefit from UNIONS. If you are sincere about hating unions give up everything that they have done for the working man. You know vacations, OT, Holiday Pay,workman's comp,40 Hour workweeks, and everything else that would have me typing for days.

To Posted by Anonymous | April 7, 2009 - 7:27am
you post:
Elite.....in their own minds. Also if I may, let me give you their standard CWA response; "you don't understand"
Our customers prefer us over the competition ...financial statements prove this. Our pay and benefits prove this when compared to yours. The envy and resentment in your posts prove that you want what we have. Why haven't you applied for a job with at&t? You probably have and been turned down. For the record I was contacted 3 times before I accepted a position with at&t. I left a good job for a better job. What is your story? Why do you blame others for your failures in life? Oh well scabs are scabs.

Posted by Anonymous | April 7, 2009 - 6:53am
What secrets are you talking about? The post was about skills developed through experience. Different people develop at different paces... something you ignore. What research have you done and posted that proves anyone that is not an at&t employee is better at anything that an at&t tech can do? It is very true that pole climbing is a skill that other business use. Any long term climber would tell/post exactly what I did. Like I posted before;generally speaking those who think they know so much usually know very little. The personal digs that you post are cute but you haven't addressed factually where I am wrong. In reply to your idiotic "I am especially amused by the pole climber that can't be replaced!" I never implied that. As usual you scabs can't hold an intelligent dialog. I am not the best climber even on my crew...unlike you I look past the mirror when I look for skilled technicians. You would be amazed at what you could learn from other techs.

We'll we all no mgrs can be replaced at any given time I have a new mgr every yr!! So i understand some of your bitterness, u come to work everyday on time give them 26yrs of dedication and u get a I'm sorry you are surplus you got 60dys to find a job! When you know your numbers are always met every month then you got your peer next you who his father got him this job that does nothing. I UNDERSTAND I SEE IT ALL DAY!! But don't hate on our success these are the provisions that comes with not being a mgr. We don't hate on them 7K(some more than that) bonuses some of you all get and some don't even know they jobs. I think yall deserve yall xtra perks! So why be mad at us cause we deserve and want the same

I hear you. I'm sure there are some laid-off techs from other outfits that would love to show AT&T what they can do.

Elite.....in their own minds. Also if I may, let me give you their standard CWA response; "you don't understand"

I see a pattern. Elite technicians are scared that replacements are going to out their secret.You can all be replaced.You can post all year that your job is "so complicated",but there is always someone out there that can do it.And most of the time even better.Do you actually think AT&T is the only telecom company in this country??? I am especially amused by the pole climber that can't be replaced!

To Posted by Anonymous | April 6, 2009 - 10:27pm
Thanks for calling me a newbie that is one thing I haven't been called in a long time by anybody. The type of comments that you have posted show that you don't have much if any experience with hooks. If you did you would realize that how goofy you make yourself sound when you shoot your mouth off. I feel very comfortable that even on your own crew someone(s) could climb circles around you. You no doubt can out climb some on your crew but that doesn't give the title of expert. Also no matter what field you are in you should concentrate on those who are better than you. If you think you are so good at anything in life it is only because your benchmarks are so poor...thus easy to attain. Maybe someone doesn't climb as fast but their form is better/superior thus safer. That probably doesn't matter to you now but it will after you burn a pole or two. Maybe you are quick in completing your work but look at someone else work to see if they do better overall quality. How many techs have you compared yourself too? Maybe you are a big fish a very little pond. Through out my career with this company I have always found other techs who did better work and when I spoke with them they all ways informed me of other techs who were better than them....and so it went. With knowledge comes wisdom and that is why I say you don't know what you speak of.

Gee newbie--please tell me what "at home in the hooks" really means.And then tell me what my experience level is.If you have never hung a 10-pin x-arm filled with glass, or pulled "bird wire" you aren't worthy to sharpen my hooks.

Posted by Anonymous | April 6, 2009 - 11:40am OMG---Union lemmings can't even tell when they are getting made fun of!!

It did take a month to straighten out the scab nonsense after we came back. Almost every job that was preformed had to be either redone or didn't last the 10 days and turned into a repeat. All the while Service Orders did't get released until after the short Strike so we were behind there also. My Manager gave me a list of his jobs to go around and fix after I came back also. Generally in life or this type of subject only the ignorant make statements about knowing how to do this or that without ever having done it.

To Anonymous April 6, 2009 - 7:11pm
"at home in the hooks" in less than a week.
You obviously don't understand what " at home in the hooks" really means. Even if you are a natural climber you haven't the experience to make a statement like that. Say something like that to someone who has been climbing for 10,15,or 20 years and they will tell you how stupid you are.