AT&T Midwest Bargaining Report - Tentative Agreement Reached

The District 4 Midwest bargaining team was able to reach a tentative agreement covering both Core wireline and COS with AT&T Midwest today. The bargaining team is currently working to finalize terms that will be presented to Midwest CWA members for formal approval and ratification.

The team was able to negotiate a three year agreement which includes general wage increases, new healthcare options, and increases to ou...r pensions. Additionally, the bargaining team protected and improved our job security language and made improvements to provisions within the appendixes including wage adjustments.

The bargaining team would like to thank the leaders of every local and each member for the amazing amount of support they provided during this round of negotiations which started on March 4th.

A detailed report will follow at a later date, as the team prepares for a soon to be scheduled contract explanation meeting with Local Presidents.

AT&T Midwest Bargaining Report

Progress continued through the weekend and the bargaining team is comfortable with how things are moving and where they are at. We expect it to continue on through the day with hopes to reach an agreement in the near future....

There is no doubt that the mobilization efforts our locals and members have done certainly had a positive effect during this round of negotiations. The team appreciates everyone's efforts, but at this time, the team would ask that locals refrain from any mobilization beyond normal activities. There is a time when escalations may help you move forward, but at this time it could put in jeopardy the progress made in the past 72 hrs.

The team would appreciate your cooperation and patience in this matter and would not make this request unless we were not confident this was the best approach at this time.

More information will follow.

In Solidarity,
The Bargaining Team

CWA Midwest Bargaining and CWA Legacy T Bargaining Explained

AT&T Midwest Bargaining covers all AT&T employees that are represented by the contract negotiated by CWA District 4 and the following companies: AT&T Teleholdings Inc. Illinois Bell (AT&T Illinois) Indiana Bell (AT&T Indiana), Ohio Bell (AT&T Ohio), Michigan Bell (AT&T Michigan) and Wisconsin Bell (AT&T Wisconsin), all collectively known as AT&T Midwest. This contract covers all CWA members in the Midwest that are represented in the Core contract, Appendix F and Appendix G. This contract expired on Tuesday April 14, 2015 at 12:00 pm.
 
AT&T Legacy T Bargaining covers all AT&T employees that are employed by AT&T Corporation and certain affiliated companies and the Communications Workers of America. This contract is a national contract that covers over 4500 members across the United States. This contract expired on April 7, 2015 at 12:00 am.
 
Currently CWA Local 4340 does represent members that are covered by each contract. When CWA District 4 or CWA National releases bargaining updates for either contract those updates are being shared on CWA Local 4340’s webpage, Facebook and Twitter accounts. The title of the bargaining report will say either CWA Midwest Bargaining report or Legacy T Bargaining report. While the contracts are being bargained for concurrently they are not being bargained at the same table. Please remember each contract is unique and they each present different issues and discussions happening at each table. CWA Local 4340 feels it is best to share as much information as we can on how the company is bargaining with CWA District 4 and CWA National as a whole. If you have any questions please call the union hall at 216-635-4340. Thank you for actively staying involved, informed and participating in securing a better contract for all of our Union Brothers and Sisters.
 
 
In Unity,

Gary Kundrat, President
David Passalacqua, Executive Vice President
Linda Burns, Secretary/Treasurer

Working without a contract...What does it mean?

Our Contract Has Expired
How will it work?

 · You will continue to work.

· You will still earn a paycheck. The company cannot change your wages or working conditions.

· All benefits, including health care, will remain in effect.

· The grievance procedure continues, but arbitration will not.

You have the legal right to participate in “concerted activities.”You can mobilize on the job, wear buttons, leaflet and do information picketing.

Mobilization is more important than ever. Our Strength in bargaining comes from a strong visible mobilization. Make sure the company knows that we stand together behind our bargaining team.

WEAR RED. Display signs at your cubicles, lockers, and Union bulletin boards. Do workplace actions, informational picketing, and rallying.

You power is what moves at$t at the table.

Letter from the Officers about Healthcare if on strike

Dear Members,

In the event of a strike out health care benefits will be in effect until the end of that current month. If we went on strike on April 14 you would have coverage until April 30th.  If you or your dependents have necessary ongoing, chronic or emergency medical treatment, during the strike please contact Linda Burns at 216-635-4340. Local 4340 will assist you in submitting medical bills and cobra information to CWA National. The Robert Lilja Members Relief Fund director will be responsible on the handling of those bills.  Please review the following rules for Health Care Benefits during a strike. Please contact the union hall with any questions. Thank you.

 Health Care Benefits During Strikes shall be paid from the RLMRF

• The term “necessary” does not include any treatment not normally covered under the employer’s health plan, nor does it include any care such as elective procedures or dental visits that can be postponed until the end of the strike.

 • Whenever an employer stops healthcare coverage during a strike and the Local’s Community Services Committee decides that it is prudent to pay COBRA on behalf of the striker, then the COBRA form and necessary justification (doctor’s prognosis, medical bills etc.) must be attached to the disbursement voucher and available for inspection.

 • Strikers must still pay healthcare premium contributions as well as any deductibles and copays that existed before the strike. The concept being that no one should have a better benefit during a strike than that which was in effect before the strike.

 • It is the responsibility of the Local’s Community Services Committee to attempt to get the healthcare provider (doctor, dentist, hospital, etc.) to accept as full payment an amount less than that which was billed. A notation of this attempt must be made in that strikers’ record.

  • All bills submitted for payment must contain all the necessary information (name of patient, date of treatment and service rendered).

 • Strikers who can obtain health care coverage through other sources, such as a spouse’s health plan, should rely on those sources during the strike.

 In Solidarity,

Gary, Dave and Linda