CWA & AT&T--The Fight Continues

The labor contract for Communication Workers of America (CWA) AT&T Midwest employees expired on April 4, 2009. Against the assumptions of non-management and management employees alike, the leaders of CWA did not call for a labor strike. With the economy being as it is, although a labor strike was voted for by the majority of union members, no one was complaining. Striking is not something we want to do, but we are prepared to do WHATEVER it takes to get a FAIR labor contract from telecommunication frontrunner, AT&T.

AT&T is insulting the intelligence of CWA leaders and the hardworking employees, who are the backbone, using the crisis of the BIG 3 Automakers in Michigan as a reason to not only shift massive healtcare costs from themselves, who reaped over 12 billion in profits in 2008, to their already struggling middle-class employees, but also reduce pensions, stagnate wage increases, eliminate job security measures.

Let me make it clear first, that workers of CWA are not looking for major increases in anything. What we want, which is the desire of any working person with or without family obligations, is to be able to continue to maintain our current standards of living. And believe me when I say, that that standard of living is nowhere near the luxurious standard of living afforded to the top executives of AT&T. We want to be able to afford modest homes, modest transportation, supply our homes with food, take care of our children, and have something to look forward to for retirement. That's not too much to ask for from a corporate giant like AT&T, an leader in an industry that is and continues to forecast increased profits.

Next on the agenda to make clear is the all-to-important fact that AT&T is NOT, nor are they anywhere near the predicament of the Big 3 automobile companies. This week Chrysler announced it would be filing for bankruptcy. Both Chrysler and General Motors have needed monies from the government to stay afloat. Ford Motor Company is the only one of the three who decided to manage without the government assistance. However, these dyer states of the automobile companies did not appear overnight. In fact, it's been several years in the making. And guess, what? Their troubles are not the fault of the union. It's the responsibility of the companies management team to maintain the profitablity of the company. And it's the union's responsibility to maintain the rights of its members. Together the groups' goal is to creat a mutually beneficial relationship where the advantage of one is not at the detrimental disadvantage of the other.

Through the years of their negotiating relationship, AT&T and CWA have always been successful with accomplishing the goal of mutual benefits for the labor contract. It's unacceptable of AT&T to be using the tragic situation of the auto industry for it's own selfishness. Rather than leading their industry in the fight with the government for universal healthcare for ALL citizens in this country, AT&T would rather jump on the bandwagon of extinguishing the middle-class.

Well, the members of CWA aren't taking that without a FIGHT! If you support this cause, please sign the petition at the following website: www.standupforworkers.com.

@ 2009 LA Jefferson