Bargaining Update

AT&T Mobility and DirecTV (Orange)

Just shy of a thousand AT&T Mobility workers joined a town hall call last Wednesday for an update on contract negotiations and strategies for strengthening their power at the bargaining table. The call was also an opportunity for newer members to learn how we have mobilized to bargain strong contracts at AT&T Mobility, such as waging an historic strike in 2017.

CWA District 1 Vice President Dennis Trainor, who coordinates bargaining for the AT&T Mobility Orange contract, kicked off the call saying, “We don't win our great contracts with just the bargaining committee, we win when we have every member mobilizing and participating in every mobilization activity. We have tremendous support within CWA and from the public. But we need to energize all of our Mobility workers and send a clear message to AT&T that we want a fair contract now. AT&T has to know that their employees are ready to stand up and fight back. We did this in 2017…I need all of you to be ready to send the same message to AT&T in 2022.”

CWA President Chris Shelton reiterated by saying, “Mobilize, mobilize, mobilize! And make sure that this company is listening, because whatever we do at the bargaining table doesn't count unless the company knows that the members are behind us.”

CWA District 2-13 Vice President Ed Mooney, CWA District 4 Vice President Linda L. Hinton, CWA District 7 Vice President Susie McAllister, and CWA District 9 Vice President Frank Arce, who represent members covered by the Orange contract, also joined the town hall. During the call, participants asked clarifying questions and expressed their gratitude and support for the bargaining team.

Members covered by the AT&T Mobility and DirecTV Orange contracts continue to hold workplace actions for affordable healthcare, fair wages, and more. AT&T Mobility workers have also been participating in a March Madness action, leafleting at basketball games to inform the public about the contract fight and the differences between authorized retail and union-staffed stores.

AT&T Mobility workers held March Madness related actions, distributing leaflets at basketball games to educate the public about the contract fight and the differences between authorized retail and union-staffed stores.

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BuzzFeed News

Workers at Buzzfeed News, members of the NewsGuild of New York (TNG-CWA Local 31003), overwhelmingly voted to authorize a strike should management continue bargaining in bad faith. The members have been bargaining for over two years for their first collective bargaining agreement. The workers have been mobilizing to move management toward a more just and serious bargaining process, including participating in a one-day walkout. Last week, the company announced, under the threat of layoffs, that they would be offering “voluntary buyouts” to one-third of the unit. The workers have criticized the cuts as regressive bargaining and are ready to fight back against these unilateral decisions. Read more here.

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ABC

Earlier this month, NABET-CWA’s Network Negotiating Team held their fifth round of bargaining talks with ABC. Over the last few weeks, they have held in-person and virtual sessions to address issues that remain on the table, including wage increases, travel pay, pension and retirement contributions, and limiting work performed by third-party production companies. Although some progress has been made, the parties are not close to an overall agreement. The contract, which was set to expire today, has been extended for three months while negotiations continue. Read more here.

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Middlesex County Board of Social Services

Last week, workers at the Middlesex County Board of Social Services in New Jersey (CWA Local 1032) and supporters were out in huge numbers to demand a fair contract, telling management loud and clear: "If we don't get no contract, you don't get no peace!"