CWA / AT&T 2017 “Orange” Contract Bargaining

January 25, 2017 – Bargaining Report #1

The CWA Bargaining Committee met with AT&T today to kick-off bargaining for a successor “Orange” Regional Agreement covering over 20,000 employees in CWA Districts 1, 2-13, 4, 7, and 9.

In an opening statement, the Company expressed that “the relationship with CWA is valued and they are proud to be the only Union wireless carrier.” The CWA team said we couldn’t agree more, and our members have always been proud to be Union members working for AT&T, but that the workers have not been feeling valued. While AT&T says they need to keep work rules “flexible,” we told them that they have abused the flexibility in this Contract.

In an opening statement, CWA Bargaining Chair Pat Telesco said, “AT&T has been very greedy. This bargaining is about survival of the middle class. This is about job security,” Telesco said.

AT&T has reported huge profits in 2014, 2015 and 2016 over the term of this Agreement. We are here to fight for our share and we let AT&T know that we have a solid, mobilized membership behind us in this fight.

Bargaining will resume tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. Thanks to all the members who sent in pictures and messages of support!

In Solidarity,

Mike Baxter, Local 1101 Glen Skeen, Local 4320

Frank Oliva, Local 1298 Debbie Goulet, Local 7803

Deb Casey, Local 2204 Hector Capote, Local 7250

Jeff Reamer, Local 13000 Brandon Beck, Local 9511

Julie Daloisio, Local 13500 Joe Sison, Local 9412

Holly Sorey, Local 4202 Pat Telesco, District 1, Chair