• D9 Holds Contract Explanation Meeting for AT&T Locals
• Standing Up for Real Reform 
• IUE-CWA Pact at GE Means Job Security and 300 New Jobs
• Verizon SW Bargaining Continues Past Contract Expiration
• AT&T Mobility Workers in Idaho Join CWA
• Flight Attendants at USA3000 Airlines Petition for Election
• Reminders

D9 Holds Contract Explanation Meeting for AT&T Locals

Members of Local 7250 were out in force at the PGA Tournament in Chaska, Minn., sponsored by AT&T.

More than 148 local union officers, executive board members and chief stewards from District 9's AT&T locals turned out for the contract explanation meeting.

When the seven-hour session was over, and all questions were addressed, the group gave their bargaining committee a standing ovation.

"Our goal was to ensure that the local officers understood the facts and final agreement. We stayed as long as needed, until there were no more questions." said Thomas Runnion, bargaining committee chair. Bargaining members fielded questions, along with District 9 Vice President Jim Weitkamp and Runnion. Most of the questions focused on health care, leveraged titles and prem tech issues, Runnion said.

Click here to read the D9 summary.

The ratification vote will be concluded Sept. 1.

D4 members ratified their new three-year agreement on Aug. 7. Meanwhile, negotiations are continuing for new contracts at AT&T East and Yellow Pages (CWA District 1); Southeast and AT&T Advertising Solutions (CWA District 3); Southwest (District 6); and Legacy T (CWA ComTech).

Standing Up for Real Reform 

CWAers from D4 stand up for health care reform at Dayton, OH, town hall meeting.

It's still August and that means more congressional town hall meetings. CWA members have been turning out from every CWA district, supporting members of Congress who support real health care reform and countering the misinformation and wild claims of the antis.

Members of Congress holding meetings this week with a big CWA presence include:  Reps. Niki Tsongas and Stephen Lynch (Mass.); Mike Arcuri (NY); Rick Boucher (Va.); Lincoln Davis (Tenn.); Steve Driehas (Ohio); Martin Heinrich (NM); Henry Waxman and Jackie Speier (Calif.) and Chris Carney (Pa.).

CWA, working with Health Care for America Now, will be on the air soon in targeted congressional districts with a television ad featuring a CWA member who has health care but worries about keeping it. Stay tuned for more on broadcast dates and locations. 

IUE-CWA Pact at GE Means Job Security and 300 New Jobs

An agreement between IUE-CWA and GE means job security, plus 300 new jobs for union members at a state-of-the-art battery plant to open in Schenectady, N.Y.

In an amendment to an existing contract covering members of IUE-CWA Local 81301, GE agreed to a moratorium on plant closings and job transfers and guaranteed that there would be no permanent job cuts through the contract's 2011 expiration. GE also offered a voluntary early retirement incentive program. In return, workers agreed to a one-year wage freeze and a longer summer shutdown in 2010.

Members of IUE Local 81301 overwhelming ratified the agreement that also will establish 300 new union jobs when the clean energy battery plant begins operations, now set for mid-2011. New York State committed $15 million for the venture, with Schenectady County's Development Authority providing a $5 million grant. The advanced battery business is expected to become a $1 billion business over the next decade.

IUE-CWA President Jim Clark called the agreement is a step forward for workers that boosts the development of quality green jobs. "It shows what can be accomplished in the United States if corporations work with employees to build a foundation that helps promote the development of new job-producing technologies."

Verizon SW Bargaining Continues Past Contract Expiration

Solidarity is strong among the 3,500 CWAers at Verizon Southwest as their bargaining team continues contract negotiations. The contract expired on Aug. 15, but bargainers agreed to extend negotiations and bargaining has been continuing around the clock.

Members of CWA Local 6171 have stepped up mobilization and remain united as talks continue. In addition to informational picketing, members have been wearing red at worksites on Thursdays and black on Fridays to show solidarity.

AT&T Mobility Workers in Idaho Join CWA

AT&T Mobility sales workers in Idaho recently won CWA representation through majority sign up, looking for improvements in wages, health care and working conditions.

More than 42,000 Mobility workers have joined CWA through majority sign up.

The 40 new CWAers will be members of CWA Locals 7603, 7610 and 7621. Local 7621 organizers Jen Winterbottom and Valerie Packer assisted the workers in the campaign, with lots of support from Local 7621 President Dirk Mardsen.

Flight Attendants at USA3000 Airlines Petition for Election

AFA-CWA has filed for a union representation election on behalf of 100 flight attendants seeking a union at the discount airline USA3000. "The flight attendants are working together to gain a strong voice when they need it the most," said AFA-CWA International President Patricia Friend.

Headquartered in Philadelphia, the airline provides service to Florida, Caribbean, and Mexico from eight cities on the East Coast and Midwest. USA3000 is a sister company to the discount vacation company, Apple Vacations.

Reminders

Get more info about health insurance reform at www.healthcarevoices.org. 

And help get out the facts about health care reform by sending us some information: 

How long have you had to wait for appointments and surgery? What happens when you want to see a physician who's not on your insurance company's list? Ever been denied treatment?

If you're a Canadian member, tell us what it's like not to worry about medical bills.

How has Medicare, one of our country's great success stories, helped you or your parents.

Send us a few words, along with your name and contact information, and we'll follow up with you. Send to news@cwa-union.org.

CWA National Women's Conference. Click here to register now online for this year's conference, Sept. 10-12, in St. Louis. Click here to view the agenda, and here for workshop descriptions. The last date for hotel reservations is Aug. 25. Contact hotel reservations at 1-800-925-1395.