Bargaining Update, May 22, 6:30 p.m.
On Wednesday, May 19, as CWA announced our four-day strike,
we told the federal mediator that with the ending of national talks, our
regional bargaining committees would be made available to continue negotiations
with SBC.
The next day, with the strike looming, the company called and we entered into
in-depth discussions around the issue of jobs of the future, and steady
progress was made.
Those discussions continued past midnight into early Friday morning and resumed during the day Friday, with discussion of jobs of the future and health care. Also on Friday, all regional tables met.
However, we made it clear to the company that the issue of hometown job security had to be resolved at the regional tables. This was absolutely crucial if any agreement was going to be reached.
While there has been considerable progress on “jobs of the future,” as of now, talks on the issue of hometown jobs have literally “gone nowhere.”
To get an agreement at the regional tables, this and related issues must be solved to the satisfaction of the regional bargaining committees.
Our strikers are doing their job. Our bargaining committees
are doing their job. SBC must do its job.
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Scenes from the Picketline (Part 1)
Strikers Pick Scab
off Manager
A special report from Local 9400
On Friday, May 21, at an operator services building in
A manager noticed that a scab, hired by a contractor who obviously has no idea of employee screening or standards, was standing at a window, making rude gestures at the CWA members walking the current picket line. The manager instructed the scab to leave the window, and to stop trying to anger the peaceful strikers.
Apparently this request was not what the scab wanted to hear and an argument broke out between the manager and the scab. The result: the scab was summarily fired and escorted from the building.
As the door was opened, the scab was faced with about 20 of our members chanting “scab go home,” and not, apparently, in their “library” voice. The newly terminated scab reacted by rushing back into the building where she was met by several managers who told the scab that she must leave the premises. All of a sudden the scab started to punch the 2nd level manager, and struck another manager who had attempted to restrain her, causing some rather bloody injuries.
At this the membership jumped in, pulling the scab away from the managers while explaining in no uncertain terms that no scab is going to hit their managers. During the altercation, several members jumped into the fray and were able to pick the scab from the manager. A few were slightly injured by the crazed scab, and a pair of glasses was broken.
Yes, we are on strike against SBC. Yes, the company is taking an unreasonable stand. BUT, this is where we work, where we spend eight hours a day and where we become family and friends, even with the managers.
As the manager directly involved said to the members later, she knows who she can count on in a time of need. The members of CWA have made the company the success it is. Through the hard work of CWA members, SBC was able to get into the long distance market. It is time for those on the SBC side of the table to realize the company still needs the help of the CWA membership to remain successful.
Scenes from the Picketline (Part 2)
A couple of CWA members from Local 6128 were finishing up
their picketline duty in
The two CWAers put their heads together and come up with a devilishly delicious plan. CWAer # 2 approaches the catering employee, asks if the delivery is for SBC and offers to pay for it.
He pays for the food and delivers hot, fresh bar-b-cue to everyone on the picket line. Then everyone watched as managers waited for two hours for the lunch that never showed up.