Upcoming Raise

Well, everyone, March 30, 2008 is the day we get yet another raise by having CWA Representation! If you look at the grid in the contract, find where you are now, and slide one column to the right. Then, in June, we'll go down one step, then down another step in December. See? THREE raises each year, as promised! Enjoy the extra cash! :-)

Union Payscale Kicks In

As I mentioned in the last post, the contract has taken effect, so that means that everyone has moved to the payscale chart found in the contract on Page 47. I got a 30¢ raise, myself! :-) (Remember how I said my last year's merit raise was only 32¢?) On March 30, 2008, we'll all shift to the right one column, and get yet ANOTHER raise. For me, that will tack on another 11¢ per hour. Then, in June, which is 6 months after the date the union "launched", we move down a step, giving me another 36¢ per hour! Let's add that up: 30¢ + 11¢ + 36¢ = 77¢ per hour more than what I was making for pretty much the entire year of 2007. Did anyone happen to get a 77¢ per hour merit raise last year, by chance? (If you did, congratulations, but now, you don't have to half kill yourself working your butt off to be #1 in the Carolinas Market to get that big of a raise each year) See what I've been saying, folks? Having CWA means MORE MONEY IN YOUR POCKET!!

Remember, this is how the payscale works: Start where ever you are currently on the payscale. On March 30, 2008, move to the right one column, but on the same step. On the 6-month-after-union-launch-date we will move down one step. (i.e. Union Launch date was December 9, 2007, so on June 9, 2008, we move down a step) Then when you come back around to Union Launch date again, (December 9, 2008) we move down another step! Then, the cycle repeats for 2009. See? Just like I said, THREE PAY RAISES EVERY SINGLE YEAR!!

So, which would you rather have? One raise per year, or THREE raises per year?

Contract Now in Effect

As of December 9th, 2007, the contract between CWA and AT&T is in effect. Just in case anyone has forgotten exactly what they voted for, let's recap:

Pay Increases: I don't know how much everyone else got last year, of course, but my so-called "merit raise" last year was only a measly 32¢ per hour raise, and I was one of the top 5 reps in the entire Carolina's market in the Summer of 2006. Had the union contract been in effect, I would have gotten an 87¢ per hour raise when you add all THREE raises that you get EACH YEAR together. Let's weigh that one out: Hmm...which would you rather have? 32¢ more per hour, or 87¢ more per hour? Gee...that sure is a tricky one...

Health Benefits: In case you missed what the company's 2008 "health benefits" package is for non-bargained employees, it goes something like this: Employee only has an $1,100 deductible, Employee + spouse has a $2,200 deductible, as does Employee + children. Think, people! If you were to be in a car accident and rack up a few thousand dollars of medical bills, at least $1,100 would come out of YOUR POCKET!! If you and your spouse / child(ren) were covered, $2,200 would have to be paid by...not AT&T...not the insurance company...that's right, Y-O-U. No "ifs", "ands", or "buts" about it, folks. With the Union health benefits, practically everything in-network is 100% covered with you only coming out of pocket for a very small co-pay. (Doctor visits are like $15)

Vacation / PTO: There have been some misconceptions and misinformation thrown around about this category. People seem to read the contract and think they only get 10 days of paid-time-off now, as opposed to the 23 we used to get. Well, while it is true that only 10 days of it are considered "vacation", you also have "holidays", "excused days with pay", and "sick days" that are in addition to vacation days. If you count up all of the holidays that you could possibly have off, including designated and floating, plus the excused days with pay, you have a possible total of 24 days off with pay. Now, here is where the main difference comes into play: SICK DAYS DO NOT TAKE AWAY FROM YOUR VACATION TIME, HOLIDAYS, OR EXCUSED DAYS WITH PAY!

Voice in the workplace: If you are having a problem at your store that you feel needs to be addressed and you are not getting any results from your management team, you can file a grievance with CWA and have the issue addressed. Without a union, if management doesn't want to discuss it or change it (whatever the case may be) they don't have to honor any of your requests whatsoever. They can always tell you, "Look, if you don't like it here, there's the door...go find another job!" Now, many of you may be fortunate enough to have an excellent manager like my store does, but think about the people who don't have that luxury and are covertly discriminated against for one reason or another, or the manager shows favoritism toward one employee over the rest.

Bargaining for YOUR Future at AT&T: Without a union, the company can make changes whenever they want, and they DON'T need your permission. If you don't like the changes, (i.e. The pay-cuts and decreases in health insurance) again, there's the door... Don't let it hit you in the butt on your way out... With the union, we get a seat at the bargaining table to tell AT&T, "This is what WE want in exchange for our services." We all get to sit down and discuss our salary, our PTO, our health benefits, etc. Once they are put in black & white on paper and signed, AT&T CANNOT alter it or fail to adhere to it, because it's a legally binding contract. So, even if you're not completely satisfied with the current contract for whatever reason, if you plan to stay with the company for any length of time greater than 2009, (and I sure do) then WE NEED THE ABILITY TO BARGAIN! With the rising costs of health care and companies continually cutting costs from where ever they can, it is crucial to have a union. The non-bargained workforce are where the cost-cutting takes place. BE GLAD THEY CAN NO LONGER CUT OUR PAY AND HEALTH BENEFITS!

IT IS NOW OFFICIAL!!

As written in the E-mail sent by Alison Hall, VPGM of the Carolinas, to every NC retail employee:

“Effective October 2, 2007, we were notified that the Communications Workers of America (CWA) is now the collective bargaining representative for the Retail Sales Consultants (including the Home Sales Consultants) and Sales Support Representatives in the state of North Carolina.”

WOO-HOO!!!!

OK, now to business: I'm sure that everyone will have questions regarding the things that were promised to you:

• Pay increases
  
• Benefits improvements
  
• Vacation (PTO) changes
  
• Grievance procedures (your voice in the workplace)
  

(Speaking of just benefits, aren't you glad we don't have to enroll in those ridiculous benefits for 2008? $2,200 deductible?!? What's up with that?!?)

If you have questions, you may direct them to myself: cwa4nc@carolina.rr.com OR you may visit this page and find your area's local CWA Union Hall.

Again, I would like to extend a HUGE

THANK YOU

to everyone who signed a card!!

We couldn’t have done it without YOU!!

YEAH!!!! WE GOT MORE THAN 50% + 1!!!!

This E-mail is from Dave Coker:

Brothers and Sisters,

I just wanted to drop quick line to let you know the arbitrator in Atlanta has verified that we have the 50%+1 required for CWA representation. Actually, we turned in 21 cards over the 50%+1 we needed.
The next step is that the arbitrator will send a letter notifying AT&T that CWA is now the sole bargaining agent for AT&T Retail employees. That letter should be sent tomorrow and the company should send out an official notice via email to all employees affected by the change.

What do all these big words and fancy terms mean?? Well, simply put, you're now (unofficially) union!!

Welcome to the family.

In Unity,
Dave
--
Dave Coker
CWA Local 3607
Cell:336.392.9742
Office:336.230.1211

CWA- Defending Worker's Rights in North Carolina for over half a century!

TIME TO CELEBRATE!!

Another Look at the Top Stores

The following stores are at 100% voting YES! for CWA:

Westover Terrace - Greensboro
Bridford Parkway - Greensboro
Pyramids Village - Greensboro
Stratford Road - Winston Salem
Summit Point - Winston Salem
Hanes Mall - Winston Salem

*** WAY TO GO ***

The following stores are not quite at 100%, but are VERY close:

Charlotte:

Center Lake Drive
Independence Boulevard
Park Road

Raleigh:

Poyner Place
Triangle Town Center

Wilmington:

South College Road

Asheville:

Patton Avenue

I would like to extend a huge

THANK YOU

to these stores for their support!!

2008 Non-Bargained Health Benefits Illustration