CWA Local 3403 Baton Rouge

Since the BST Contract was turned down, District 3 will continue to operate under the same rules that have been in place since the expiration of the contract on August 8, 2009.

We are also in the process of contacting all locals to discuss the issues they identified as the reason for the "NO" vote.

CWA-Bellsouth Telecommunications Inc., Ratification Results

CWA-BELLSOUTH TELECOMMUNICATIONS INC, FOR UTILITY OPERATIONS; CWA-AT&T BILLING SOUTHEAST, LLC; CWA-AT&T ADVERTISING SOLUTIONS, IN DISTRICT 3 RATIFY A CONTRACT.

Members of Communications Workers of America, AT&T Southeast, did not approve a new three year contract covering 30,000 plus workers in nine states.

As I stated during my campaign, “this is not business as usual”. It has not been District policy in the past to post the numbers for each Local; however in order to dispel any questions surrounding the count, the numbers are attached by Local.

The staff and I will begin Monday discussing strategy and contacting affected Locals to determine the next step to obtain a fair and just contact for AT&T Southeast members in District 3.

Next Monthly Meeting will be held on March 09, 2010 at 7 P.M. here at the Union Hall.

We Did It! Improvements Negotiated to the Excise Tax

CWA leadership, locals and our members have led the opposition to the excise tax. From the start, CWA leaders made it clear that a tax on workers' health care was the wrong way to finance health care reform. We fought against this plan in the Senate and supported our friends in the House of Representatives who outlined better ways to finance health care reform. We supported Connecticut House Representative Joe Courtney in obtaining 190 signatures on a letter opposing the excise tax.

Because of this work, organized labor has been "at the table" and President Cohen and other labor union leaders have spent many hours talking with President Obama and White House officials to work out ways to ease the negative impact of this tax on our members. At the same time these discussions were taking place, you were keeping the pressure on: first the House, then the Senate, and then back to the House.

All of this work set the stage for several days of continuous tri‑party bargaining and through these negotiations we made significant strides, not only in protecting our members, but in protecting all middle-class families who have health insurance coverage.

CWA members will be protected through 2017. That gives us at least one and in some cases more than one round of bargaining to address the impact on our members' plans from the changes.

This is not the plan we would have written if we were the sole author, but just like contract negotiations there is another side at the table. And, in this case there are three other sides: the House, the Senate and the White House. We are proud that the improvements we negotiated protect both union members and members of the public. Labor unions have a long history of protecting all workers and this is another great example.

In addition, in the final bill there will be many other protections for our sons and daughters who do not have insurance today. For instance, pre‑existing conditions cannot be used to exclude coverage.

President Cohen and CWA have been leading the fight against the proposed excise tax on health care plans, working with Members of Congress, employers, organizations, coalitions, and other groups that understand that the proposed tax would increase costs and cut benefits for working and middle‑income Americans.

More than any other union, CWA's leadership has really pushed this issue in the mainstream and online media, on Capitol Hill, and in building coalitions. Tens of thousands of phone calls and personal letters from CWA members, plus visits with their Members of Congress and staff in both Washington, D.C., and District Offices have made our message heard loud and clear. This work was made possible through the Health Care Strategic Industry Fund, which enabled CWA to train field activists who carried out our critical mobilization program. This week alone, more than 2,000 calls were made to Members of Congress by CWA members urging them to stand strong for fair health care reform.

As tough as these negotiations were, this was just one of the many tough issues the House, Senate and White House leadership are working to resolve. So, while this has the support of the leadership, it now has to be sold to both the House and the Senate and all of the other differences have to be resolved.

Once the leadership has worked through their differences, we expect they will submit a package to the Congressional Budget Office for scoring. That will likely take 10 days to two weeks. Then a bill will be provided to the House where a majority of 218 votes are needed to pass it and to the Senate where a supermajority of 60 votes will be necessary.

So, let us savor the success of these efforts, but recognize we still have work to do in the fight to protect our members' interests in this historic debate. With our unity and solidarity, we will turn the debate into a reality.

On Tuesday, January 12, 2010 at 7:00 pm, at our regular scheduled meeting, we will cover the tentative contract for AT&T Southeast and AT&T Utilities. This will be your chance to ask questions, and to get answers before you mail in your ballot.

December 14, 2009 11:35 a.m.- Tentative Agreement has been reached for District 3 Contract. Final Bargaining Report Below...

CWA D3 AT&T Southeast Final Bargaining Report

We are pleased to announce that we have reached a tentative agreement on a new three year contract between CWA and AT&T Southeast. In these tough economic times, we have reached an agreement that achieves our key goals:

There are changes in our health care that will result in increased out of pocket costs. However, when wages and the new company-funded tax-free Healthcare Reimbursement Accounts (HRAs) are factored in, CWA members—from the highest paid to the lowest—are better off.

This was a very difficult set of negotiations and we are pleased to have reached such a positive conclusion. There will be a contract explanation meeting for Local officers this Friday, December 18, who will then hold local explanation meetings over the next few weeks. A detailed summary will also be mailed to every member along with their ratification ballot. This is a tentative agreement until ratified by majority vote of members voting in a secret ballot election. The Bargaining Committee unanimously recommends ratification of this agreement.

Meanwhile, here are some of the highlights on the key issues of the new tentative agreement.

Out of Pocket Maximum - $1000 Individual In -Network/$3000 Individual Out of Network $3000 Family In- Network/$6000 Family Out of Network

In Year 2, stock appreciation portion of SSP applies to HRA. In Year 3, both dividend portion and appreciation apply to HRA.

*HRA Funding levels will be based on healthcare enrollment status as of the 1st of year:

Preserved lump sum option for life of contract and retained non decreasing lump sum.

2012 – Start transition to PPA rate rather than GATT to calculate lump sum 25% transitions per year.

National Transfer Plan – The Company has agreed to modify the external job posting system to provide, for employees who choose to participate, a National Transfer Plan.

Temps/Terms converted prior to ratification are current employees within 90 days of ratification. Temps/Terms converted after ratification are classified new employees.

The Contract between CWA and AT&T Legacy T has been ratified by a strong 2 to 1 majority. Our appreciation goes out to the Bargaining team and all the members who mobilized so hard for this agreement.

After just reading Bargaining Report # 40 dated August 5, 2009 - I was deeply disappointed that it was not more detailed.

Since Channel 5 News in Alexandria, LA. reported on its 6:00 pm News Cast yesterday evening (August 4, 2009) that AT&T spokeman Walt Sharp stated that we would recieve a 9 % wage increase over a 3 year contract. Mr. Sharp further stated that we would pay a 8 % charge for Health Care cost over the same period, while the national average is running 34 %.

We in District 3 already pay in one form or another 14 to 18 % for Health Care. If Mr. Sharp is correct, then you would pay 22 to 26 % for Health Care coverage. Again the Local has not seen any official proposals from the Bargaining Table at this time. If the above information is correct, it appears we are starting to clearly line up with the District 4 Final Offer - We need to mobilize and let the Company know that at least in Louisiana this is unacceptable.

The Real - Unwatered down version of Bargaining Report # 37 dated July 29, 2009.

2009 CWA/AT&T SE Bargaining Report #37
July 29, 2009

(It has been requested by the membership and some local presidents that the
bargaining reports include some specifics. Bargaining is an intense process and
things change on a daily basis, but in an effort to keep everyone as informed as
possible listed below is some of the progress or lack thereof in this bargaining
session.)

The District #4 bargaining team worked very hard to secure a tentative
agreement that fit the needs of the membership in the Midwest. There
are parts of this agreement that the District #3 bargaining team deem
unacceptable for our members in the Southeast and we have sent this
message to the company. Your District #3 bargaining team is devastated
to find that there have been discussions at a national level surrounding
insurance premiums for our retirees.

Some of what the company has proposed in District #3

Leveraged Titles in consumer offices: This would be a title where
reps would only be paid 60% of their base wage with the remaining
40% of their pay at risk. To get the remaining 40% of their pay the
reps would be required to meet sales objectives set by the company.

Premise Tech Title in network: The company has proposed no
increase in pay, benefits, work rules, or protection for our service
techs than what was contained in original premise tech MOA that was
voted down in District #3

Benefits and Wages: The most current proposal from the company
includes a $321 per month insurance premium for new hires and $120
per month insurance premium for current employees. This proposal
includes a sub standard wage increase. The company also refuses
to bargain over benefits for our retirees in District #3.

The complete elimination of Article #14 and all language that keeps
the company from sub-contracting our work.

Some of the District 3 Bargaining Team Proposals

A guaranteed off-cycle paycheck, should the company fail to properly
compensate our members.

No sub-contracting of any and all work done inside the customer’s
premise, such as DSL or U-Verse.

A letter of understanding for the company to begin making safety a
priority and to give our members the time to perform their work
safely. As the company reminded us at the table it is the employees
responsibility to work safe and inspect your vehicles, so please
follow the company practices and do so.

A substantial increase in pay and the continuance of our level of
benefits with no premiums.

Your bargaining team will continue to fight to insure that the union
families represented by CWA will maintain the standard of living that we
have fought hard to achieve. We need your help every day. Mobilize the
membership and remember the 12.9 BILLION dollars in profit that this
company made because of our hard work.

We are pleased to announce that two of our members, Joe Bordelon ADT Services and Chinazo Okolo AT&T Mobility, are featured in a National Campaign for the Employee Free Choice Act. Read their stories below!

     CWA 3403 is proud to offer this web site as a source of current information for it's members. Check the website for the latest updates and additions. This website has been designed to provide an additional information resource for CWA 3403 members, retirees and others who may be interested in our Local, District 3 and International Union.

      In viewing our site, you may not always share the same opinions as those of our organization. However, we do respect your right to disagree.

     The Communications Workers of America International Union was chartered in Baton Rouge in 1945. CWA currently represents more than 740,000 members, nationwide, employed in a number of industries, including Telecommunications, Law Enforcement, Public Workers, Network Broadcasting, Printing and Publishing, Newspaper Writers, Equipment Manufacturing and various other professions.

      Local 3403 currently represents hourly employees of AT&T, BellSouth, Cingular, ADT Corporation, and AVAYA. Our jurisdiction includes those employees in the following parishes; Ascension, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Iberville, Livingston, Pointe Coupee, St. Helena, West Baton Rouge, and West Feliciana.

    Local 3403 is a democratic Union administered by the officers and executive board. As with any other democratic organization the ultimate authority is the membership.

Walter J. Bagot, President