Thread regarding AT&T layoffs

This is a telling statement. Nearly half of the people agree with the statement. That translates to nearly half of any given local feeling the same way. Not a good place for the union to put its members.

“union members are paying for the privilege of being treated like cr@p by the company while the union smiles all the way to the bank. Non dues paying employees get treated the same without paying for the privilege and receive the same benefits. The union is not going to do anything that will speed up the loss of income to their coffers. They will do as told by the company to stave off the inevitable as long as they can. Everyone is smart enough to see what the future is. Why continue to pay for the privilege?

5 days ago by Anonymous | 32 reactions (+15/-17)”

Definitely not a union guy!! But they are a necessary evil!!

I never signed off when I was initially hired on, not because I didn't like unions but because I was in a bit of a financial bind and needed dollar I could get. not long after going out into the field I realized how toxic the place could be. The shady managers and constant threat of being fired was very stressful. I always felt I would not be around very long so i never saw the need to paying union dues. things are a little better, but the constant rumors of big layoffs for techs means I still do not have any plans to sign up for the union. this will probably be my last year with this company.

In Michigan, set cert letters to HR, CWA national, and CWA local. These were set at a time specified by HR in Feb. If the union would concentrate on real labor issues instead of LGBTQAT+ZX😉 and social justice issues, as examples, they might be worth investing in.

Was out got back in during strike. Big mistake.

Please, any new voice that shows up to meetings or is vocal about disagreements is shouted at, shouted over, put down, or appeased with lies. It’s a mob mentality that is quick to tell you if you don’t like it leave. And you people are surprised that all these people want out.

CWA you did it to yourselves!

@irap

I said promote not teach. Big difference jackass. In the real world people with values and work ethic are rewarded. In CWAs world sh–ters are given a microphone to promote mediocrity among there peers and make us all look bad while failing to live up to any past achievements they boast about while stealing hard earned money and funneling it to “leaders” who don’t show up when it matters.

I actually did leave. To a company where I am treated great without a union to pretend like they care. The benefits are better the pay is better. And I don’t have people on some non existent hierarchy trying to pretend that they are way more valuable then me.

CWA is a business providing a service. If this service is worth the dues, continue to pay. If you feel they are not living up to their end of the bargain, you are not required to continue to pay for poor service. If you have issues with your local that can be resolved, file a formal complaint with your district to get it investigated. The union’s mindset should be one that wants to earn your membership by what it is doing today and for tomorrow. It should not be boasting about the past.

union members are paying for the privilege of being treated like cr@p by the company while the union smiles all the way to the bank. Non dues paying employees get treated the same without paying for the privilege and receive the same benefits. The union is not going to do anything that will speed up the loss of income to their coffers. They will do as told by the company to stave off the inevitable as long as they can. Everyone is smart enough to see what the future is. Why continue to pay for the privilege?

“ Bottom line is CWA is a leech who doesn’t promote values among its ranks and that’s half the reason why customers hate us. ”

If CWA is a leech then what does that make you , wanting to reap the pay and benefits that your union job brings but not contribute membership dues? Sure sounds like the definition of a leech to me!

Now it’s the CWA’s jobs to teach values among its ranks ? That was the job of your parents and it’s up to each of you to go out there and work with integrity and do right by the customers. If customers hate us, it’s either due to company policies or the technician not doing his job properly. How does CWA have any control over that? The company nor the union can teach its employees values or morals. Either you have them or you don’t. CWA nor the company are hear to hold your hand. You’re an adult.

“ You will lose the ability to have representation if you have any issues with the company. ”

Not technically true. The union still is required to represent those employees whether they pay the dues or not. However, I imagine they are not going to try very hard.

“ The union will still control working conditions, and compensation. ”

Only if you are one of their represented titles. However, att does have NMNU techs working in all regions including the right to work states. The union has no say in their compensation or treatment. So for those who are crying about the union , I say go ahead and ask the company to move you over to one of the many NMNU titles. You’ll be doing the same exact job, just with lower pay and benefits. But you won’t because of course everyone likes the higher wages and benefits the union jobs bring. You’d just rather whine and complain and give excuses to why you won’t pay the membership dues.

Everyone currently in the Union working in a right to work state, can ask to be excluded from membership, however not much value in that. The union will still control working conditions, and compensation. You will lose the ability to have representation if you have any issues with the company. You may be better off to get more involved with the union and make changes on that side, instead of oppose them. The company and CWA are locked arm in arm.

Here we go with the you are the union b—s—. Bottom line is CWA is a leech who doesn’t promote values among its ranks and that’s half the reason why customers hate us. CWA cares about keeping a it’s money flowing to the top. Look up your locals financial statements and see where the money has flowed. Watch how all the accounts disappeared and transferred, look how much money is n the “gift” category and how funds allocated to “leadership” has gone up and up over the years as membership has shrunk.

Thieves who deserve the same downfall as ATT

Right on 1ex. A lot of talk always about dropping out of the union but you never hear them say they want to give up their union won title, their union won pay, and their union won benefits. They just want to stop paying their memberships because of some perceived slight or because they are selfish , self centered, entitlement brats. As you pointed out, the company has NMNU employees that do equivalent work. I’m sure the company would be thrilled for them to step into those titles and pay. Bottom line is talk is cheap. The ones who complain about their union are the same ones who never sacrifice their time, never attend meetings , never participate, never help to make things better. They are the ones who always sit around whining waiting for someone else to step up. They fail to realize they ARE the union. It’s only as good as its members.

Forget all the noise. It comes down to this: are you better off at At&t as a union represented employee or are you better off as a non-management non union employee (NMNU). Here in the southeast region , it’s a no brainer. The NMNU employees make substantially less hourly, lesser benefits including less vacation days, sick time , or short term. They also get paid substantially less for being on call than their union brethren. Doing the same work. They also don’t have a voice on issues as they stand alone. Think you’re better off without the union ? Talk to the NMNU employees. They would love your pay and benefits. Of course the union has problems and issues. Of course it’s not perfect. If you think though that you can negotiate a better salary with att on your own you are so sadly mistaken. Go ahead and volunteer to move to a NMNU position then. Now if you are looking to keep all your union-won pay and benefits, title and seniority but just not pay the membership dues, well, then that just makes you a greedy scab mooch doesn’t it ? What else would you use to describe someone who takes all the benefits the union contracts for them but refuses to contribute back a measly dues ?

(d) Membership in the Union shall be terminated following receipt of a member’s written request sent to the Local of the Union in which the membership is maintained. This is verbatim from the CWA Constitution, Article 5, Section 4, Subsection d. Amended July 2019. Google CWA constitution, it doesn’t say anything about only being able to get out at certain times. Apparently that’s all a lie to keep you in.

I dropped them both. After CWA I will never join a union again.

There are so many better opportunities out there.

Here in Illinois us Prem Tech's have been trying to drop IBEW 21 for a long time. If anyone has a way to get the process started. Please feel free to say.

You can look at the lm-2 that the cwa has filed on their expenses. Lots of info in there. You think that just Randall is making big money?
https://olms.dol-esa.gov/query/orgReport.do

This link is not specific to the cwa report. It won't give me a unique link. If necessary select cwa and put a minimum membership of say 20,000 to filter out all the cwa locals' reports.

I believe the bylaws still state that you can be forcibly removed for open criticism of the union. You might try this approach if they balk at allowing you to resign. If you choose this path be sure to be truthful in your statements. Something you can back up with documents. They may try to come after you.

You can’t technically leave if not in a RTW state but what you can become is an Agency Fee Objector. You will get back a % if your dues. It involves a certified letter to the CWA in Washington. You can get the ball rolling by contacting one of your local Union reps. They say you can’t vote but that’s a lie. I did this 3 years ago and they still send me all their propaganda plus a voting card. Be aware though they try to play tough and they are dumb. I sent some scathing emails to the local president (which he doesn’t like) but I know get a check every year without sending them a letter or email. Nothing has changed but I get something back instead of then stealing it all. I was so fed up with contractors doing my job.

Yes I have considered leaving the union a couple of times. Due to their political positions. It is the national leadership that is the problem. On a local level I have been very well represented. The local president as well a stewards have helped me secure a couple of different positions within the company.

Agreed, total waste.

Training is necessary if a real strike actually happened, but it won’t. It’s just a company CYA PR thing. The reserve workforce will never do any work, it’s impossible to safely prepare people for it. At most they’d ride around or follow somebody if that.

But I’m sure you have your busy bodies that’ll be paying close attention and asking all the right questions....

It's all nonsense. I have been in Mobility for 2 plus decades (Cingular back in the day), have never been bargained for, was a manager of people when the CWA first came into the wireless business, and most of the last while just non bargained for with out any direct reports in a different role. I am by no means a Union basher, and I had a lot of good folks that worked for me back then that I still maintain good relationships with to this day. It was completely unnecessary (unionizing the Mobility business). They'd have been better off never having done it, but they succumbed to the pressure from the wireline side and lots of empty promises. The whole contingency training thing is enough to make your head spin if you are someone that has even a modicum of business sense. The incredible amount of money and time wasted every few years to "train" folks, most of whom are completely unequipped to ever be able to do whatever it is they are "training" for (yes, I am bashing my fellow non bargained for folks). The whole mess is incredibly ridiculous and pointless, and downright sad at the end of the day.

If you are in a "Right to Work" state, send a registered letter, to HR, telling them to stop deducting union dues from your paycheck. Within two pay periods the dues will stop.
If you are not in a "Right to Work" state......the union will fight you on this. But don't cave in. You can still send in your letter to HR and they still have to abide by your request.
It is stated in the Union contract that you must wait for that certain date, usually around April, to send in your letter. There is no law that says you have to wait for a certain date to get out of the union.