The company decided they would rather litigate than negotiate in good faith so, an Unfair Labor Practice was filed by the union against the company. This was after 2 months of trying to bargain, prior to contract expiration on August 3rd. The company has been hostile and repeatedly only offered regressive proposals, no improvements. How quickly they forget that many union techs risked their own and their families lives during the pandemic while management sheltered at home. They kept the company, network and customers going during those 2-3 years of stressful and deadly times because they were essential. They maintained, upgraded and installed hundreds of thousands of new lines which allowed the public to be at home and be able to do online schooling, video health calls, zoom/teams calls, work from home, ordering necessary supplies, groceries and medicines, etc.. Now that that time has passed, there is no gratitude or respect for those who kept the company solvent, as the CEO Stankey says, “Human Capital”
I don’t remember at the first of this year when, large bonuses and raises were handed out to management, any of them saying, money was an issue. Billions of net profit, quarterly and the c-suite are constantly going to events around the country and the world. They use corporate assets like jets, pilots, chauffeur’s, chefs, security, vehicle rentals, lodging, etc.. they could reduce their excesses and use commercial like, many other company officers. They have a Dallas Cowboys suite, go to Pebble Beach golf tournament, Master’s golf tournament and rent houses that cost $20k or more to rent for the week, went to Paris and the Olympics, etc…
Now when bargained is asking for a fair agreement with wage increases to keep up with inflation and minor work rule improvements to improve their work/life balance, it’s a NO! The company instead, wants to stop any pension payments which is only 1%@yr. that were grandfathered. lower 401k match, raise healthcare premiums and out of pocket expenses to $7k before the company pays a thin dime. Unlimited over-time, no work improvements, no wage increases also, want to lower the current wage scales. Unrealistic and has resulted into a strike and litigation. D3 employees are not going backwards!!