If several of the local unions chose to accept the proposed contract, would they have the option? Or is all-or-nothing that either the entire CWA, etc must accept? And can the members force the union officials to put the contact up for a vote, or do you have to wait on the leadership to decide if and when it goes to a vote? I'm from a Ropight To Work state, so I'm not familiar at all with the union process and requirements. Thanks.
14 replies (most recent on top)
Bottom Line.....
Unions are losing their grip, it's not like the 20's and beyond when they meant something in this country. In these days they are not needed and they're afraid. VZ does not want to work with Unions anymore so if I was a member, I would cross and go back to work because eventually VZ will cut the cord and everyone will be jobless. This side of the business is old and VZ wants to sell it off just like the rest of the country. GET BACK TO WORK guys, it's not worth it anymore.
HgzXzDS-kvy
Wrong, wrong, wrong. Don't take advice from anyone on this board. Just google about labor law and learn for yourself. People here try to scare you because they are just sh--ty people. If you have Internet access, use it and educate yourself.
$440 million will not last that long. 30K CWA Members (need to exclude IBEW members) x $200 = 6 Million x 2 weeks = 12 Million already. Next week is goes up to $300/Member (9 million per week) then $400/Member (12 Million per week). In addition, for those for "qualify" their medical expenses and COBRA is being paid from this fund. In addition, some CWA AT&T Members are working without a contract and can strike on a moments notice.
There is only so much water available in the well.
@xzq New Jersey FSC's are IBEW. Call sharing and Offshoring would gut them.
Thanks!! Much appreciated!
Not union, but I would have to imagine there's mixed feelings about the contract offer and waiting it out. The union leadership job is to negotiate in the best interest of its employees. If they present it, it could get ratified, but I would guess they would be putting their jobs on the hot seat.
Someone with more knowledge of the union could clarify my thinking
As individuals (definitely not asking you to speak on behalf of the union) what do you think would happen if the current proposal went to vote? Think there's enough support behind the leaders to vote it down, or do you think people would hold their nose and go ahead and vote for it? If you don't want to answer I understand, and I'm seriously not trying to cause any hurt feelings. I'm just wondering if there is enough agreement to get it passed or if it's dead on arrival and that why the leaders haven't brought it to a vote.
I don't know why the IBEW doesn't have any sort of strike fund. They've been out before (4 month in 1989) and 4 months just recently with fairpoint
Xzq- so the two Unions aren't funded the same way? I didn't realize that one had a strike fund and one didn't. So in that case, could the IBEW agree and return even if CWA stayed out? I guess I just assumed both were the same. Again, I'm in a RTW state and out here, there's not much discussion about the strike at all. So I get the company info that's sent out almost every day, but never see or hear anything from the union side. So, sorry if my questions are ignorant, but I just simply don't have a lot of experience in union matters. Thanks!
Seems as though that with a $440m strike fund, CWA could give the IBEW a little piece of the action. Solidarity, right?
Seems like the IBEW is getting dragged along for the ride by CWA. Some of the major sticking points in bargaining, like call sharing and offshoring, don't concern the IBEW - plus they apparently have no strike fund or Union healthcare coverage for catastrophic events. No paycheck and no healthcare assistance thanks to the CWAs refusal to accept reality.
Thank you all for your input. It's greatly appreciated! I'm just confused by the requirements and how this all ends, so thanks for the info and for the historical perspective as well helps a lot!
Back a few contracts ago, the NY area had a reached tentative agreement with the company and went back to work. The PA people would not agree and stayed out and bused people from Philadelphia to NY to demonstrate at those locations. Only a few NY union people would cross the picket line when up, so they started to report to the building prior to 7AM and wait the hour for the their tour to start, this way they were in the building before the PA buses arrived. A week later PA agreed and everyone was back at work.
Bottom line, no one can figure out what is even going on so hard to say.
You do have the option to resign from the union in a right to work state, cross the picket line, and be considered back on the job. I am saying (in all seriousness) that this is the right and wise thing to do. The company is not budging on their final offer and it doesn't require a rocket scientist to figure that one out.
The one thing that concerns me most is that the company reserves the right to pull this final offer and say it is now no longer on the table. The longer the union fights and rejects it, the more of a likelihood the offer will be wthdrawn.
Good luck, whatever you decide to do! I wish you the very best!