The parties met today in formal session and in subcommittee. The Union and the Company finally found some common ground in the area of safety and we actually have our first tentative agreement. This agreement will provide for the formation of Local Safety Committees.
The Company did not have any proposals or responses to any of our previous proposals.
Our District 9 Vice President Jim Weitkamp issued the following message:
The contract with att expires this coming Saturday. Negotiations, while ongoing, are in slow motion due to the company committee’s inability (or refusal) to engage in any substantive discussion of the major issues between us. I believe there is progress to be made if the company gets serious.
Those of you that know me know that I try to make hope and the optimism that it brings part of whatever I do. My hope and optimism at this juncture is based solely in my faith in the membership and the locals to get the real message across to the company:
You are healthy and profitable because of one thing; our hard work. We carry out your business plans (and we try, most often to deaf ears, to point out the flaws in those plans) with the highest productivity of any group of American workers. The mood of the entire country is supportive of economic recovery, not corporate attempts to pad the bottom line at the expense of workers and consumers. You have a golden opportunity to take the right path and if you do not choose wisely we will fight you as long and as hard as it takes to make you do the right thing by your workers and the working class of this country.
The att locals are doing a superb job of mobilization and the help and support of all locals is vital. These are the largest negotiations in the country and will impact all workers in a very direct way and we stand in the forefront of medical reform which is vital to the economic health of every family in the country.
Keep the heat on; it's all they understand. Be ready to fight them until they do what's right. The fight is righteous and you should all be proud to be on the right side.
I have moved in with the bargaining committee and will be here 24/7. I have committed to assist in any way I can and I know you will all do the same.
In solidarity,
Jim Weitkamp
Your Committee thanks and appreciates Vice President Weitkamp, the Locals and all of you for your mobilizing efforts and support. Keep it up – it helps!
5 days and counting…
IN UNITY,
Art Gonzalez
Tom Runnion
William B. Harvey
Lupe Mercado
Bill Demers
Pam Suniga
Mobilize Mobilize Mobilize
1 Union 1 Fight 1 Future
