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Wednesday, 14 June 2006 |
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AT&T-Bell South Merger This merger should be opposed until AT&T gives employment guarantee’s and job security to all bargaining unit members. The company has a long history of manipulating and sharp shooting our contract while making promises for our co-operation and support they never planned to keep. Their only motivation is to get what they want and then toss us to the curb.
We do not need any more proof of AT&T sincerity, we only have to look to see the thousands of our laid off brothers and sisters who have been replaced by contractors. We have supported their mergers in the past and received almost nothing substantial in return. If AT&T and Bell South want our support they must demonstrate more than just promises to us because their credibility is just about worthless. Now is the time for the company to show their good faith by actions not words. The Company should immediately cancel any planned laid offs and recall our laid off brothers and sisters by reducing the contract workforce and we demand that they do it NOW. In Unity, Roy Hegenbart President/Local 3250
FCC Urged to Consider Jobs and Service in AT&T-BellSouth Merger
June 9, 2006
CWA urged the Federal Communications Commission to keep an eye on job levels and service standards as it looks at the pending merger of AT&T and BellSouth. While noting, in comments filed this week with the FCC, that the merger "holds the promise of accelerating the deployment of high-speed Internet networks to more Americans," CWA told commissioners that BellSouth and AT&T have not provided commitments to the union regarding employment security.
CWA's filing pointed out that when SBC bought the "old" AT&T and then became the "new" AT&T, six months later the company announced a force reduction including the closure of consumer call centers in Pennsylvania, Arizona and Massachusetts while it continued to contract with overseas call centers. CWA "is hopeful that we will be able to reach agreement with AT&T and BellSouth to protect the employment security of our members while promoting growth and quality service," the filing stated. However: "Absent progress, we will look to the commission to meet its obligation to protect the public interest, including protection of service-impacting employment, by ensuring that the merged entity does not sacrifice quality customer service by reducing employment and closing facilities to meet synergy targets." |
