[Editor’s note: I wrote this editorial for the June 2011 edition of “Labor Pains”, which was the newsletter I established for CWA Local 4034 after being ‘lifted-up’ to full-time union status as Administrative Assistant to the Local president. Recently, the title phrase came into fashion when noted celebrity boss-turned- POTUS… Continue reading
I received great feedback, both positive and negative, about my last post. Both the content, and the wisdom of posting it. I especially value the discussions I had with some members of the Local Executive Board (made up of officers and Lead Stewards). Challenging me, listening to my concerns, and… Continue reading
I regret that I must speak against the decision by my Local 4034 officers to sell the Grand Rapids union hall and offices. In my years of unioning and absent a financial emergency, I have never seen a Local dispose of the members’ hall “because taxes and maybe a new… Continue reading
How the hell do you set up your “grass-roots, organic, from the people, blah-blah” job actions safely and securely? Especially when union leadership is bound by a hostile NLRB to not lead “intermittent strikes?” No need to reinvent the wheel; use the tools that the most up-to-date revolutionaries are using…. Continue reading
A few years ago, AT&T started surveying employees about conditions at work. AT&T had notified our union leadership and the locals that the surveys would be sent to employees and they would be voluntary. I didn’t like it, as I don’t like most management ideas. Because these surveys are voluntary… Continue reading
My last post about dealing with AT&T Asset Protection sparked a lot of interest from CWA stewards; particularly on the subject of not signing documents that AP investigators put in front of our members. A fellow representative asked me, How much weight do you feel the RTS has carried in… Continue reading
Asset Protection is the name of AT&T’s corporate security arm. They are responsible for protecting the physical assets of AT&T, including information assets like customer data, etc. Asset Protection is also charged with investigating wrongdoing at AT&T including violations of AT&T’s Code of Business Conduct (COBC). AP investigators are sort of… Continue reading
Way back in November, AT&T’s attorneys from a “union-avoidance” firm called Littler stayed up nights, worked weekends and abandoned their family obligations right before Thanksgiving to head into work. Something bad had happened: They had missed a filing deadline to respond to the NLRB attorney, who had recently quoted the… Continue reading
Like many a good CWA member, last night my Wifey dialed into the “AT&T Midwest Bargaining Town Hall Call” to get the scoop on why AT&T employees in the Midwest are still working without a contract seven months into bargaining. We listened to reports from CWA leadership who are involved… Continue reading
Probably the most important protection for stewards is called “The Equality Rule.” This rule acknowledges that your job is likely to involve confrontations with management—confrontations that could lead to discipline under the normal rules of employer-employee relations. You can openly disagree and argue vigorously with management during grievance meetings; question… Continue reading
