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New Year, New Challenges
Current retirees have received a letter in the mail indicating SBC’s intention to increase costs to retirees for prescription drug coverage in 2005. When was the last time you remember SBC giving you a full year's notice on anything. They also state that they will implement changes over the cap established in the Retiree Medical Assurance Plan (RMAP) and retirees will be responsible for costs above the cap. This could result in high costs to existing and future retirees to maintain their existing medical coverage. I cannot be more specific because the Union was only notified of the letter being sent to the retirees on the day it was sent. There was no explanation or details of how the Company plans to implement this process. RMAP has been in place since 1989. However, the Union has always reached agreement with the Company that no retirees would pay regardless of the costs. We will be attempting to deal with this issue in bargaining, but we need your support. SBC has always claimed in the past that they have not and will not bargain for existing retirees. It is quite interesting that SBC elected to make this announcement one whole year before it takes affect. I don’t think it is a coincidence that the announcement was made virtually on the eve of the 2004 bargaining. It just confirms our suspicions that this is going to be a very contentious round of talks. In 1998 and 2001, SBC requested early negotiations and in return proposed no overall concessions. We will not be in that position in 2004. It is essential that each and every union member and retiree educate themselves on the issues and fully support the Union in our quest for a fair contract. You may be asked to participate in workplace actions, informational picketing or other activities that we will announce at the proper time. These talks are the blueprint for our future with SBC. Only by standing strong will we be able to prevail. We will distribute information through the mobilization network. Please take the time to read all the material that is sent out. EVERYONE MUST UNDERSTAND THE ISSUES IF WE ARE GOING TO BE SUCCESSFUL!! If you have questions about any of the material, contact one of the officers, your unit director, chief steward or steward. If they don’t have an immediate answer for you, they will get one and get back to you. I have also been informed that some retirees are receiving information asking them to return to work in the event of a strike. I can’t believe the unmitigated gall that the company is demonstrating with this request. Remember, they just notified all retirees that they have unilaterally decided to increase retiree’s health care costs beginning next year! I certainly hope retirees send those requests back to the sender with directions on what they can do with them. I will be leaving for bargaining in early February. In my absence, Bob Hull will handle issues that would normally require my attention. I will be in constant contact with Bob, Terry and Marcy to keep them abreast of developments at the bargaining table. You can make sure you receive the latest info by signing up for the early notification system. Send your e-mail address and your name to the Union hall at :cwa4319@sbcglobal.net. In the subject line indicate Early Notification Program. You will then be immediately informed of the latest developments during bargaining. Another major challenge we face this year is electing a President and Congress that is pro-worker. During the coming months, we will be providing factual information on issues that face our country, the candidate’s views on these issues and their record in the past. We will undertake an intense voter registration and education program so that every member can have his or her voice heard in November. Again, please take the time to educate yourselves about the issues and the candidate’s records on issues of concern to working men and women. I am confident that as you become more aware of the facts, you will make the right decision in November. It will be a busy year, but the results can be in our favor if we stand strong and make our voices heard. In Solidarity,
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As we usher in 2004, we face a plethora of new challenges. The contract talks between CWA and SBC will be the largest negotiations in the United States in 2004. As such, the spotlight will be on these talks. We fully expected SBC to launch an attack on our benefit package, but before formal negotiations even began, SBC has fired a shot across our bow.
