20,000 at AT&T Mobility Ratify New Four-Year Pact

Friday, May 01, 2009

UCS News Service- Members of the Communications Workers of America employed by AT&T Mobility have approved a new contract for 20,000 workers.  The agreement increases wages 8.5 percent over four years and includes a $500 lump-sum ratification payment, according to the union.  It also adds flexibility for the employer, the union said. The AT&T Mobility “Orange” contract covers wokers in the company’s wireless buiness, a fast growing part of AT&T that had been formerly named Cingular WIreless. CWA Executive Vice Presiden Annie Hill said the contract broke new ground in the areas of compensation for retail store workers and expanding career opportunity amung customer service personnel.  “For customer service workers, this first-ever career path shows that skill and experience will begin to be recognized and rewarded by AT&T Mobility, “ Hill said.  Amoung other language, the contract says that wen shifting positions from full time to part time, the company will ask first for volunteers before imposing the change in reverse seniority order.  Laid-off workers will be given priority placement for rehire. Maximun severance payments rise by $3,000 to $15,000.  The contract was approved by 73 percent of the members who voted, the union said.

AB 273 Suggests Mandating Court Collections through Franchise Tax Board

Thursday, April 30, 2009

Assembly Member Joel Anderson (R - El Cajon) recently introduced AB 273 suggesting that it would make Court collections easier and more effective if the Franchise Tax Board performed collection services instead of Local Courts.  Passage of this Bill would have an unknown effect on our current employees working in collections in our Local Courts.  The Bill, first read on Feb. 12, 2009 has been in Committee for a series of hearings, some postponed by the author.  Nonetheless, the Assembly Committee on Judiciary chaired by Mike Feuer criticized the proposed legislation as premature as earlier legislation from 2007 (AB 367) has already created a task force to assess and make recommendations about Court collections - their report is not due until December of 2009.  Any legislation now disposing of the issue would pre-empt the findings of that task force, and may indeed be in conflict with those recommendations.

The Judicial Council has also come out in strong opposition to AB 273, and the California State Association of Counties (CSAC) opposes it amidst concerns that eliminating the Court’s discretion in collection referrals is disruptive to progress toward a uniform, comprehensive Court-ordered collection system.  Other possible concerns are the issue of clear delineation between legislative, executive and judicial branches of government.  The issue of collections flowing from judicial processes could reasonably be viewed as more associated with judicial functions (with the Courts retaining jurisdiction for judicial action over non-compliance), rather than a legislative or executive function through the Franchise Tax Board, whose primary function is to correctly assess and collect taxation revenues imposed by the State.

You can obtain information about AB 273 here:  AB 273 - Text (Introduced 2009)

The History of AB 273 is here:  AB 273 (Anderson, 2009) - History

This Bill has been analyzed by the Assembly Committee on Judiciary:  Assembly Committee on Judiciary Assessment

The Current Status of the Bill is here:  AB 273 (Anderson, 2009) - Current Status

Weingarten Primer Posted

We’ve posted a brand new summary and explanation of Weingarten, contributed by our Federal Sector Attorney, Danielle LeClair.  Weingarten is the leading case ensuring that employees facing interviews or other processed potentially resulting in disciplinary action are able to request representation.
You can find it in our Training page!

Scholarship Apps under Review

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

REDDING - The UPEC Scholarship Committee will meet next week to review applications for the four available scholarship awards this year.  This will be the first year that UPEC has offered scholarships to members.  Scholarship Committee Chair Cinamon Pitts reported receiving applications from nine (9) different bargaining units from throughout the Local. The Executive Board funded the scholarship program this year to get the program started. “I think its important to give back to our member families particularly if we can give them a boost in their education”, said Business Manager Chris Darker. The scholarship committee is hosting the first UPEC Scholarship Golf Tournament at Gold Hills Golf Club on Friday, June 26th. 

Honor the Dead, Fight for the Living

Union Locals across the nation will remember workers who were killed on the job Tuesday, April 28, at memorial services and public gatherings. Join together with fellow workers as we stand together and show employers that tragic workplace accidents are preventable, rather than inevitable--and that no one should face death on the job. LIUNA Locals will be on the scene raising awareness by distributing worker safety fact sheets, placing letters to the editor in local newspapers, and supporting the Protecting America’s Workers Act, which would strengthen penalties for employers who violate safety regulations and protect whistleblowers. 

Updated MOU’s in Downloads

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Updated MOU’s are posted in our downloads section for the Glenn County General Unit, Glenn County Mid-Managers, Glenn County POA, Glenn Courts, Alturas City General Unit, Capitola General Employees, Lassen County Courts, Lassen County Courts Professionals, Modoc County Medical Unit, and Modoc County DSA.  To access these updated contracts, log in and visit our downloads section.  If you aren’t yet signed up with a upec792.org account, click the “Register” link on the right-hand side of this page.