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Historic Agreement Strengthens IBEW Bargaining at AT&T

March 16, 2009

A historic agreement has been reached between IBEW and AT&T that will enhance the bargaining power of AT&T members, located predominantly in New England, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, California, Illinois and the Northwest in upcoming negotiations.

The agreement covers workers who were original AT&T employees and remained working for the company after it was forced to divest of its regional Bell Telephone units due to federal anti-trust enforcement in 1984. Local unions representing the original AT&T members are part of Telephone Systems Council T-3.

Labeled “Legacy T,” the original AT&T workers were covered by bargaining agreements with differing expiration dates, leaving them out of national negotiations covering thousands of IBEW members in Illinois who worked for Ameritech, one of the regional Bell units. After a series of corporate mergers, Ameritech workers are now back under the AT&T banner.  Their contract expires on June 27.

Downers Grove, Ill, Local 21 Business Manager Ron Kastner announced that AT&T has agreed to extend “Legacy T” contracts to June 27, to coincide with the former Ameritech unit’s expiration date.

Systems Council T-3 Chairman Peter Pusateri says, “The IBEW is looking forward to combining these two groups into one collective bargaining agreement.  Although it will be a challenge,  we believe that all of our AT&T members will benefit from it,” he said

“Economic conditions will surely make this a difficult negotiation,” says Pusateri.  “But we can take heart that our bargainers will spare no effort to keep our ranks united and strong.

Bargaining is expected to commence in May.