http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/02/06/communications-workers-of-america-authorizes-strike-of-20-000-at/ Engadget Mobile Comments for Communications Workers of America authorizes strike of 20,000 AT&T workers, could happen soon http://mobile.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://mobile.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/02/06/communications-workers-of-america-authorizes-strike-of-20-000-at/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/02/06/communications-workers-of-america-authorizes-strike-of-20-000-at/
:rollseyes:]]>Feb 6th 2009 4:20PMhttp://mobile.engadget.com/2009/02/06/communications-workers-of-america-authorizes-strike-of-20-000-at/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/02/06/communications-workers-of-america-authorizes-strike-of-20-000-at/Feb 6th 2009 4:34PMhttp://mobile.engadget.com/2009/02/06/communications-workers-of-america-authorizes-strike-of-20-000-at/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/02/06/communications-workers-of-america-authorizes-strike-of-20-000-at/Feb 6th 2009 4:39PMhttp://mobile.engadget.com/2009/02/06/communications-workers-of-america-authorizes-strike-of-20-000-at/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/02/06/communications-workers-of-america-authorizes-strike-of-20-000-at/Mar 2nd 2009 1:59AMhttp://mobile.engadget.com/2009/02/06/communications-workers-of-america-authorizes-strike-of-20-000-at/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/02/06/communications-workers-of-america-authorizes-strike-of-20-000-at/
At least AT&T can't do that- thanks be to GSM.]]>Feb 9th 2009 2:35AMhttp://mobile.engadget.com/2009/02/06/communications-workers-of-america-authorizes-strike-of-20-000-at/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/02/06/communications-workers-of-america-authorizes-strike-of-20-000-at/In the beginning, these unions started off with good intentions and for a while they did serve thier puropse. Employers rights do need to be upheld.

But now, they've become money sucking leaches that affect the bottom line of major corporations (just look at the auto industry)

I know all the pro union guys will come here and defend their position to the end, but deep inside they outta know the overall damage they do to the economy. It's less about the employees and more about padding their cash coffers due to a shrinking member base.

In light of these hard times, it wouldn't be in anyone's best interest to demand excessive wages or benefits beyond reason.

Unions are a big business; let's not forget that. They're in it for the money. ]]>Feb 6th 2009 4:59PMhttp://mobile.engadget.com/2009/02/06/communications-workers-of-america-authorizes-strike-of-20-000-at/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/02/06/communications-workers-of-america-authorizes-strike-of-20-000-at/You can totally tell the difference in culture between Verizon Wireless and Verizon Landline.

The wireline customer care teams and tech teams in the NE who hide behind the union umbrella are rude, nasty, unsympathetic to Enterprise customers concerns and straight out tell you "no," cause they feel like it. They transfer you around to this Verizon or that Verizon and don't like to take ownership of any issue.

I think they know they're employment is generally protected and they'll get paid regardless.

Verizon Wireless is completely different. They're friendly, modern and try hard to assist their customers. ]]>Feb 6th 2009 5:03PMhttp://mobile.engadget.com/2009/02/06/communications-workers-of-america-authorizes-strike-of-20-000-at/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/02/06/communications-workers-of-america-authorizes-strike-of-20-000-at/Feb 9th 2009 2:45AMhttp://mobile.engadget.com/2009/02/06/communications-workers-of-america-authorizes-strike-of-20-000-at/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/02/06/communications-workers-of-america-authorizes-strike-of-20-000-at/Feb 6th 2009 5:27PMhttp://mobile.engadget.com/2009/02/06/communications-workers-of-america-authorizes-strike-of-20-000-at/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/02/06/communications-workers-of-america-authorizes-strike-of-20-000-at/
we( as in wireless reps period ) grow the company in many ways....landline wireless and other.

in the past many companies have taken advantage of the average joe and jane and worked these poeple to a erly grave likea COW being milked over and over and over and over againe...most poeple have kids to feed familys to take care of. THIS is the reason why we have unions so BIG corps that go out of the guide lines are watched.

There are many reasons why I think they have decided to strike and just to say that we as REPS regardless of who and what they work for hide our faces behind the union is BS!

and working in a at will state i am thankfull every day that i am in a union org, BUT i also do my job so i can KEEP my job.

thats my 2 cents.

and NO I will not cross the line....why would you...you will still get paid.]]>Feb 6th 2009 5:30PMhttp://mobile.engadget.com/2009/02/06/communications-workers-of-america-authorizes-strike-of-20-000-at/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/02/06/communications-workers-of-america-authorizes-strike-of-20-000-at/Feb 6th 2009 5:48PMhttp://mobile.engadget.com/2009/02/06/communications-workers-of-america-authorizes-strike-of-20-000-at/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/02/06/communications-workers-of-america-authorizes-strike-of-20-000-at/
@wirelessjunkie23:
Yes, I would still get paid even if I didn't cross the line, but only a portion of my normal pay. I have bills and rent to pay this month still, so I need that full paycheck.]]>Feb 6th 2009 6:53PMhttp://mobile.engadget.com/2009/02/06/communications-workers-of-america-authorizes-strike-of-20-000-at/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/02/06/communications-workers-of-america-authorizes-strike-of-20-000-at/Feb 6th 2009 8:14PMhttp://mobile.engadget.com/2009/02/06/communications-workers-of-america-authorizes-strike-of-20-000-at/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/02/06/communications-workers-of-america-authorizes-strike-of-20-000-at/Feb 6th 2009 8:28PMhttp://mobile.engadget.com/2009/02/06/communications-workers-of-america-authorizes-strike-of-20-000-at/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/02/06/communications-workers-of-america-authorizes-strike-of-20-000-at/Feb 6th 2009 8:48PMhttp://mobile.engadget.com/2009/02/06/communications-workers-of-america-authorizes-strike-of-20-000-at/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/02/06/communications-workers-of-america-authorizes-strike-of-20-000-at/
IN LOS ANGELES...and NYU and in FL these are the markets that hare so heavly impacted by the pay cuts and the commsion cuts and the quota keeps getting higher and higher...

so for those that just think in the states that really dont produce and are not as taxed as much pls dont sit on some stool thinking you are better for not agreeing cause not all states and regians are impacted the same way.

]]>Feb 7th 2009 12:25AMhttp://mobile.engadget.com/2009/02/06/communications-workers-of-america-authorizes-strike-of-20-000-at/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/02/06/communications-workers-of-america-authorizes-strike-of-20-000-at/Feb 6th 2009 7:03PMhttp://mobile.engadget.com/2009/02/06/communications-workers-of-america-authorizes-strike-of-20-000-at/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/02/06/communications-workers-of-america-authorizes-strike-of-20-000-at/
Why should someone who puts parts on a *brand new* car be paid $85.00 to $100.00 an hour?

On days when the assembly line isn't even running why should they still be making that same wage? Bitch about that union not ours.

You said, "American companies have the highest operations cost of any other global company ensuring they can't compete in the global market. They need to get lost."

Direct that comment towards Corporate America and the executives making their million dollar bonuses every year, not the lower level employees just trying to get by. its not our fault our wages have to continue to go up to live in this country.

You are correct the union does protect lazy people, but you also have to understand this is America and America doesn't mean the top executives need to make this multi million dollar bonuses when the real works get nothing. ]]>Feb 7th 2009 8:48PMhttp://mobile.engadget.com/2009/02/06/communications-workers-of-america-authorizes-strike-of-20-000-at/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/02/06/communications-workers-of-america-authorizes-strike-of-20-000-at/Feb 6th 2009 7:04PMhttp://mobile.engadget.com/2009/02/06/communications-workers-of-america-authorizes-strike-of-20-000-at/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/02/06/communications-workers-of-america-authorizes-strike-of-20-000-at/
IF you do your job, it's protected... without a union.
IF you do your job very well in a non-union company you get bonuses.
IF you do your job very well in a union company you get squat.

IF a company takes advantage of you in a non-union company you can leave as will other employees. Thus it's not in their best interests to do so.
IF a company does nothing wrong and the union SAYS they're taking advantage of you, you are forced to stay home from work and get less than your normal paycheck. That's right - you do get paid but it's not your normal salary.

Tell me again why a union is a good thing? It protects the worthless and hurts the over achievers. And if you argue that then you're obviously in the worthless category because otherwise you would have nothing to fear.

The customer gets the toilet end of the stick because there is no incentive for them to go above and beyond for the customer since they get the same regardless.

It's no mystery why AT&T has a reputation of the worst customer service in wireless and why the likes of T-Mobile and Verizon are duking it out for the #1 spot. They are both non-union so they can afford to give extra cash and other compensation for employees who work harder/go above and beyond for the customer.]]>Feb 6th 2009 7:31PMhttp://mobile.engadget.com/2009/02/06/communications-workers-of-america-authorizes-strike-of-20-000-at/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/02/06/communications-workers-of-america-authorizes-strike-of-20-000-at/
im seriuos ? whats the deal with that ?]]>Feb 7th 2009 1:10PMhttp://mobile.engadget.com/2009/02/06/communications-workers-of-america-authorizes-strike-of-20-000-at/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/02/06/communications-workers-of-america-authorizes-strike-of-20-000-at/
Let me make it clear:
AT&T Customer service sucks (I was with them for 5 years before switching)
T-Mobile Customer service rocks (I've been with them for a little over 3 years now, quite happy). Even though it might not be the decision/action that I want from them, it's always fair and they always treat me very nice.

Verizon I have personal issues with because of some gaps that they've had with friends' experiences versus my own with my carrier, however despite that as a whole they do care about their customers.

My point, to try to make it even more clear:
AT&T + union = sucks
T-Mobile + no union = Spectacular
Verizon + no union = Almost as good as T-Mobile.

Further, because T-Mobile and Verizon are non-union, they can afford to pay their employees more (i.e. bonuses, promotions, commissions) when they take care of the customer. AT&T can't, nor do the employees want to because there is no incentive to do so. The paycheck is the same FOR AN AT&T EMPLOYEE if they Wow! the customer or if they give lackluster performance that makes the customer want to switch carriers. T-Mobile & Verizon both have performance-based incentives meaning if the employee does their job they get their paycheck but if they do their job well and Wow! the customer they get a bigger paycheck (or a bigger bonus check).

How you took away that I was an angry customer for T-Mobile or Verizon is beyond me, but thanks for playing and trying to turn my words around. You must be with a union :-)]]>Feb 7th 2009 2:49PMhttp://mobile.engadget.com/2009/02/06/communications-workers-of-america-authorizes-strike-of-20-000-at/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/02/06/communications-workers-of-america-authorizes-strike-of-20-000-at/Feb 9th 2009 2:55AMhttp://mobile.engadget.com/2009/02/06/communications-workers-of-america-authorizes-strike-of-20-000-at/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/02/06/communications-workers-of-america-authorizes-strike-of-20-000-at/
LOL so many companies are XING out the bounus this year as they did last year, just so many poeple can stay and keep there jobs....get out of that little box of yours and look around...and read! rather then insluting somones grammer and spelling...]]>Feb 7th 2009 12:26AMhttp://mobile.engadget.com/2009/02/06/communications-workers-of-america-authorizes-strike-of-20-000-at/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/02/06/communications-workers-of-america-authorizes-strike-of-20-000-at/Feb 6th 2009 8:13PMhttp://mobile.engadget.com/2009/02/06/communications-workers-of-america-authorizes-strike-of-20-000-at/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/02/06/communications-workers-of-america-authorizes-strike-of-20-000-at/Feb 6th 2009 9:30PMhttp://mobile.engadget.com/2009/02/06/communications-workers-of-america-authorizes-strike-of-20-000-at/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/02/06/communications-workers-of-america-authorizes-strike-of-20-000-at/Feb 6th 2009 10:50PMhttp://mobile.engadget.com/2009/02/06/communications-workers-of-america-authorizes-strike-of-20-000-at/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/02/06/communications-workers-of-america-authorizes-strike-of-20-000-at/
Educate yourself and stop being so ignorant.]]>Feb 7th 2009 8:32PMhttp://mobile.engadget.com/2009/02/06/communications-workers-of-america-authorizes-strike-of-20-000-at/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/02/06/communications-workers-of-america-authorizes-strike-of-20-000-at/
But the fact that they will penalize them in anyway when all they care about is having a job and providing for their family is yet another evil of unions and yet more ammunition for getting rid of them. ]]>Feb 6th 2009 10:43PMhttp://mobile.engadget.com/2009/02/06/communications-workers-of-america-authorizes-strike-of-20-000-at/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/02/06/communications-workers-of-america-authorizes-strike-of-20-000-at/
Please don't lump us all together there are plenty of us who don't want anything to do with the union but because of state law we have to. And remember it only takes a 51% vote to go on strike.

I hate that I work my butt off just to be lumped with the lazy leeches that voted for this union and this strike. ]]>Feb 7th 2009 12:23AMhttp://mobile.engadget.com/2009/02/06/communications-workers-of-america-authorizes-strike-of-20-000-at/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/02/06/communications-workers-of-america-authorizes-strike-of-20-000-at/
additionally, we have no choice but to join the union (closed shop) and not all of us support what they're doing, so we shouldn't all be bundle together when you fools speak poorly of union members. this strike is poorly timed but att is not willing to negotiate their side.]]>Feb 7th 2009 5:19AMhttp://mobile.engadget.com/2009/02/06/communications-workers-of-america-authorizes-strike-of-20-000-at/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/02/06/communications-workers-of-america-authorizes-strike-of-20-000-at/
Even though i dont agree with the union on some parts but im happy they are there to watch and see what happens!]]>Feb 7th 2009 1:11PMhttp://mobile.engadget.com/2009/02/06/communications-workers-of-america-authorizes-strike-of-20-000-at/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/02/06/communications-workers-of-america-authorizes-strike-of-20-000-at/http://www.mobiledia.com/news/68895.html

Companies are going to axe people in this economy, even if they don't need to, because they can use the economy as an excuse. They're going to axe people who are high health care users, even though that is illegal. They're going to axe people who are great workers but have shitty managers, due to politics. They're going to axe people who refuse to do a job because its unsafe.

Unless of course if you're in a union, because then the company can't just crap on you without crapping on the entire union. The union will scrutinize the companies decision, and if they are doing something illegal or even borderline illegal, they will take legal action. Most of the time though, both sides can avoid that by simply communicating and following agreed upon procedures to avoid someone losing a job over stupid things like politics.

Some unions suck, yes, but not all of them. Broad generalizations only show how clueless most of you union haters are.]]>Feb 7th 2009 4:55AMhttp://mobile.engadget.com/2009/02/06/communications-workers-of-america-authorizes-strike-of-20-000-at/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/02/06/communications-workers-of-america-authorizes-strike-of-20-000-at/Now, in reguards to the union and strike possibility, We had the same issue last year in my district and the possibility of a strike came up. At&t prepares for the posibility of a strike by treating the non union employees like slaves. We never went on strike because we negotiated and came to an agreement. It's nice to have someone in your corner, standing up for you and your rights and benifits. At&t wants to raise our insurance premiums 3x and wants to lower our pay. Why is it wrong to fight against this crap? We used to have reasonable stats to make, we got perks for doing a great job, we didn;t have to fight for things that were common. Now we have stats that are ridiculous and hard to meet, they hope those that have been there for a while quit or get fired so they can higher lower paid employees. We don't receive any perks or praise for a job well done. We have to fight for things we used to get, once we had to throw a fit to have them replace a moldy ice and water machine. All the union wants is to protect our jobs and make sure we are paid what we are worth. I've worked for non union places before (home depot) and they crap on their employees. I quit when I was told that I had a choice between my job and my sick kid who had been in te hospital. A lot of my friends quit when the ceo told us thank you for his million dollar bonus and we got a 25% off coupon for the store. Yea non union is great isn't it? (sarcasm)]]>Feb 7th 2009 11:54AMhttp://mobile.engadget.com/2009/02/06/communications-workers-of-america-authorizes-strike-of-20-000-at/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/02/06/communications-workers-of-america-authorizes-strike-of-20-000-at/Feb 7th 2009 6:32PMhttp://mobile.engadget.com/2009/02/06/communications-workers-of-america-authorizes-strike-of-20-000-at/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/02/06/communications-workers-of-america-authorizes-strike-of-20-000-at/
I am thankful however to have a job, but when you are sitting at your desk 8 hours a day and you have 20 to 50 people holding through out the day is extreme, especially for only 1200.00 a month.

I'm not asking for a million dollars but I am asking to be treated fairly.]]>Feb 7th 2009 8:10PMhttp://mobile.engadget.com/2009/02/06/communications-workers-of-america-authorizes-strike-of-20-000-at/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/02/06/communications-workers-of-america-authorizes-strike-of-20-000-at/
also not being in a union there really isnt much else I can weigh in on the conversation. ]]>Feb 7th 2009 9:43PMhttp://mobile.engadget.com/2009/02/06/communications-workers-of-america-authorizes-strike-of-20-000-at/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/02/06/communications-workers-of-america-authorizes-strike-of-20-000-at/
For us to be professional they need to first treat us as professionals and second pay us as professionals. They do neither. I could go on and on about how my supervisor handles our team, but I won't because its not going to matter for me to vent it here. I vent it every day to my supervisors face and above for that matter.

It wasn't to long ago I got pulled in to a 2 on 1 conference and I told them the same thing. I straight up told them they need to pay me more to be more professional. That doesn't mean I'm disrespecting the customers at all. I handle the customer 100% and I go beyond my postion every single call just so they don't have to deal with another department because I have the power to do such a thing.

Just this week I credited a guy $100.00 because he states he was not aware he would owe anything beyond his $60.00 ETF. I advised him of his full balance and advised him this bill had printed prior to his cancellation plus the 30 day cancellation policy. I could have been a hard ass and said no you owe us the .254.xx, but instead to help him like I do every other customer I handle I gave him the 100.00 credit to only collect 154.xx of the final balance. I make under 10.00 an hour and we deal with this everyday, plus the 30 day policy was noted to the account amoung other things. Do I believe the customer or the rep from the other department? I gave the customer the benefit of the doubt and this is what we deal withe very day.

Yes not everyone is educated enough or smart enough for that matter to really see what these contracts require but a lot of us do know what to expect or how it actually works.

For the people that are sitting there for 8 hours a day taking these calls and getting shit on minute after minute, hour after hour do deserve more money. For what we make we could go to Mc Donalds, but why should we? Some of us including myself have gone to college and got a degree. We live in areas that don't provide the greatest career options, however we do the best we can with what we got.]]>Feb 7th 2009 10:38PMhttp://mobile.engadget.com/2009/02/06/communications-workers-of-america-authorizes-strike-of-20-000-at/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/02/06/communications-workers-of-america-authorizes-strike-of-20-000-at/Feb 8th 2009 4:09PMhttp://mobile.engadget.com/2009/02/06/communications-workers-of-america-authorizes-strike-of-20-000-at/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/02/06/communications-workers-of-america-authorizes-strike-of-20-000-at/
And yes we do have a lot of reps sitting at the bottom making to much, but only make as much as they do prior to mergers among other things.

Woo back to taking calls. ]]>Feb 9th 2009 1:01PM