Preparing for Contract Expiration

1. Preparing for Contract Expiration

2. What Contract Expiration Means • The current CWA and BellSouth (AT&T SE) bargaining agreements expire August 3, 2019. • CWA represents over 20,000 workers in the 9 southeastern states that are covered by these agreements.

3. Three Contracts • CWA D3 has three contracts with BellSouth (AT&T SE) expiring August 3rd: • The BST (Wireline) agreement • The BST Utility Operations agreement • The BST Billing agreement

4. Bargaining Teams • A bargaining team has been selected for each contract, from names submitted by the local presidents across District 3 • Each team will meet with the Company to bargain over items specific to that contract • A Common Interest committee will bargain with the Company over issues common to all 3 agreements, like wages and healthcare.

5. What happens if we don’t have a new agreement at expiration? • We always strive to have a new tentative agreement before the current agreement expires, but sometimes that does not happen. • There are three (3) primary options for us if we do not have a new agreement at expiration.

6. Our Options • 1. Agree to an Extension • 2. Work without a contract • 3. Strike

7. Contract Extension • If the parties have not reached a new agreement when the current agreements expire on August 3rd, we can agree to extend the current agreements to a mutually agreeable new date, which would extend the life of the agreements to that new date. All of the contractual language would remain in force. • We cannot strike if we have agreed to an extension of the contracts.

8. Working Without a Contract • If we choose not to agree to an extension, we can work without a contract. In this scenario, the Company could not change current working conditions, but they could refuse to agree to arbitrate any issues that come up while we are working without a contract. • The benefit to the Union of this option is this option allows us to strike, if we feel it is necessary.

9. Strike • The remaining option is a strike. • If we choose to strike, we would be asking all employees to not report to work. • Employees would be assigned strike duty by their local. • They would be expected to picket designated Company work locations as assigned by their local.

11. What Happens if we Strike? • In a strike, because you are not working for the Company, you do not get paid by the Company. • Because you get paid the week following a pay period, you would still have one paycheck coming for the time worked in the pay period prior to us beginning the strike.

12. Benefits while on Strike • The Company normally pays employee benefit plans a month ahead. So if we go on strike after the month has started, you should have your employer benefits for the remainder of that month. • Should the strike last into the following month, you would not have your Company benefits if the Company cuts them off due to the strike.

13. CWA Members’ Relief Fund • CWA has an established Members’ Relief Fund, funded by a portion of membership dues. • If we are on strike, members who perform their assigned picketing duty, will receive $200 per week beginning with the 15th day of the strike, $300 per week beginning with the 29th day of the strike, and $400 per week after the 57th day of the strike. • The member’s local is responsible for distributing those payments.

14. Strike Vote • We take a Strike Authorization Vote prior to expiration of the contracts. • This vote lets the bargaining team know how many of our members are willing to exercise the option of a strike. • It is very important you participate in the strike vote.

15. Strike Vote • When the strike vote is taken, we will not yet know what the issue or issues are that we cannot reach an agreement on. • However, the bargaining teams have to know if the membership is willing to strike so that they know if they can take a stand on the issue.

16. How Do I Prepare? • If you haven’t already, start setting aside money every payday to help with your expenses in case we go on strike. • The Defense Fund is intended to help members, but it obviously will not substitute for your Company wages. • We would also encourage members to not create any new financial obligations until a new agreement has been ratified.

17. 401k • In the event it becomes necessary, the 401k plans allow the option of a loan. • This loan is taken from your 401k balance and is paid back to your 401k through payroll deduction. • While we are not encouraging these loans, they are an option that is available, if needed.

18. Mobilization • A key factor in reaching a new tentative agreement is the mobilization efforts of our membership. • CWA needs to see that our membership is solidified and we need to show the Company we are willing to do whatever it takes to achieve a fair agreement.

19. August 3, 2019 Rally

20. August 3, 2019 Rally • There will be a mobilization rally in Atlanta, Georgia on the day the contracts are set to expire. • Buses will be arranged to leave from every state across the district, to aid in participation. • Make plans to be in Atlanta on August 3rd to join your brothers and sisters in a show of strength.