Today, the CWA bargaining committee met with AT&T and rejected the company's proposed mandatory vaccination policy for Union-represented employees. Our committee further emphasized that CWA supports voluntary vaccination programs and opposes mandatory vaccination as a condition of employment. Our committee then introduced a counter proposal which provides incentives to employees who volunteer to be vaccinated, as well as those who have already been vaccinated. The Union's counter proposal also includes a testing option for employees who choose not to be vaccinated.

Yesterday, CWA District 4 was able to reach an agreement with AT&T Labor to continue the AT&T U.S. Flexible Workplace Program through September of 2022.

The Robert D. Johnson Memorial Scholarship Fund, administered by the Cleveland Foundation, is now accepting applications for the 2021-2022 academic year. Application deadline is 5 p.m. EDT, April 15, 2021. Awards will be announced by June 15, 2021.

The CARES Act was recently passed by Congress in response to the COVID-19 crisis. The CARES Act also provides for special rules for use of retirement funds. Instituting these rules will result in a need to amend plan documents and SPDs to reflect the changes.

An agreement between AT&T Midwest and CWA regarding temporary and limited participation in the Flexible Workplace Program has been reached. CWA has worked diligently with the company to protect and safeguard the health of our members during these unprecedented times. While all of our members in particular units are not covered by this agreement, many of our members will have this option to voluntarily participate in this program.

So, you've slugged away at your job for a few years and your role and responsibilities haven't changed. No one seeks your input and most important meetings and work happen around you without you being involved. Where and how do you kick your career back in gear?

Let's get one thing straight...

Employers and Corporations did not feel generous and decide to give you two days off every week to have a social/personal life. (We now call them weekends). Corporations did not just feel like being nice one day and give their employees paid vacations. CEOs didn't get together in a board room and say "Let's give our employees more rights at work" or "Maybe there should be laws to limit our power over an employee".

Under the Supreme Court's Weingarten decision, when a investigatory interview occurs, these rules apply:

The employee may request union representation before or during the interview. After the request, the employer must choose from among three options:

1.Grant the request and delay questioning until the union representative arrives.

2. Deny the request and end the interview immediately.