If you haven't seen the contract, and want to view it right now, it's at this link.

It is also available at MyCingular by going to the Human Resources page, then Labor, then Labor Contracts and finally the 2005 Labor Contract.

Pay - Different starting wages at BEUC, ANS and NBS.
Result: We're working to make sure wages are fair an in compliance with our contract.

Leveling - Where we're at with our job titles.
Result: Since this is a major issue nationally, the union's district contact for Cingular Wireless is working with other CWA district leadership on this issue. We'll keep you apprised of the progress.

EWP days - How can they be used?
Result: Only in two hour increments. E.G., if you have accrued one EWP day, you can take it off for 2 hours, 4 hours, 6 hours or all 8 hours. However, you cannot take 3 hour or 5 ½ hours, for example, because they are not two hour increments.

Email communications - Can our union send us email at work?
Result: Not at this point. Other locals in Portland and Minneapolis have used Cingular Wireless email in a very limited fashion. We will continue to work with management on getting permission to use Cingular email for communicating with our members.

Cingular Shop Stewards (Green)
And CATs

Bothell 1
Tony Patterson (EVHD)
Donna DePuy (ETEAM) )
Kale Nostrand (ETEAM) (ANS-Blue)

Bothell 2
Rich Atherton (Care)
Tina Davis (RSD)
Les French (Care)
Mary Hendry (Care)
Kevin King (TSD)
Stephanie Kramer (Care)
Paul Taylor (Care)
Brian Tillotson (OST)

Devin Kunz (Care)
Doug Mount (Care)
Jake Larsen (Care)
Jason Szeto (RSD)
Jeanette Elizabeth (Care)
Jim McHale (Care)

Bothell 5
Ben Schlechty (NBS)
Bill Ferguson (EDHD
Bill Montgomery
Jim Burdick (NBS)
Nancy Wright (ANS-Blue)
Steve Mulligan (ANS)
Gary McGahey (ANS)

(See these folks as your front line at Cingular as the first step to getting any questions answered in regards to your union or if you need representation.) To email shop stewards: stewards@washtech.org

Cingular Action Team (CAT) Training
Our next CAT trainings will be held:

Sunday, May 7th, Noon - 3pm
Wednesday, May 10th, 9 - Noon
Saturday, May 13th, Noon - 3pm

CATs are our eyes, ears and voice in the workplace. Joining the CAT team is also the first step to becoming a Shop Steward. Contact Todd Tollefson if you'd like more information on this.

Your WashTech Staff Contacts
Todd Tollefson, Vice President/Organizer
Ph.: 206-726-8580 email: toddt@washtech.org

Craig Gamble, Representative
Ph.: 206-726-8580 email: craigg@washtech.org

Dan Gillespie, Chair Membership Committee
Email: dang@washtech.org

By Marcus Courtney, President of WashTech/CWA Local 37083

Recently, we launched an online Cingular Wireless bargaining unit survey to identify and learn more about what is on the mind of Cingular CWA members. We have generated more than 70 responses to date, and have set a goal of at least 100. If you haven’t taken the survey, now is the time. It’s at http://www.zoomerang.com/survey.zgi?p=WEB224LTNUAMTK

In trying to balance day to day life – work, commuting and family, it can be difficult to think about the direction of your union; what are the top workplace concerns of my co-workers and how can I get involved in my union. With this survey you can express what is on your mind to help improve your union and your workplace.

The preliminary results show that a lot of education needs to happen around the benefits of union membership, and what it means to be a union member. The survey comments remind me of the old saying in politics, “what have you done for me lately?” It wasn’t that long ago in the organizing drive that people signed cards because of the clear difference the union makes in health coverage – guaranteed affordable health care for the life of the contract for you and your family. For some, the union difference means thousands of dollars in savings a year and health care security (see other side for this month’s focus on health care benefits). Also, another benefit of union membership is management needs just cause for termination; the days of at-will employment are over. But to build upon these benefits in the future contract negotiations, we need an active and engaged membership through participation as shop stewards and CAT members.

Other results show that Cingular Bothell is very diverse in terms of age, education and political identification. 38% are between the ages of 26-35, while 46% are between the ages of 36-55. In the area of education 69% have some college. When it comes to politics, 37% identify themselves as Democrats, 29% independent, 16% apolitical, 6% Republican. But despite not having a clear majority in party identification, overwhelmingly people responded that overseas outsourcing was a top political concern – 81%. This is a terrific fit – for years WashTech has been seen as the leader in the labor movement opposing overseas outsourcing, or “offshoring.”

Also, the majority of responses so far have identified wages and benefits as their top workplace concerns. Even though differences might exist between ages, education levels, and other backgrounds, your co-workers are uniting around key political and workplace issues. It is from this place of unity, that we will build the employee organization at Cingular. That means developing a stronger steward and Cingular Action Team structure in the coming months. Also, asking you to get involved in helping build CWA at Cingular.

Report Back: CWA District 7 Conference in Eugene, OR

By Nancy Wright, Union Shop Steward in Advanced Network Services, Bothell 5

Marcus Courtney, President of WashTech/CWA Local 37083 and I had the pleasure of attending the CWA District 7 2006 Conference in Eugene, Oregon on March 25-28, 2006. “The Year of the Leader” was the primary focal point for this conference. The International CWA is comprised of Sectors, Districts and Locals. District 7 comprises 14 western states.

The first day we attended the Cingular Bargaining Unit Meeting. I discovered in every state that has new Cingular CWA members (which I am) we all share the same frustrations, expectations, and goals. At the unit meeting we discussed the issues of everyone getting slotted into the Customer Service Rep 1 position and what we can do to get units into the appropriate classifications. On this issue, we learned that the Executive Vice President of CWA Jeff Rechenbach will be acting as the point person on this issue. Other concerns that were discussed was the experience of other locals in getting information from Cingular regarding policies and procedures in relation to representation issues of grievances.

Communication was another theme. We all agree communication is the key to success but obtaining that goal is difficult. To reach this goal we all must play an active leadership role in organizing, educating, and communicating internally as well as externally our commitment to working families everywhere.

The next day District 7 Vice-President Annie Hill addressed Achievement Awards: Heroic Achievement Award, 2005 End of Year Goal Results, 2005 Recognition and 2006 Goals. Our local received an Outstanding Award for Organizing due to the success in organizing Cingular at Bothell. CWA President Larry Cohen then gave an address. Elaine Bernard, Executive Director, Labor and Worklife Program-Harvard Law School gave an outstanding speech. She stated, “…we must walk the talk. We must educate and communicate at every level. This means empowering locals as regional leaders. Part of this means locals must be evaluated on its abilities to carry out campaigns in communities and develop new member leaders. Shop Stewards need to be developed as leaders beyond the narrow focus of just handling grievances. This would include organizing shop floor actions, membership and COPE drives.” Part of her vision is that unions must reconstruct its organization, so it is a lean mean machine for the business environment that constantly changes the playing field in which it operates by outsourcing our jobs overseas, cutting healthcare, and government repression against the right of workers to organize just to name a few.

Monday was primarily devoted to Resolution One, which is looking at how to restructure CWA so it is ready for the future. At each table we reviewed and selected the top 10 recommendations for activism for the Locals, Districts and International. Tuesday we received the results. Here is where I saw democracy in action. Fellow members, for or against, stood up to voice their opinion, so their recommendations could be submitted for the top 10 issues for the Locals, Districts and International. These recommendations will then be voted on at the Las Vegas Conference in July. Here are some of the recommendations: healthcare, development and accountability standards for Local Officers, Area Reps, Stewards, and Committees, develop Strategic Initiative Funds in lieu increasing funds to the Member Relief Fund to establish high profile organizing leverage and organizing campaigns throughout the country, and train and groom the next generation of leadership.

What I believe is worth remembering, are the heroes and heroines of the past such as Martin Luther King Jr., Coretta Scott King, and Rosa Parks, who also lived in a time of frightening repression and fear, when many of those in power seemed hopelessly out of touch with reality and humanity. I have faith in our future as we develop into a lean mean machine for the strength of the union is always in its members.