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CHECK RECENT NEWS MESSAGES FROM IBEW LOCAL UNION 21
Current News for all Local 21 members is always available on the IBEW Local 21 Newswire 630.415.2711 or from certain area codes, at 866-423-9582.
United States Supreme Court says AT&T is NOT above the Law
As many members are aware, Local 21 sued AT&T in federal court after they refused to arbitrate a grievance our Union filed opposing an unjust performance management program in its Consumer Business Unit. Local 21 won that case in federal court.
AT&T appealed that decision to the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals which also decided in favor of Local 21. The Company then appealed that decision to the United States Supreme Court.
On March 17, 2008, , the highest court in the land rejected AT&T’s appeal and in doing so let stand our victory at the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals which will force AT&T to arbitrate this grievance. This precedent-setting decision is one of the most significant court decisions in the country on Arbitrability in the last 20 years and will likely be relied upon by many other labor unions for years to come!
President/Business Manager Ron Kastner extends his personal thanks to all members who supported this effort through various means - such as the providing of affidavits and other evidence our Union utilized in achieving this historic victory. By getting involved with our union, you played a major role in a significant court ruling that benefits all union workers!
Local 21 Members March in Chicago’s South Side Irish Parade
IBEW Local 21 members and their families joined together in the 2008 30th Annual South Side Irish Parade on Sunday, March 9, 2008. Click here for a short video via YouTube.
2008 Cost of Living Increase Set at AT&T
IBEW Local 21 has confirmed the amount of the wage increase to be effective June 22nd of this year. You may recall in 2004 bargaining, our Union successfully negotiated a COLA (cost of living adjustment) to be applied to the wage increases effective in the last 2 years of the contract. The COLA adjustment provision that our Union won in 2004 bargaining is different from previous COLA adjustments, which were only paid as lump sum payments. This adjustment is added directly to wage rates. When the COLA adjustment is added to the previously negotiated wage increase, the total wage increase becomes 3.72%. That is over a dollar an hour increase for many job titles. For example, this will bring the hourly rate of a Wage Group 1 Tech to $31.45 per hour. Service Reps’ pay will increase to over $56,000 annually. President/Business Manager Ron Kastner thanks all members for their solidarity during our last bargaining. It’s because of our unity that our Union is able to negotiate contract provisions like this one.
In other news, the Team Performance Award payout for 2007 will be at 95% rate, which equates to a payout of $500 in March. In addition, the Lump Sum Payout (also negotiated in 2004 bargaining) will be $375 to be paid in July of this year.
The Employee Free Choice Act
Supported by a bipartisan coalition in Congress, H.R. 800, S. 1041 would enable working people to bargain for better wages, benefits and working conditions by restoring workers’ freedom to choose for themselves whether to join a union. The Employee Free Choice Act would:
Establish stronger penalties for violation of employee rights when workers seek to form a union and during first-contract negotiations.
Provide mediation and arbitration for first-contract disputes.
Allow employees to form unions by signing cards authorizing union representation.
On September 25,2007 in Chicago, AFL-CIO Organizing Director Stewart Acuff strongly rejected the arguments of deceit from union-busting law firm Jackson-Lewis during a lively debate on the Employee Free Choice Act. Click here or on the image above to see the Debate Highlights via You Tube.
Hurricane Katrina and the Working People of New Orleans
IBEW Local 21 and 70 other labor reporters hit the streets of New Orleans during the month of October to track down and write the stories of the city's workers' loss, desperation, hopes and struggles. ILCA Labor communicators from across North America are demonstrating the power of labor's voice by producing video, audio, photography and text stories and are continuing to post them on the ILCA Convention website at NewOrleansLaborMedia.org. Check it out.
Comcast News and Bargaining Updates
November 28, 2007 Update
I.B.E.W. Local Union 21
1307 Butterfield Rd., Suite 422
Downers Grove, Illinois 60515
(630) 960-4466
(630) 960-9607 fax
