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Monday, 12 April 2010 |
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AT&T has introduced a coverage form titled “Accurate Time Reporting for Non-Management/Non-Exempt Employees in ABS-Global Customer Service (US-Based)”. What a mouthful - it’s surprising they didn’t introduce this in the dark. This is the result of a group of AT&T employees who filed suit against AT&T with regard to logging in early to their workstation computers. The employees prevailed, and the documents that are a result of the lawsuit, a form was introduced by the company for employees to sign. It is the Unions long term position that Union employees should sign nothing other than their paychecks.
The company is increasingly pressuring our members to sign documents when introducing policy and procedural changes in the workplace. In the past, prior notice for work rule and policy changes were announced in group or individual coverage meetings. It was conducted this way to ensure all employees were covered and enabled our members to ask questions and obtain clarification on the subject of change. Our signature was not required, only our presence. For over 40 years the Legacy T (originally Long Lines) employees were not required to sign off and be recorded as if they are in agreement with a new policy as a condition of employment. The Unions concern is that no employee should be forced to imply by signing, that they agree, understand, or accept a policy when they may not. The Union objects to our members not being properly covered and then handed an agreement form to be signed. The company doesn’t even provide our Members with an opportunity to have questions addressed. It is the Unions position that the company must cease pressuring bargaining unit members to sign off on non-contractual agreements when CWA Members are not given an opportunity to demonstrate: 1-no intent to sign the policy, 2-no intent to affirm any level of knowledge or understanding of the policy, and 3-no acknowledgement of agreement with the policy. In Unity There is Strength. Roy Hegenbart
President
CWA Local 3250 |
