AT&T chose a path of fierce competition by spinning off new business units which led to failure while the Local Companies continued to prosper. AT&T then went on their buying spree to acquire new businesses to merge with and lost their nerve only to sell them off at bargain prices. While all this was going on SBC went on their own path by putting back together most of the pre 1984 pieces by buying and merging the original AT&T parts. Today, here we are almost completely put back together with one major disadvantage to the unionized work force, NO NATIONAL BARGAINING. This is why all the bargaining units are negotiating contracts and for the most part going it alone. Although we are supporting each other, we are prohibited from negotiating national issues at one table. In the future, this needs to be addressed and changed so we can again establish real National bargaining unity for ALL CWA Members at AT&T. 

The following is part CWA recorded history for 1986: Post Divestiture Bargaining

1986 presented CWA with its first negotiations with the post-divestiture telephone industry. Twelve years after CWA had achieved national bargaining; the union was forced back to the old multiple table way of bargaining. CWA had to bargain not only with AT&T, but with the independent RBOCs and their subsidiaries. National bargaining was replaced by 48 different bargaining tables.

In AT&T negotiations, the company attempted to take back health care benefits, lower clerical wages, and eliminate cost of living adjustments obtained in earlier contracts. CWA had no choice but to strike. The strike lasted 26 days and AT&T agreed to provide wage and employment security improvements and retain health care benefits intact. Although negotiations with the RBOCs were also difficult, they were less contentious than those with AT&T. Strikes were necessary against some of these operating companies, but none lasted more than a few days.

In UNITY THERE Is STRENGTH.