A NEED FOR CHANGE IN 2009 AT$T Bargaining
Does 1986 remind you of today? In 1986, CWA lost its ability to negotiate contracts at a National table because of the breakup of AT$T through divestiture in 1984. During the time after divestiture, the "old" AT$T was split up into separate companies (RBOC's) and CWA contracts were negotiated by separate bargaining units without any national bargaining.AT$T chose a path of fierce competition by spinning off into new business units and went on a buying spree of new businesses to merge with. Then, AT$T lost their nerve and sold them off at bargain prices while most RBOC's prospered. Especially, SBC who embarked on their own spending spree which eventually led to putting humpty-dumpty back together by buying and merging most of the original parts (RBOC's and AT$T).
Today, AT$T is almost completely put back together with one major disadvantage to the 2009 unionized work force. NO NATIONAL BARGAINING! This is why all 2009 CWA -AT$T bargaining units are negotiating separate contracts and for the most
