vB Easy Archive - Questions about the Union coming to GA

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Questions about the Union coming to GA
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Posted by: classylady78

I had a heated debate with a coworker today about the union coming to Georgia, so I wanted to see if anyone here knows which is true and where I can find the correct information.

1. I was told by the CWA rep that came into my store to see me that the card I signed was just to show interest in the union and that we would have to vote on it. Then today I was told I was lied to, and that was a vote for the union. Does anyone know if I was lied to?

2. I was also told that my union dues were something like 1.8-2.8 % of my hourly pay. Now the anti-union person is saying it is going to take $2.50 an hour from me. I was in the union up north and it was only like $6 a check.

3. Are we now union? And if so when does the union health care plan start?

Thanks in advance for any help.

I am not necessarily pro union, I am just really hating the new healthcare plan. And I am not happy if the CWA rep lied to me. I probably would have voted on the spot for the union, so being lied to would leave a bad taste in my mouth.

Posted by: lowkey16

Quote:

Originally Posted by classylady78

I had a heated debate with a coworker today about the union coming to Georgia, so I wanted to see if anyone here knows which is true and where I can find the correct information.

1. I was told by the CWA rep that came into my store to see me that the card I signed was just to show interest in the union and that we would have to vote on it. Then today I was told I was lied to, and that was a vote for the union. Does anyone know if I was lied to?

2. I was also told that my union dues were something like 1.8-2.8 % of my hourly pay. Now the anti-union person is saying it is going to take $2.50 an hour from me. I was in the union up north and it was only like $6 a check.

3. Are we now union? And if so when does the union health care plan start?

Thanks in advance for any help.

I am not necessarily pro union, I am just really hating the new healthcare plan. And I am not happy if the CWA rep lied to me. I probably would have voted on the spot for the union, so being lied to would leave a bad taste in my mouth.

1. yes, the card you signed was a vote for the union.

2. you are right about the union dues, but my calculations show mine as being about $20/month

3. we are not union as of yet, last i heard it'll be coming officially no later than mid-january...you'll know when it happens.

Posted by: classylady78

Quote:

Originally Posted by lowkey16

Did you vote for the union? I was pretty upset to hear I was lied to. But what can I do?

Posted by: lowkey16

Quote:

Originally Posted by classylady78

Did you vote for the union? I was pretty upset to hear I was lied to. But what can I do?

i initially held out on signing the card, but did later on. you weren't really lied to, as it was really to gauge interest...while technically voting for the union. you still don't have to join if you don't want to. i'm still considering not joining because my first raise is only going to be about 8cent/hour and after i have to pay dues i'll be making less...while if i hold out i'm gonna be getting about a 50-60 cent raise. the only reason i would join is because the new health care plan sucks...it's almost as if at&t wants everybody to go union lol

Posted by: classylady78

You know that is what I heard is that At&t gave us a crappy health care plan to basically get us into the union. It could be right. But why?

Posted by: classylady78

Oh and I WAS lied to. They told me that we would have a vote if they got more tha 50% interest. They actually told me more than once the vote would be later. Which I would have voted yes, I didn't need to be misled.

Posted by: lowkey16

Quote:

Originally Posted by classylady78

You know that is what I heard is that At&t gave us a crappy health care plan to basically get us into the union. It could be right. But why?

they gave us crappy health care because they're cheap, not because they want us to go union...no company really wants their employees to be in a union because it makes them offer better benefits and such

Posted by: classylady78

I know it makes no sense to me. I have actually heard that the kind of healthcare plan they picked is the "future" of health care plans. I think it sucks.

Posted by: CingularWRX

Same deal here in FL.

Union rep said "this is just to show interest". Funny, everyone "showed interest" and now we're unionized without a vote.

Not cool

Posted by: classylady78

I actually heard today that we are unionized as of 11/27....I would have voted yes, but it really upsets me that they lied to me (because it would have been unnecessary.)

Posted by: lowkey16

Quote:

Originally Posted by classylady78

I actually heard today that we are unionized as of 11/27....I would have voted yes, but it really upsets me that they lied to me (because it would have been unnecessary.)

they may have approved the union, but you are not union yet. you still have to sign up for the union, they can't just start taking dues out of your paycheck without you consenting to it. as i said before, my union rep told me a few weeks ago it'll probably be sometime in january before you become officially unionized.

Posted by: classylady78

My union rep told me that we were just signing interest cards, so I am not sure if I go 100% with what any one rep says. I was told that the union is officially in GA as of 11/27. It doesn't mean they are taking out the dues right away, just that it is official that we are going to unionize. I don't think they can take out our dues until they get us more info on the union health care plan. We also would need to sign up for it. I was told by the union rep that they healthcare plan was supposed to start when the union started, but it seems too late for us to be able to have the union health care by Jan. or anytime soon, they would need a new open enrollment.

Posted by: stlsingledad

Once a contract is negotiated, that is when it really becomes official. And, even if you don't "join" the union, you will be paying dues. That is the agreement the union has with AT&T....you don't have to be a union member, but you do have to pay dues. But consider this...the health benefits and other protections you have under the contract apply to you whether you join or not. My advice....join the union and get active in it. Everyone always complains that the union doesn't do anything, but they forget that they ARE the union.

Posted by: groundhog5886

Don't ask questions here,,,,go to HR, or contact the District 3 CWA officers. I suppose you will all be placed under the existing contract. Being lied to...that's the "Buyer Beware" issue. Did you not read what your signed, it stated you wanted the union to be you collective bargining agent. You will probably be automacticly placed in the union and pay dues according the the contract, and then you will have to contact the union to drop out. This has been an issue since the company went to the "neutral" position of CWA organizing.

Posted by: FormerRuling

CWA has been in the Georgia Call Centers for years.

They BUMRUSH the Trainees coming into the center with "Sign these cards and get a free cup, come on come on" and then all of a sudden they realize 20 bucks a month is being taken out of their checks and leaving the Union is an act of Congress (Can only be done at certain times of the year, have to jump through hoops to get it down then, etc)

Posted by: classylady78

Quote:

Originally Posted by groundhog5886

Don't ask questions here,,,,go to HR, or contact the District 3 CWA officers. I suppose you will all be placed under the existing contract. Being lied to...that's the "Buyer Beware" issue. Did you not read what your signed, it stated you wanted the union to be you collective bargining agent. You will probably be automacticly placed in the union and pay dues according the the contract, and then you will have to contact the union to drop out. This has been an issue since the company went to the "neutral" position of CWA organizing.

A lot of people ask questions here that HR could answer. I did read it, and it did not state in plain English this is a vote for the union. I am not going to drop out of the union. I support it. So, learn how to spell and don't tell me what to do.

Posted by: VeeralS05

yeah it was a vote because they need atleast 50% of the market to agree inorder to create the union and set up elections. They had another process earlier where they just needed 30% of the companies interest. Many people just saw them not too long ago because they had to visit more locations to get that 50%.