vB Easy Archive - The Union!

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The Union!
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Posted by: DruB

Okay so I know that in our area the union just got voted in and i beleive everything is going to start on feb 1. I want to know how this stupid thing got voted in. . .I sure as hell didnt vote for it and looking through the book its a bunch of crap i think. The raise structure is horrible and theres just a lot of things that are absolutely stupid. I know that theres also a lot of people that are unhappy with it as well. Isn't there a way for us to get out of the union?!

Posted by: BellaDea

unfortunately it's all or nobody when it comes to becoming union and as long as they have 51 votes (or 51% for the union, i don't remember) then everyone else is considered union. You don't necessarily have to pay dues however.

The main reason I like the union is because of insurance. I have personal reasons for that but it's too bad you can't be union for a few months then drop it......lol

Posted by: DruB

yeah i hear ya on that one. . . i do know the benefits are decent, but i mean the pay increases are absolutely HORRIBLE! Can't we all just vote to get them out?

Posted by: BellaDea

not that i'm aware of. The pay increases are good for some people though because it's all based on a table they have set up. so for exampe if you make $400 a week and they have a "pay level" (or whatever it's called) at $405.25 you just got a $5.25 raise! course if you make $405 a week then ya, it sucks. but hey, a pay increase at all is nice considering I didn't even see one last year really. the "table" or whatever i'm talking about should be in the CWA contract for your area.

Posted by: Alfred_Neuman

i told cwa rep noone in my store is signing up. she then gave me an attitude and stated "its ok, youll be part of it soon enough"

looks like it worked, noone came back since then to try to recruit us.

Posted by: DruB

thats exactly the attitude i got from my rep. they think they are just like gods gift to cingular. . .and i got a nice little raise! .06 cents! woopie

we need to find out how to get rid of them!

Posted by: StattlichPassat

Corporate bullies... I mean unions... suck. There hasn't been a breath of any such commie crap around here, so far.

If there is, I'm gone.

Posted by: DruB

well i still think theres gotta be a way to vote the union out, id love to know how many of us on here actually want the union!

Posted by: ba4669

Unions have a time and place, this is not really one of them.

In our store it is causing more trouble than it's worth.

Posted by: holaDude

The union is evil and I don't care for them. They need 50% +1

Posted by: SoCal91302

Quote:

Originally Posted by DruB

well i still think theres gotta be a way to vote the union out, id love to know how many of us on here actually want the union!

All I hear are complaints, but nobody has gave any specifics as to why the union is bad.

Posted by: napville2000

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoCal91302

All I hear are complaints, but nobody has gave any specifics as to why the union is bad.

I wasn't eligible for a promotion because the agreement with union does not allow vertical or horizontal promotions unless you are entering management. I don't like the system because it is based on tenurena dnothing else. Everyone gets a .10 raise.. really raising the bar

Posted by: holaDude

Reasons why I don't like the union, and mind you that these are personal reasons.

In my call center they changed it to where only the new hires work the closing shift, there is no more shift differential for your entire shift if closing, only for hours worked after 8 pm. I loved working the closing shift as i am a night person, and hate having to get up early.

You must have one full year of employment before being eligible for a raise, and that there are caps on pay based on tenure. This is different than having a raise at the start of the year no mater how long you worked. In some states, you must pay dues to the union. Me, I don't have to pay dues since I live in TX. There is more, but I need to find my stupid book to read it.

Now, here are reasons why I am just OK with them, and this is a big reason for this one statement, The Weingartner Rights:

Quote:

If this discusion could in any way lead to my being disciplined or terminated or have any effect on my personal working conditions, I respectfully request that my union representative, officer, or steward be present at this meeting. Without union representation, I choose not to participate in this discussion.

This one quote is a powerful quote and can keep you from being fired, or disciplined as the union can either approve or disapprove the action against you. Now, with the union, they guaranty that you will receive two raises a year, so another thing that is ok.

edited to ad: I will not be eligible for a rasie until this summer.

Posted by: Rcadden

Haha. My HR Prof in college used to say, "If you get unionized, you deserve it." That was all he ever said about unions, period. Haha.

Posted by: Freakshow105

the thing I hated was there was no place you do you research. If you asked managment they told you that they are required to have "No opinion" and they were threatened to do just that. people i know signed those cards to "vote" for it when they thought they were getting "more info" when they filled out the cards not knowing it was a vote FOR it. I am looking forward to my check going from $160 every paycheck for health insurance to $15 a paycheck. only thing i am looking forward to. I also loved just requesting a day off and making that my day off for the week so I don't have to use a paid day off, but now you have to bid on the shift, so there is never a guarentee you will get a day off, makes it impossible to plan stuff unless you want to make it a paid day off.

I wouldn't mind bidding on shifts if I could have the same shift and bid once a month. Weekly bidding is a pain in the a especially since cingular did a huge layoff and we have 3 full time employees left

Posted by: SoCal91302

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrDJ

the thing I hated was there was no place you do you research. If you asked managment they told you that they are required to have "No opinion" and they were threatened to do just that. people i know signed those cards to "vote" for it when they thought they were getting "more info" when they filled out the cards not knowing it was a vote FOR it. I am looking forward to my check going from $160 every paycheck for health insurance to $15 a paycheck. only thing i am looking forward to. I also loved just requesting a day off and making that my day off for the week so I don't have to use a paid day off, but now you have to bid on the shift, so there is never a guarentee you will get a day off, makes it impossible to plan stuff unless you want to make it a paid day off.

I wouldn't mind bidding on shifts if I could have the same shift and bid once a month. Weekly bidding is a pain in the a especially since cingular did a huge layoff and we have 3 full time employees left

My health insurance went up! Still under $15 a paycheck though

Posted by: at&t_hitman

The union is useless. I asked for their help in a discipline matter and after a couple of weeks of phone tag they basically told me I was out of luck. Totally worth my .08 cent raise.

Posted by: StattlichPassat

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoCal91302

All I hear are complaints, but nobody has gave any specifics as to why the union is bad.

It doesn't take specifics to determine that communism is bad either.

Posted by: StattlichPassat

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rcadden

Haha. My HR Prof in college used to say, "If you get unionized, you deserve it." That was all he ever said about unions, period. Haha.

Haha, that's hilarious. :P

Posted by: Seltzer

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoCal91302

All I hear are complaints, but nobody has gave any specifics as to why the union is bad.

CWA and wireless retail DO NOT mix. It's a one-way street, and it favors the CWA and not its members.

Why? If a sales rep fails to hit quote, and shows up in SAM, you're going to get your write up. All the filibustering in the world won't get the sales rep out of it, and neither will the grievances. I'm close to a few ARSMs in my region, and well, they all scoff at grievances.

Benefits? Same benefits as non-bargained employees. No advantage here.

Job security? If a store closes down, you either get severance pay or relocated to closest store. There is nothing CWA can do for you. Nothing. Non-bargained employees (managers) get the same treatment.

Commission adjustments? CWA is NO word on what Cingular decides to play it's sales channel. Period.

Heck, this is a union that can't have a lockdown or a strike. It's hilarious. So, what do members get in return? They get to pay union fees!

Posted by: holaDude

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seltzer

CWA and wireless retail DO NOT mix. It's a one-way street, and it favors the CWA and not its members.

Heck, this is a union that can't have a lockdown or a strike. It's hilarious. So, what do members get in return? They get to pay union fees!

I totally agree with the first part, and the second part is correct as well. If you mention or even joke about calling a strike, you will be fired on the spot if any manager hears you.

Posted by: BoricuaTech

Here in Puerto Rico, we are patiently waiting for March 2007 to come around. That's when the "Agreement" ends.
Oh man Oh Man!!! I just can't wait for those rats to come out of hiding...
"The what? Cards? Benefits? Ha Ha Ha...there's the door."
They represent $40.00 less X month every paycheck. That's all.
Our union imposed "President" has never worked with Cingular. Actually he has never worked at anything related to the wireless industry. He was an office clerk on our local landline company.
I rather pay protection to La Cosa Nostra. At least they would collect every month in person...

That's my rant

Posted by: magiteck

Not sure why everyone hates the CWA so much.
From going non-bargained, to bargained, I had at minimum the following things happen:
-I went from having insurance WITH deductables, to having insurance WITHOUT deductables. And even better, Cingular can't change my insurance on a whim.
-I went from an average annual raise of about $0.35/hr/yr, to what will equate to an extra $1/hr/yr over the next 4-years of the CWA contract.
-Yes, I now pay dues... but I also now get extra pay for working after 8pm and working Sundays. That pretty much covers the dues. It's a wash.
-Having been with the company over 2 years, that now means something. If I don't want to work a specific holiday, the guy who just started can do it instead. I've earned my place.
-In our market, the CWA fought to have SAM time-frames reduced. And the CWA won.

The CWA is not going to "save the world". But it has helped me a whole lot more than it has hurt me.

Posted by: DA_KING_OF_SSG

ok... honestly... union lowered the morale...

check this out... I'm fairly new to my department... and under AT&T u would get a performance based raise... plus pick schedules based off that performance... so I sell in the top 3 among the 50 or so people in my department... and I keep my phone stats among top 3 as well... not the easiest thing to do... but I liked the adoration of my superiors... and the envy of my coworkers...

union took over... now EVERYTHING is seniority based... so... out of the last 5 people hired 7 months ago... which I was apart of... (not to mention "if people are hired on the same day, seniority is based off of the last 6 digits of the social security number"), and of course that makes me the last person... so all those old farts in my department who were making fun of me for trying so hard... are really laughing at me now... cuz now no matter how hard I work it doesnt mean anything...

needless to say... our entire department had a dramatic drop in sales and in phone statistics... I'm going to get my 6-20 cent raise every 6 months no matter what happens... so guess what... all I do is show up everyday...

I may have to change my name from "king of ssg" to "not trying member of ssg..."

Posted by: SoCal91302

That sucks ;/

Quote:

Originally Posted by DA_KING_OF_SSG

ok... honestly... union lowered the morale...

check this out... I'm fairly new to my department... and under AT&T u would get a performance based raise... plus pick schedules based off that performance... so I sell in the top 3 among the 50 or so people in my department... and I keep my phone stats among top 3 as well... not the easiest thing to do... but I liked the adoration of my superiors... and the envy of my coworkers...

union took over... now EVERYTHING is seniority based... so... out of the last 5 people hired 7 months ago... which I was apart of... (not to mention "if people are hired on the same day, seniority is based off of the last 6 digits of the social security number"), and of course that makes me the last person... so all those old farts in my department who were making fun of me for trying so hard... are really laughing at me now... cuz now no matter how hard I work it doesnt mean anything...

needless to say... our entire department had a dramatic drop in sales and in phone statistics... I'm going to get my 6-20 cent raise every 6 months no matter what happens... so guess what... all I do is show up everyday...

I may have to change my name from "king of ssg" to "not trying member of ssg..."

Posted by: BoricuaTech

Since CWA got in the picture Cingular has grown more and more hostile to employees. Granting less and less sponsorships for employee events, allowing morale-improving programs to die a slow and inevitable death.
Cingular rarely sponsors anything 100% directed for it's employees anymore.
I've been around for over 7 Yrs. (I worked with the Analogs

) and have seen the change.

Posted by: holaDude

Quote:

Originally Posted by magiteck

Not sure why everyone hates the CWA so much.
From going non-bargained, to bargained, I had at minimum the following things happen:
-Yes, I now pay dues... but I also now get extra pay for working after 8pm and working Sundays. That pretty much covers the dues. It's a wash.

The CWA is not going to "save the world". But it has helped me a whole lot more than it has hurt me.

I don't know where you work, but I got screwed by the union big time. Instead of getting to work the closing shift and getting differential for my ENTIRE shift of 330p-1215a, I now only get to work a day shift and only differential pay for hours after 8p if I work overtime. Only the transition teams work the closing now, and because of the changes, I lost about 160.00 a month due to this change. I tell them every time they come to sign up peple for dues what they did to me, and plan to keep doing so. No that they care or it matters to them, but I just like to let them know what they have done for me. Do I get to work Sundays? NO!!!! As we are now closed on Sundays. Does this bother me at all? Heck yes, i have gone through being laid off twice and every change they make makes me look and think about the same changes at my past companies.

As far as dues are going, don't have to pay them and never will. /rant off

Posted by: magiteck

And from the flip side... pre-union, I never got any type of a differential for anything, period. I worked just about every Sunday, for the same wage I earned on Monday. If I worked a Holiday, I didn't get a special incentive for working that day above and beyond the normal 8 hours of Holiday pay. Now I do. I used to have deductables on my insurance, now I don't.

There's certainly advantages and disadvantages of being bargained for. But as a previously non-bargained employee with 2-years tenure, it works very greatly in my favor.

To each his/her own.

Quote:

Originally Posted by holaDude

Posted by: Motoman71

1 percent of your pay check for a .10 cent pay raise? Union in sales only help people that can't make it on there own. I know for a fact I would be pissed if i got the same raise as some floor sucker. I enjoy being paid more for doing more. I will always vote no for unions!

Posted by: magiteck

Union raises are much more than 10 cents. I was the best performing rep in my store last year, non-bargained, who got the biggest raise, yet the raise I earned last year was still only about half of the raise I'll receive this year as a bargained employee. Where are your statistics to back up your complaints?

Posted by: Alfred_Neuman

i told the cwa lady to go away. i demanded PROOF they made cingular redo the chargebacks to 91 days.

non. i then told her "noone in my store is going to sign up nor will we pay if we do"

then she got pissy and left by saying "its ok, we almost got the 51%"

Posted by: colione

I'm so against the union. Sure they get us some good deals, but the negatives far outwiegh the positives. For one, I do pretty good in my store. Out of 7 reps, I usually stay in the top 3 or 4, which is pretty good considering the top 4 almost always hit 3rd tier.

Recently a rep did a "no call no show" nothing happened. Personal problems after pregnancy.. understood. She got a warning. Drug abuse rumors started circulating because she was acting like she was on coke.

Less than a month later... another "no call no show". She was sent home the next day (on a sunday, leaving me the only rep working). Husband confirmed she finally showed up at home high as a kite. No drug test as she wasn't working.

That following tuesday, she shows up for training high, with white powder on her shirt, a red nose(sniffing perhaps?), and very restless. Now, usually I don't go for the rumors, but this was straight from the trainers mouth. He had no idea anything was going on at the store level, just voicing his observations. Still nothing being done publicly. I understand this because things usually happen out of the public eye.

The next day she was scheduled, we are told her doctor put her on "medical" leave for 3 wks.

We'll see how it plays out when she gets back, but so far, the union has protected her, while driving down moral in my store, and leaving us severly understaffed as two other reps recently quit. (we had 7 reps at the beginning of all this)

So as you see, the union has done nothing except protect this piece of trash coke head that has no regards for her fellow employees. (probably because she's lookin for the crack pipe or whatever it is that she's into)

So my two cents is: drop the union and start treating the employees like we aren't a burden, but as an asset.

Posted by: Lambert

Even more reason for me to be pro union. The last thing I need is some nutjob right winger trying to fire me becuase I got some of my powdered donut on my shirt.

And for the record, I have seen many coke addicts in my previous line of work, the stuff is too expensive.. and the fiend too desperate (and paranoid) to leave any just laying around on their clothing.

But it must be true, because your trainer himself said it, right?

Quote:

Originally Posted by colione

I'm so against the union. Sure they get us some good deals, but the negatives far outwiegh the positives. For one, I do pretty good in my store. Out of 7 reps, I usually stay in the top 3 or 4, which is pretty good considering the top 4 almost always hit 3rd tier.

Recently a rep did a "no call no show" nothing happened. Personal problems after pregnancy.. understood. She got a warning. Drug abuse rumors started circulating because she was acting like she was on coke.

Less than a month later... another "no call no show". She was sent home the next day (on a sunday, leaving me the only rep working). Husband confirmed she finally showed up at home high as a kite. No drug test as she wasn't working.

That following tuesday, she shows up for training high, with white powder on her shirt, a red nose(sniffing perhaps?), and very restless. Now, usually I don't go for the rumors, but this was straight from the trainers mouth. He had no idea anything was going on at the store level, just voicing his observations. Still nothing being done publicly. I understand this because things usually happen out of the public eye.

The next day she was scheduled, we are told her doctor put her on "medical" leave for 3 wks.

We'll see how it plays out when she gets back, but so far, the union has protected her, while driving down moral in my store, and leaving us severly understaffed as two other reps recently quit. (we had 7 reps at the beginning of all this)

So as you see, the union has done nothing except protect this piece of trash coke head that has no regards for her fellow employees. (probably because she's lookin for the crack pipe or whatever it is that she's into)

So my two cents is: drop the union and start treating the employees like we aren't a burden, but as an asset.

Posted by: kaijen44

The Union is there to protect a worker from abuse and employers unfair practices, such as making assumptions! The Union is there to protect your rights not only as a human but to prevent favoritism in the work place. It is not there to protect someone who is stupid and lazy and does not want to do there job!

I work in a sales office and before the union was there people were totally abused by management. Write- ups were based on whatever manager did the write up and cheaters were ignored as long as they produced. If you did not produce you were out the door no additional help or training. Now with representation management has to take notice. They adjusted our quota in our office for the month of January after seeing that no one met numbers and after they had already written up several people. The company was not going to remove the write ups that were done before the adjustment.. union made them!
So i am tired of hearing everyone blast the union. The Union is a brotherhood and sisterhood that stand up for fairness and what is right..everyone should be treated the same and seniority should count for something after all the people with seniority have earned it.

Posted by: Alfred_Neuman

Quote:

Originally Posted by kaijen44

The Union is there to protect a worker from abuse and employers unfair practices, such as making assumptions! The Union is there to protect your rights not only as a human but to prevent favoritism in the work place. It is not there to protect someone who is stupid and lazy and does not want to do there job!

I work in a sales office and before the union was there people were totally abused by management. Write- ups were based on whatever manager did the write up and cheaters were ignored as long as they produced. If you did not produce you were out the door no additional help or training. Now with representation management has to take notice. They adjusted our quota in our office for the month of January after seeing that no one met numbers and after they had already written up several people. The company was not going to remove the write ups that were done before the adjustment.. union made them!
So i am tired of hearing everyone blast the union. The Union is a brotherhood and sisterhood that stand up for fairness and what is right..everyone should be treated the same and seniority should count for something after all the people with seniority have earned it.

all i got to say is...... ahahahahahaha. the union in cellular jobs is useless. id like to have proof cingulars not giving me charbacks past 91 days. i want PROOF.

the union didnt drop your stores quota. cingular realized saming and firing ppl left and right isnt the way to go about things. also they realized it wasnt fair one store have an extreme quota because the last year tthey blew out numbers (ala my store)

im anti union. if any seniors of cingular are still here, theyll remember the x-mas parties, newspapers delivered to their office, top gun (which is coming back but still)

Posted by: Lambert

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alfred_Neuman

I'll take job security over a free newspaper anyday. And company christmas parties are always filled with people you don't like anyway.. throw your own

Posted by: BellaDea

we've never had christmas parties....... stupid market..... There are some here (in my store and surrounding stores) that are anti union but I see it as there's good and bad. course most anti-union people i know don't mind the union too much when they have to utilize them

Posted by: ivwshane

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lambert

I'll take job security over a free newspaper anyday. And company christmas parties are always filled with people you don't like anyway.. throw your own

Job security? Are you the laziest person in your store? Are you a problem employee?

If so then I can see why job security would be important to you otherwise you are no more secure with the union than without it.

Posted by: Alfred_Neuman

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lambert

I'll take job security over a free newspaper anyday. And company christmas parties are always filled with people you don't like anyway.. throw your own

you think theyll gaurantee your job if you dont miss the 80%?

i'd like to see this.

the union doesnt do anything except take income from you. you must be a lazy, unwanted co-worker who hides behind the union.

id like to see a union rep from maryland tell me one good thing about them. ive yet to find one who can find something to say about them in a GOOD Way.

Posted by: magiteck

The Union doesn't cost me anything. They take "dues", but they also give me Sunday Premium Pay, and Shift Differential, which I never had before. Those added extras consistantly equal more than any dues I pay.

My insurance is now cheaper under the union, and my deductables are gone. Cingular has two separate health plans: One for bargained employees, and one for nonbargained employees. The bargained one is much better!

I'm now guaranteed per the contract about $1/hr worth of raises every year. Before, I was lucky to see $0.50, even as my stores top performer.

And, our local HR rep has reluctantly admitted to us that many positive changes made recently, were as a result of union pressure. And he/she is anti-union.

I could certainly live without the union. I do not rely on the CWA for my continued job security. But the bottom line for me, is that becoming bargained has brought about more GOOD things for me than it has BAD.

Posted by: ivwshane

I've never heard of Sunday Premium Pay, and Shift Differential.

Anyone care to comment on it?

Posted by: .7

Quote:

Originally Posted by magiteck

The Union doesn't cost me anything. They take "dues", but they also give me Sunday Premium Pay, and Shift Differential, which I never had before. Those added extras consistantly equal more than any dues I pay.

My insurance is now cheaper under the union, and my deductables are gone. Cingular has two separate health plans: One for bargained employees, and one for nonbargained employees. The bargained one is much better!

I'm now guaranteed per the contract about $1/hr worth of raises every year. Before, I was lucky to see $0.50, even as my stores top performer.

And, our local HR rep has reluctantly admitted to us that many positive changes made recently, were as a result of union pressure. And he/she is anti-union.

I could certainly live without the union. I do not rely on the CWA for my continued job security. But the bottom line for me, is that becoming bargained has brought about more GOOD things for me than it has BAD.

Agreed, I was anti-union until I no longer had to pay the spouse co-pay of $100 bi-weekly and I just found out that its going to cost us a whoping $35 in medical bills to have our son, and those rate are bargined through 2008.

I know that I get paid more on Sundays but I dont know what the breakdown is. I think its someting like time+1/4 or something like that. I dont know what Shift Differential is so I would like this explained to me as well.

I think you said it best, I could live without the Union, but so far I dont see a whole lot of negetives that Ive heard about in here.

Posted by: Alfred_Neuman

a,ll i know is, 99% of maryland union sales reps are saying no to the union in 08......if they are still here (and didnt quit cingular/att)

Posted by: magiteck

Quote:

Originally Posted by ivwshane

I've never heard of Sunday Premium Pay, and Shift Differential.

Anyone care to comment on it?

Both Sunday Pay and Shift Differential are basically an additional 10% on top of your regular hourly wage. Example: If you make $10/hr, you'll make an extra $1 per hour.

Sunday Premium Pay applies for any time worked on a Sunday. Shift differential applies for any time worked after 8:00PM. So if your store closes at 9, and you therefore clock out at 9:30, you'll have had 90 minutes of "Shift Differential" time.

Again, it's not a huge amount of money... But at least for me, the Sunday Pay + Shift Diff is greater than any amount I pay for dues.

Hope that explains those two benefits well enough

Posted by: Lambert

Quote:

Originally Posted by ivwshane

Yes. No. No.

Ever been fired because your manager didn't like you? Me either... but I have seen it happen, and it was by a COR store manager.

How good are you with acronyms? GFY.

Posted by: Lambert

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alfred_Neuman

you think theyll gaurantee your job if you dont miss the 80%?

Actually, I do my job well. In fact, unlike you.. I would be estatic if I had all the customers to myself. This is sales. If you were working at best buy, then yes.. it would make sense to go online and bash them.

BTW, how the hell can you get less than 100% on a secret shop? DO YOUR JOB AND TEACH THOSE "SLACKERS" HOW TO AS WELL.

Posted by: ivwshane

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lambert

Yes. No. No.

Ever been fired because your manager didn't like you? Me either... but I have seen it happen, and it was by a COR store manager.

How good are you with acronyms? GFY.

So I take it you take offense because you are lazy and you are a problem employee?

Have a nice trip

Posted by: Lambert

Quote:

Originally Posted by ivwshane

So I take it you take offense because you are lazy and you are a problem employee?

Have a nice trip

Enjoy your grievance the next time you wrongfully punish an employee

Posted by: .7

Knock it off guys..the back and forth STOPS HERE

Posted by: Alfred_Neuman

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lambert

while i might get essentially all the acts, i also have to deal with everything in the store. but wait, i cant deal with everything because i cant multitask more than 5 things at a time.

yes, im doing 5 things essentially all day everyday.

no its not my job to train them for SS. ive taught them the system, the plans,the phones prior for their training. ive explained to them SS. ive given them clips with it to ask any and all new potential customers.

if they refuse to read, and ask them these questions, so be it. i am not their boss ill let them deal with the consequences.

Posted by: ungratefulninja

The shift differential is paid for each SCHEDULED hour, or fraction thereof, worked after 8 p.m. and before 6 a.m.. and it's 10% of the employee's base hourly rate.

Same goes for Sunday.

It's spelled out in the union contract. I keep a copy of it with me.

When they were trying to unionize Verizon, Verizon fired back with a study showing that on average unionized Cingular employees made less than non-union Verizon employees.

The benefits are amazingly cheap, I just chalk up my union dues as an expense to make my benefits cheaper.

Posted by: DA_KING_OF_SSG

ok...

summary of everything above...

THE GOOD

union=protection from discriminating managers... +1
union=cheaper benefits... +1
union=shift differential... (oh wait cingular had that before) +0

THE BAD
union=union dues... -1
union=protection for bad employees... -1
union=bad raises... (oh wait cingular had that before) +0

THE UGLY
(personal views)

union=seniority based benefits instead of performance based benefits... -2
i.e. a rep whos been here for 3 years gets more vacation and higher raises than a person whos been here 1 year...

union=SUPER STRICT POLICY on attendance... -5
i.e. previous system allotted sick time to all reps... new system gives NO sick time... u must use "EWP" (excused with pay) time to get off of work... and u get negative attendance points if the time isnt available on the calendar... to explain...

our center gives 40 hours available... if 5 people have requested the day off then there are 0 hours left... EVEN if u have EWP available and you are sick as a dog... u still get negative attendance points if u dont come to work...

union=management stricter -1
i.e. managers will write u up or do "coachings" instead of just verbal warnings... because union will fight for u... now I'm not one to get in trouble very often but when they're trying to find stuff to write u up over... that I dont like...

union=DUMB stewards -100
i.e. your local steward is supposed to fight for u when management has an issue with something u did... HOW IN THE HELL IS A STEWARD GOING TO FIGHT FOR YOU, WHEN THEY DONT UNDERSTAND YOUR JOB...? my personal experience is that the union rep sits in the meeting not as a lawyer... or even as an impartial judge.. but more as a sternographer... listen and take down what happens... they dont "fight" for u... just make sure it goes through proper protocol... management isnt dumb enough to do shady tactics when writing u up... they have final sayso regardless... but the dumbf**k steward who sits there all amazed by policies that he wasnt aware of... its like why are u here...?

lastly... I do agree that the union did help standardize raises... but $0.06 every six months... =( I was getting at least $0.25 a year before... and some reps even got up to $0.75... not to mention the year end bonus...
*SARCASM*
oh but thanx for making sure that management is "forced" to increase my pay...

UNION SUXS... DONT DO IT IF U CAN AVOID IT...

Posted by: Lambert

In L.A. we got 25 cents every 6 months

I gues cause the average house is half a million dollars, we need the extra $.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DA_KING_OF_SSG

ok...

summary of everything above...

THE GOOD

union=protection from discriminating managers... +1
union=cheaper benefits... +1
union=shift differential... (oh wait cingular had that before) +0

THE BAD
union=union dues... -1
union=protection for bad employees... -1
union=bad raises... (oh wait cingular had that before) +0

THE UGLY
(personal views)

union=seniority based benefits instead of performance based benefits... -2
i.e. a rep whos been here for 3 years gets more vacation and higher raises than a person whos been here 1 year...

union=SUPER STRICT POLICY on attendance... -5
i.e. previous system allotted sick time to all reps... new system gives NO sick time... u must use "EWP" (excused with pay) time to get off of work... and u get negative attendance points if the time isnt available on the calendar... to explain...

our center gives 40 hours available... if 5 people have requested the day off then there are 0 hours left... EVEN if u have EWP available and you are sick as a dog... u still get negative attendance points if u dont come to work...

union=management stricter -1
i.e. managers will write u up or do "coachings" instead of just verbal warnings... because union will fight for u... now I'm not one to get in trouble very often but when they're trying to find stuff to write u up over... that I dont like...

union=DUMB stewards -100
i.e. your local steward is supposed to fight for u when management has an issue with something u did... HOW IN THE HELL IS A STEWARD GOING TO FIGHT FOR YOU, WHEN THEY DONT UNDERSTAND YOUR JOB...? my personal experience is that the union rep sits in the meeting not as a lawyer... or even as an impartial judge.. but more as a sternographer... listen and take down what happens... they dont "fight" for u... just make sure it goes through proper protocol... management isnt dumb enough to do shady tactics when writing u up... they have final sayso regardless... but the dumbf**k steward who sits there all amazed by policies that he wasnt aware of... its like why are u here...?

lastly... I do agree that the union did help standardize raises... but $0.06 every six months... =( I was getting at least $0.25 a year before... and some reps even got up to $0.75... not to mention the year end bonus...
*SARCASM*
oh but thanx for making sure that management is "forced" to increase my pay...

UNION SUXS... DONT DO IT IF U CAN AVOID IT...

Posted by: ccslsrep

Quote:

Originally Posted by DA_KING_OF_SSG

If you knew the process of what a steward is and is not allowed to do it would help.
First of all when management calls a disciplinary meeting it is the companys meeting all staewrads are allowed to do it let management speak their points. Then it is the unions turn if a grievance is filed..during your grievance this is when your steward makes their position know at that point a steward is equal to management and can fight for you....I WANT TO SAY THAT THE UNION IS NOT THERE TO HELP LAZY PEOPLE THAT DON'T WANT TO DO THEIR JOB, IT IS THEIR TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUR RIGHTS ARE NOT VIOLATED AND THAT EVERYONE IS TREATED FAIRLY, by the way DO YOU PAY DUES....have you ever heard the phrase you get what you pay for!

Posted by: colione

The union protects slackers and deadbeats. Nothing at all has happened to the girl I mentioned earlier. She is coming back to work after a "medical" leave, with nothing being said about the two no call no shows. It's absolutely crazy, and has led to 3 people quiting from my store of once 7 people. Now we're down to three plus her, and she's not reliable enough to have her open or close because we're not sure if she's going to show up. So now what? We all suffer and work overtime to make sure the store is covered, even is she is going to be there.

Posted by: DA_KING_OF_SSG

Quote:

Originally Posted by ccslsrep

boy do you ever perpetuate the stereotype that customer service reps dont know what they are talking about...

I have no problem with management "speaking their points"... the fact of the matter is... if I get disciplined, I would like to know what the hell I did wrong... my problem is with stewards representing reps without knowledge of what their job function is... I mean how can u fight for somebody without any knowledge of whats right or wrong... during "my grievance" my coffin is already shut and sealed because they dont know how to come back at the management... thats what grinds my gears...

in response to "THE UNION IS NOT THERE TO HELP LAZY PEOPLE THAT DON'T WANT TO DO THEIR JOB", the fact of the matter is their are numerous lazy people and numerous people who dont want to do their job... I'm not naive enough to think that the union want to help them... but the awful truth is that it is the only thing that it is currently doing... so many of these reps are being allowed to get away with at best mediocre job performance and this is definately a morale killer around the office to hard working reps like myself...

I understand that their are bad managers and supervisors in the world and that the union is just trying to police them... but managers and supervisors need to be able to reduce the amount of cancer in and around the office... I guess if I had bad supervisors then I probably would be more union friendly... but the fact of the matter is... if I have a bad manager I transfer or leave... its not like the managers are going to be fired because of grievances... and if a manager doesnt like you they are going to continually pick on u regardless...

Face it... union sucks... I pay my dues for something I dont support

Posted by: ivwshane

What are the union dues again? And if I don't need medical benifits can I get some kind of credit?

Posted by: magiteck

Quote:

Originally Posted by ivwshane

What are the union dues again? And if I don't need medical benifits can I get some kind of credit?

Union dues are 1.5% of base pay

Posted by: CingularZ

When will this country learn and realize that the UNION is the reason why this country loses its laborforce..

Everybody wants equality and fairness, but the reality is .. Life just isnt fair..

Posted by: mshelby

In my call center the contract is up in just a few days and they are talking strike, now I am against the union in my call center because of the idiots that are allowed to keep their job out of fear of the union crying foul.

Customers complain about the horrible customer service yet I look around and see people who have been there 5+ years who still try to send OTA to TDMA phones and then transfer to tech to find out why it isn't activated after changing the ESN in care...

Ever notice the laziest, ignorant people in the company are the same ones who are union reps?

If they put forth 1/2 as much work at their job as they do the union they wouldn't have a damn thing to complain about.

Posted by: Reaper0Bot0

CingularZ, effective unionizing has been a part of it, yes. So has the race to the bottom big corporations have been running. You are a cost, and they will cut you if they can. Better pay and benefits might have sped things up, but you'd cost Cingular more than some CSR in India regardless.

Posted by: MikieCGY

Unions ****in suck.. plain and simple.. they are there just to collect their 20$ per paycheque.. I work for Telus (In Canada) and im all Anti Union.. we went on strike last spring for 5-6 months .. but I took two weeksoff.. went traavelling then came back crossed the picket line.. ended up getting paid 300$ extra per paychequ TAKE HOME..

the Union eeventually lost.. its a worst agreement than previously agreed to but none the less .. your talking about a HUUUUUUGE company here.. with the best lawyers

i hate union dues but meh.. what can you do :s it sucks

good luck guys

Posted by: Wiggum

i can't imagine cingular's wages w/o the union.

Posted by: MikieCGY

This is true.. I once worked for Cingulars Outsourcer in Regina SK taking Blue calls - and we were getting paid 9.50/hour Canadian to do all the grunt work..

Now im getting paid 19.88/hour + bonuses + all benefits 85% + education options and im talking to canadians -- so i guess the union does have some perks but jeezz