DALLAS -AT&T Inc today announced that Core wireline employees in its Midwest Region (CWA District 4) have voted to ratify a three-year agreement with the Communications Workers of America.
The agreement covers about 18,500 CWA members in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan and Wisconsin. The contract expired on April 4 and employees have worked under the terms of the expired contract while negotiations continued.
"We applaud the negotiating teams in District 4 for their hard work in reaching an agreement during tough economic times and a period of significant change in AT&T's wireline business, and we applaud the membership for recognizing it was a fair and reasonable agreement and voting for ratification," said Bill Blase, senior executive vice president-Human Resources.
Details of the agreement are reported on the CWA District 4 bargaining Web site (http://district4.cwa-union.org/bargaining) and the AT&T bargaining Web site (www.att.com/corebargaining).
Negotiations are continuing in other regions where contracts expired on April 4, as they did in Midwest. They include East (CWA District 1), Southwest (District 6), West (District 9), and Legacy T (CWA ComTech unit). Negotiations are also continuing for Core Wireline contracts with the IBEW for employees mostly in Illinois and northwestern Indiana; those contracts expired June 27. The Core Wireline contract in the Southeast region (CWA District 3) expires on Aug. 8 and negotiations began in that region July 20.
A total of about 120,000 employees are covered under the various contracts.
*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.
About AT&T
AT&T Inc. is a premier communications holding company. Its subsidiaries and affiliates, AT&T operating companies, are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world. Among their offerings are the world's most advanced IP-based business communications services, the nation's fastest 3G network and the best wireless coverage worldwide, and the nation's leading high speed Internet access and voice services. In domestic markets, AT&T is known for the directory publishing and advertising sales leadership of its Yellow Pages and YELLOWPAGES.COM organizations, and the AT&T brand is licensed to innovators in such fields as communications equipment. As part of their three-screen integration strategy, AT&T operating companies are expanding their TV entertainment offerings.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Airport Concession Workers Across the US Fight Back Against Unite Here's Backroom Deal With Delaware North Company
NEW YORK -Workers United and Delaware North employees petitioned for a National Labor Relations Board election today to ensure that the 2,100 employees of the airport concessions operator have a voice in choosing their union. The election blocks a backroom deal between the airport concessionaire and Unite Here, another labor organization seeking to represent Delaware North workers. The contract at the airport concessions company expired ten months ago, and the tentative agreement between Unite Here and Delaware North provides no improvements in wages or healthcare benefits. There was no elected contract negotiating committee, and workers had no significant input in UNITE HERE's bargaining process.
"We want to have a strong union. We need a union that we run, that is strong enough to win raises and better health care, and that doesn't cut backroom deals with the company," said Pearline Burton, who has worked for three years at Delaware North's operation in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. "That's why we have taken action to win a real union with Workers United."
Delaware North Travel Hospitality workers are covered by a national labor agreement at 15 airports. Workers at some units are serviced by Workers United and others are serviced by UNITE HERE. The NLRB election will allow workers to choose which union represents them nationwide. The election process will also halt Unite Here's attempt to ratify the substandard contract.
"I am appalled that Unite Here would try to sneak this deal by 2,100 workers. The proposed contract is not about what's good for union members. It's about dues income for Unite Here and Delaware North's profits. Workers want a union that is transparent, democratic, and able to help them win the wages and benefits they deserve," said Workers United President Bruce Raynor. "We will not let Unite Here sell Delaware North workers out. With this election, workers will have a voice in choosing their union and more input into their contract in the future."
Workers United is an SEIU affiliate that represents 150,000 workers in the US and Canada who work in the laundry, food service, hospitality, gaming, apparel, textile, manufacturing and distribution industries. It was formed in March 2009 after workers voted to leave the failed merger of UNITE and HERE. www.workersunitedunion.org
Source: Workers United Union
CONTACT: Matt Painter of Workers United Union, +1-917-208-2552
Web Site: http://www.workersunitedunion.org/
"We want to have a strong union. We need a union that we run, that is strong enough to win raises and better health care, and that doesn't cut backroom deals with the company," said Pearline Burton, who has worked for three years at Delaware North's operation in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. "That's why we have taken action to win a real union with Workers United."
Delaware North Travel Hospitality workers are covered by a national labor agreement at 15 airports. Workers at some units are serviced by Workers United and others are serviced by UNITE HERE. The NLRB election will allow workers to choose which union represents them nationwide. The election process will also halt Unite Here's attempt to ratify the substandard contract.
"I am appalled that Unite Here would try to sneak this deal by 2,100 workers. The proposed contract is not about what's good for union members. It's about dues income for Unite Here and Delaware North's profits. Workers want a union that is transparent, democratic, and able to help them win the wages and benefits they deserve," said Workers United President Bruce Raynor. "We will not let Unite Here sell Delaware North workers out. With this election, workers will have a voice in choosing their union and more input into their contract in the future."
Workers United is an SEIU affiliate that represents 150,000 workers in the US and Canada who work in the laundry, food service, hospitality, gaming, apparel, textile, manufacturing and distribution industries. It was formed in March 2009 after workers voted to leave the failed merger of UNITE and HERE. www.workersunitedunion.org
Source: Workers United Union
CONTACT: Matt Painter of Workers United Union, +1-917-208-2552
Web Site: http://www.workersunitedunion.org/
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Bharti Wal-Mart opens first store;to invest $100 mn in 3-4 yrs
Amritsar, May 30 - Bharti Wal-Mart, the joint venture between Bharti Enterprises and US-based Wal-Mart Stores Inc, which today opened its first cash-and-carry store here, said it will invest over USD 100 million (about Rs 470 crore) in setting up 15 more such outlets in next 3-4 years.
Bharti Wal-Mart will offer foodgrain up to 5 per cent lower than the prevailing wholesale rates, a top official of the JV said.
The next store is likely by the end of this year. The company has plans to invest over USD 100 million in 15 new stores in next 3-4 years, Bharti Enterprises Vice-Chairman and MD Rajan Mittal told reporters here.
Ò... investment in each store will be about USD 6-7 million without land and building ... I am only talking about the insight of the store,Ó Mittal said.
Spelling out the JV's pricing plans, Bharti Wal-Mart MD and CEO Raj Jain said, ÒFoodgrain and cereals are two to five per cent cheaper, FMCG products are cheaper by 10 per cent while the apparels and general merchandise are less up to 25 per cent cheap,Ó
The firm will open stores initially in Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh but later it would spread to other parts of the country.
ÒWe will eventually go pan-India,Ó Mittal said.
The cash-and-carry store under the brand name of 'BestPrice Modern Wholesale' is offering an assortment of around 6,000 items, including food and non-food items.
On allowing FDI in multi-band retail, Mittal said, ÒIt is not about only brining money into India.Ó
ÒWe will cross the bridge when it happens,Ó Mittal said referring to the joint venture partner's considering a decision after the government approves FDI in multi-brand.
Foreign direct investment is not allowed in multi-brand retailing.
The joint venture between Bharti Enterprises and Wal-Mart Stores Inc was inked in 2007.
The company had last year announced that its cash-and-carry stores would be opened under the brand name of 'BestPrice Modern Wholesale'.
Bharti Wal-Mart will offer foodgrain up to 5 per cent lower than the prevailing wholesale rates, a top official of the JV said.
The next store is likely by the end of this year. The company has plans to invest over USD 100 million in 15 new stores in next 3-4 years, Bharti Enterprises Vice-Chairman and MD Rajan Mittal told reporters here.
Ò... investment in each store will be about USD 6-7 million without land and building ... I am only talking about the insight of the store,Ó Mittal said.
Spelling out the JV's pricing plans, Bharti Wal-Mart MD and CEO Raj Jain said, ÒFoodgrain and cereals are two to five per cent cheaper, FMCG products are cheaper by 10 per cent while the apparels and general merchandise are less up to 25 per cent cheap,Ó
The firm will open stores initially in Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh but later it would spread to other parts of the country.
ÒWe will eventually go pan-India,Ó Mittal said.
The cash-and-carry store under the brand name of 'BestPrice Modern Wholesale' is offering an assortment of around 6,000 items, including food and non-food items.
On allowing FDI in multi-band retail, Mittal said, ÒIt is not about only brining money into India.Ó
ÒWe will cross the bridge when it happens,Ó Mittal said referring to the joint venture partner's considering a decision after the government approves FDI in multi-brand.
Foreign direct investment is not allowed in multi-brand retailing.
The joint venture between Bharti Enterprises and Wal-Mart Stores Inc was inked in 2007.
The company had last year announced that its cash-and-carry stores would be opened under the brand name of 'BestPrice Modern Wholesale'.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Indian State slaps 10 pc surcharge on retail chains
Under pressure from the domestic traders, Kerala government has slapped a 10 per cent surcharge on the big retail chains, thus becoming the first state in the country to impose such a levy on super and hyper markets run by monopolies.
The proposal in this regard, made by state Finance Minister T M Thomas Isaac in the budget presented in March, came into effect with assembly adopting Finance Bill 2008-09 yesterday.
The surcharge would be applicable on retail chains, including direct marketing chains, which import at least 50 per cent of their stock from outside the state or the country.
Commercial ventures, whose 75 per cent of the total business is in retail space and total turn over exceeds Rs 5 crore a year would come under the purview of the surcharge.
The retail chains run by the state and those in the co-operative sector such as Civil Supplies Corporation and Consumerfed, would, however, be exempted from the levy.
Curbing the entry of both national and multinational monopolies in retail sector has been an openly acknowledged policy of the ruling party.
The coalition, however, is aware of the constraints it has in imposing total ban on monopolies and that it could only restrict them through regulatory measures like additional levies.
The well-organised trading community in Kerala has been spearheading a campaign demanding tough measures to curb big retail chains and earlier this month organised a statewide shutdown to press its demand.
The proposal in this regard, made by state Finance Minister T M Thomas Isaac in the budget presented in March, came into effect with assembly adopting Finance Bill 2008-09 yesterday.
The surcharge would be applicable on retail chains, including direct marketing chains, which import at least 50 per cent of their stock from outside the state or the country.
Commercial ventures, whose 75 per cent of the total business is in retail space and total turn over exceeds Rs 5 crore a year would come under the purview of the surcharge.
The retail chains run by the state and those in the co-operative sector such as Civil Supplies Corporation and Consumerfed, would, however, be exempted from the levy.
Curbing the entry of both national and multinational monopolies in retail sector has been an openly acknowledged policy of the ruling party.
The coalition, however, is aware of the constraints it has in imposing total ban on monopolies and that it could only restrict them through regulatory measures like additional levies.
The well-organised trading community in Kerala has been spearheading a campaign demanding tough measures to curb big retail chains and earlier this month organised a statewide shutdown to press its demand.
Monday, June 23, 2008
Reliance, Walmart eyeing Malayalam film industry
Kochi, India - Another controversy is brewing in the Malayalam film industry with the MACTA Federation today alleging that Reliance, Walmart and Tatas have signed up at least three top actors, including Mamooty and Mohanlal, besides 10 reputed film directors, for their coming films.
This will destroy the industry and the directors,including Priyardarshan, Fasil, Siddiq, Joshi, Lal Jose, who broke away from the Malayalam Cine Technicians Association (MACTA) should withdraw from any agreement they have reached with the companies, Federation Treasurer, Baiju Kottarakara, told reporters here.
Three top actors -- Mamooty, Mohanlal and Dileep have taken an advance of Rs 50 lakh each, he alleged. ÒReliance is undertaking the cabling work of at least 400 theatres in the state, he said.
The directors and actors have been 'bought' by the top companies, he said, adding that they have been booked by them to direct and act in only their films for the next five years. This will hit the ordinary film industry worker and destroy the trade union movement and they should withdraw from such an agreement, he said.
Reacting to the allegation, director Siddiq, who was the first to break away from the federation, following MACTA's decision to boycott Dileep, who refused to act in a film by director Thulasidas, said attempts are being made by MACTA to 'tarnish' the reputation of directors by coming out with such 'wild allegations'.
The Federation office bearers are desperate to keep their chairs intact and so were coming out with the allegations, he said and added that neither he nor any other film directors had signed any such agreement.
'Big corporates entry will destroy Malayalam film industry'
A controversy is brewing in the Malayalam film industry, with the cine technicians association today claiming that the purported entry of corporate houses in this medium would destroy the regional cinema industry.
The Malayalam Cine Technicians Association alleged that some corporate houses have signed up at least three top actors, including Mamooty and Mohanlal, besides 10 reputed film directors, for their upcoming films.
This will destroy the Malayalam film industry and the directors including Priyardarshan, Fasil, Siddiq, Joshi, Lal Jose, who broke away from the MACTA, should withdraw from any agreement they have reached with the companies, Federation Treasurer, Baiju Kottarakara, told reporters here.
He alleged that three top actors Mamooty, Mohanlal and Dileep have taken an advance of Rs 50 lakh each.
The directors and actors have been 'bought' by the top companies, he said, adding that they have been booked by them to direct and act in only their films for the next five years. This will hit the ordinary film industry worker and destroy the trade union movement and they should withdraw from such an agreement, he said.
Reacting to the allegation, director Siddiq, who was the first to break away from the federation, following MACTA's decision to boycott Dileep, who refused to act in a film by director Thulasidas, said attempts are being made by MACTA to 'tarnish' the reputation of directors by coming out with such 'wild allegations'.
The Federation office bearers are desperate to keep their chairs intact and so were coming out with the allegations, he said and also added that neither he nor any other film directors had signed any such agreement.
This will destroy the industry and the directors,including Priyardarshan, Fasil, Siddiq, Joshi, Lal Jose, who broke away from the Malayalam Cine Technicians Association (MACTA) should withdraw from any agreement they have reached with the companies, Federation Treasurer, Baiju Kottarakara, told reporters here.
Three top actors -- Mamooty, Mohanlal and Dileep have taken an advance of Rs 50 lakh each, he alleged. ÒReliance is undertaking the cabling work of at least 400 theatres in the state, he said.
The directors and actors have been 'bought' by the top companies, he said, adding that they have been booked by them to direct and act in only their films for the next five years. This will hit the ordinary film industry worker and destroy the trade union movement and they should withdraw from such an agreement, he said.
Reacting to the allegation, director Siddiq, who was the first to break away from the federation, following MACTA's decision to boycott Dileep, who refused to act in a film by director Thulasidas, said attempts are being made by MACTA to 'tarnish' the reputation of directors by coming out with such 'wild allegations'.
The Federation office bearers are desperate to keep their chairs intact and so were coming out with the allegations, he said and added that neither he nor any other film directors had signed any such agreement.
'Big corporates entry will destroy Malayalam film industry'
A controversy is brewing in the Malayalam film industry, with the cine technicians association today claiming that the purported entry of corporate houses in this medium would destroy the regional cinema industry.
The Malayalam Cine Technicians Association alleged that some corporate houses have signed up at least three top actors, including Mamooty and Mohanlal, besides 10 reputed film directors, for their upcoming films.
This will destroy the Malayalam film industry and the directors including Priyardarshan, Fasil, Siddiq, Joshi, Lal Jose, who broke away from the MACTA, should withdraw from any agreement they have reached with the companies, Federation Treasurer, Baiju Kottarakara, told reporters here.
He alleged that three top actors Mamooty, Mohanlal and Dileep have taken an advance of Rs 50 lakh each.
The directors and actors have been 'bought' by the top companies, he said, adding that they have been booked by them to direct and act in only their films for the next five years. This will hit the ordinary film industry worker and destroy the trade union movement and they should withdraw from such an agreement, he said.
Reacting to the allegation, director Siddiq, who was the first to break away from the federation, following MACTA's decision to boycott Dileep, who refused to act in a film by director Thulasidas, said attempts are being made by MACTA to 'tarnish' the reputation of directors by coming out with such 'wild allegations'.
The Federation office bearers are desperate to keep their chairs intact and so were coming out with the allegations, he said and also added that neither he nor any other film directors had signed any such agreement.
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