Currently studying for finals, but DU gave me a pleasant surprise -- EFCA

[Renaissance Man]

I'm currently studying for law school finals right now, but I just happened to log on to DU and was pleasantly surprised by an ad featuring one of my former co-workers (union stewards) at my old job supporting the EFCA. I don't post on DU much, but today I felt compelled to do so, because I know this woman personally, and we've had conversations about how AT&T basically shitted on the union during my entire tenure working with the company.

Here's the link to her article -- http://www.freechoiceact.org/cwa/story/chinazo_okolo

Chinazo is from Nigeria, and possesses and equivalent of a Nigerian law degree, but once coming to the states, she had and has been employed with AT&T (which was formerly BellSouth Mobility, and eventually Cingular, now the new AT&T). She was and is very active in the union, and took a lot of heat advocating on behalf of CWA. I read her story and everything that she wrote, so I can verify that it is true.

In my old call center, I can remember one lady that finally took advantage of the option to have gastric bypass surgery (once AT&T decided to cover it), and had maxed out her FMLA time in recovery (she hadn't fully recovered). She returned to work one day and complained to her managers (of course non-union) about how crappy she was feeling. Because she was part of a two-income household, maxed out her FMLA leave, was in trouble with her attendance, and didn't want to get fired, she decided to try to stay and tough it out.

The outcome -- she fainted on the floor of the call center and later died that same day. She left behind her husband and two children.

Everything that she says is true. Schedules were changed at whim. Extra (mandatory) hours were added on employee shifts and shifts were changed at the discretion of the company. Every worker was required to work every other weekend (no exceptions -- because the needs of the business were more important than, say, time with your family at home), and employees could be terminated at will (even with union representation). When Cingular finally changed into the new AT&T, and when AT&T began to buy up smaller companies (Suncom, etc.), their profit from the merger amounted to $4 billion. The workers received NONE of it. When the union re-negotiated the contract, the result was a 7% pay increase over three years (horrible).

I type all of this to say that I'm thankful that I'm no longer with the company, but I cannot wait until I finish law school. In the meantime, folks, you should be making the phones in Congress ring off the hook. If you're tired of receiving the short end of the stick, the last you can do is ensure that American workers have the option to have their voices and concerns heard to fat cat CEO's that could care less if someone dies while earning them a profit.

Support EFCA NOW!

[NEOhiodemocrat]

1. Good luck on your exams

thanks for the information