Historic Win For AT&T Workers In The Southeast

Today at 11am Occupy Atlanta, Communication Workers of America Local 3204 and Atlanta Jobs with Justice came together at the corporate offices of AT&T, 675 West Peachtree Street to celebrate a historic win for AT&T workers in the southeast. For the first time in years workers and allies stood up to mass layoffs at the hands of a corporation that year after year increases the pay of its top executives at the cost of everyone else in the company.

AT&T workers had previously received a letter from the company in December 2011 informing them that there would be 740 layoffs in the southeast. AT&T’s announced slashing of good, middle class jobs followed an email graciously thanking its employees for creating record profits for the telecommunications giant while CEO Randall Stevenson was paid out a record $27 million.

On February 13th, activists staged a sit-in at AT&T’s Atlanta corporate offices in protest to the announced layoffs, 12 people(including myself) where arrested for refusing to leave until layoffs were rescinded. The next day, hundreds of community supporters rallied outside the complex and launched a 42 day long tent occupation demanding that AT&T stop the layoffs and those scheduled to occur on March 15th.

As a result of the coalition’s work, AT&T reduced its announced layoffs by 255 from the original announced 740, and the March 15th layoff numbers were lower than any period in recent history, stopping potentially hundreds more that had been scheduled to occur. During the occupation, the company also cut its CEO Randall Stephenson’s pay by $2 million.


This victory at AT&T may be just the start. The organizers hope that the fight back will inspire workers around the country to take direct action against corporate greed and such examples of the continued economic injustice against 99%. The bold series of actions against AT&T’s layoffs and greed, put the 1% on notice- that the days when grossly profitable corporations can carelessly layoff workers and undermine the economic security of hundreds of working families, are over.

American Friends Service Committee has been excited to be a part of the campaign, and we’ve been there every step of the way. This morning we served breakfast to all the fulltime occupiers to make sure everyone was well fed as we prepared to breakdown the encampment. Later this week Communication Workers of America will host an appreciation dinner for all the hard working occupiers who made this victory possible.

Tim Franzen
American Friends Service Committee

Help AT&T Workers With One Call!!

Today AT&T workers have been summoned to a meeting at AT&T’s Atlanta headquarters, located at 675 West Peachtree St. It is there, in this meeting, where they will be given notice of their official layoff date. Being told you are being laid off is almost always devastating, but in these economic times it can be downright terrifying. With unemployment, foreclosures, and homelessness at record rates, being jobless in this city is no easy feat. To add insult to injury, AT&T had record profits last year, pulling in over $127 million in revenue, and compensated their CEO, Randall Stephenson, over $27 million.

Last week, Occupy Atlanta set up an encampment in front of the building at 675 West Peachtree St to demand AT&T put a stop to these layoffs. We are committed to staying put until all the layoffs are rescinded, and/or all 740 workers will have wage/benefit protection if they are moved to new positions. AT&T has claimed that these workers will be given new job offers, but according to many of the workers, this is news to them. Those who are aware of the new offers, are being asked to take positions with considerably less pay and benefits.

This is exactly how wealth consolidation works. What’s happening at AT&T is symbolic of what has been happening all over the country for decades. The 1% wants to lower the standard of living for the average American worker, all so that they can pocket some extra cash. We can no longer allow them to squeeze every penny they can out of the 99%. The 99% creates the wealth; it is made on our backs. It’s time these big wigs stop getting handouts they don’t need while everyone else suffers.




Please take some time today to send AT&T a message to

STOP ALL THE LAYOFFS!


Email CEO Randall Stephenson at

rs2982@att.com

or

call Michael Matthews, VP of Labor Relations at

(205) 977-0722

A Cold Wet Weekend

This weekend brought cold weather, lots of rain, and very windy conditions to 675 West Peachtree street.

For those that don't know 675 West Peachtree is the Atlanta HQ for at&t.

Occupy Atlanta has had an encampment set up since last Monday, and plans to stay until every job cut is rescinded, all 740 and forty of them. I had the pleasure of being one of the campers this past week and I plan on continuing to spend each one of my nights there.Last night the weather was especially brutal, several tents got flooded.

Despite the tough weather occupiers spirits seem high. The work ethic I've seem has been impressive. Folks get up everyday, go flyer, some stick around and clean camp, create new signs. Yesterday a crew of folks hit Marta all day and got a ton of riders to sign petitions to rescind layoffs.

The community support is exciting too. This weekend there was a number of sold out shows at the Fox theater so countless folks walked through the camp, most of them were supportive and many took literature explaining why we were there.

One really exciting aspect of this occupation is the collaborative efforts of many different groups supporting the occupation. Communication Workers of America, the Teamsters, Grandmothers for Peace, and Atlanta Jobs with Justice have all made key contributions to this effort. Camping, feeding, and making sure everyone's warm.

Can't forget to mention American Friends Service Committee. We've been providing all the printing costs so far, sign making material, and other valuable resource.

For those in the Atlanta area please consider stopping by 675 West Peachtree. We especially want folks out Tuesday(2/21) from 9-2pm.


Things you could bring if you visit:
Tarps
tents
warm food
warm liquids(hot chocolate, tea, coffee)
socks
hand warmers
water
Clif bars
Paper towels
art supplies



Tim Franzen
American Friends Service Committee

Occupy at&t Day 5!

Each day new tents and new occupiers show up! It's really exciting to have folks come out and camp who have never done anything like this before. We already have several organized workers camping with us, and this weekend Local 3204 CWA president plans to pitch a tent. Exciting stuff.

If you're in Atlanta, feel free to come down! 675 West Peachtree street. Can't miss us. Stay for a minute, of stay all night. Be a part of history:)

Video Update:

Occupy The Classroom

Last week Professor Pete Rorabaugh invited a few of us to speak with several of his classed about what led up to the Occupy movement, and the role wealth desparity plays in forming and shaping the Occupy movement locally, nationally, and globally.

It was exciting to be surrounded by folks that were geniunely curious about the movement, and had not yet engaged with it to date.

One of the classes has the assignment to cover the Occupy movement from a journalistic point of view, we strongly encouraged them, as I am now encouraging you, to come out on Valentines day and show some love for Atlanta's workers!


Tim Franzen
American Friends Service Committee