Local News
- Selections for Transfers & Promotions
As many of our members are seeking advancement or transfers to other areas within the Company, few have understood the criteria or process which AT&T staffing utilizes to make their decision when filling vacancies. The Local is posting information that will help with comprehending what and who is given more consideration over another when these positions are awarded. Seniority, test qualifications, previously holding the title, Article 7, versus article 10, versus Article 12!!! All of these factors can make it difficult and it is understandable why those who apply and do not get the position are frustrated.
Seniority is a major component to the selection process, however it is only one of many that must be considered when reviewing applicants for a position to be filled. Test Qualifications such as Technical Knowledge Test II are a requirement for the titles Electronic Technician, Digital Technician, System Technician. Technical Mechanical Test III (TMT3) is required for Outside Plant Technician, Service Technician Facility Technician.A senior technician without these tests qualifications will not be considered. A employee with a failing End of Year appraisal in the prior year would also not be considered. Prior disciplinary entries (B Forms) would disqualify a candidate as well. Technician that held the title as a “temporary employee” as described in Article 1.33, would not trump the seniority of an applicant with many more years of experience. So there are multiple facets of the selection process that must be considered before challenging or grieving a Selection for a vacancy. It is important to note, the employee is responsible to ensure that their records, and /or testing qualifications are up to date when applying for a position.
In Addition to ensuring your records and qualifications are current, calling the testing hotline (Especially for our Wire Technician Members), to verify if your tests qualifications are accurate. The TMT2 is no longer in existence and has been upgraded to TMT3. This “Upgrade” is not automatic and might not reflect on the Employee record at the time of his/her application. You must verify before the close of the Job Bid or the applicant will not be considered Test Qualified. Some members have encountered this problem, so make sure everything is accurate on your record and are qualified at the time the application is submitted.
Testing Hotline Telephone Number is 1 469 662-2251 Tracy Prince
Testing Hotline 888-850-4609, Leave a message if no one answers with your UID and what the reason for your call is (Example schedule test, inquire on an existing test. 8:00AM 05:00PM Monday to Friday.
THE LOCAL IS INCLUDING SEVERAL DOCUMENTS THAT SHOULD HELP WITH UNDERSTANDING THE APPLICATION AND SELECTION PROCESS. PLEASE CHECK THE PAGE TAB MARKED AS “SELECTIONS /STAFFING GUIDELINES & PRIORITY GROUPINGS”.
- AT&T to Accelerate Fiber Expansion
AT&T plans to more quickly build fiber infrastructure thanks to pro-investment policies in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act passed by Congress today.
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act will spur investment, maintain U.S. leadership in innovation, and create economic opportunity nationwide. Thanks to the policies in this legislation, AT&T expects to invest more rapidly in next-generation networks after the bill is signed into law, increasing our investment by an additional 1 million fiber customer locations annually starting in 2026.
This bill also creates a pipeline of midband spectrum that will help meet soaring consumer demand and keep the U.S. technologically competitive with other countries. Paired with the tax provisions in the bill, this legislation paves the way for the stated goals laid out by FCC Chairman Brendan Carr: unleashing high-speed infrastructure builds and restoring America’s global lead in wireless technology through smart policy.
We appreciate Senate Majority Leader John Thune, Senate Commerce Committee Chair Ted Cruz, House Speaker Mike Johnson, and House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Brett Guthrie for their efforts to establish a spectrum pipeline and renew FCC auction authority. And we thank President Trump for his leadership in making priorities of spectrum availability and tax incentives for capital investment in the reconciliation process.
AT&T plans to provide an update on the expected impact of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act on its 2025 and long-term financial outlook and capital allocation plans when it releases its second quarter results, scheduled for release on July 23, 2025.
- Contract Books Arriving at Work Centers.
The new contract books should be arriving at your respective work centers. PDF versions can be downloaded and kept on your Personl devices for easy access. The Company has agreed in principle to Joint Contract training for management and Craft via PLE training portal. In past bargaining years, this was a in person training designed to improve the understanding between Union and management on all matters as it pertains to the contract. But this was the outcome, a PLE training. We hope for the sake of mutual gains and respect the Company will return to the “In Person Training” that will improve with Labor Relations between both parties. The Lack of experience and along with participants that are new to the Collective Bargaining process benefited greatly from these trainings, both from a legal perspective and from a labor relations perspective. Only time will tell if this new approach will acheive the same level of impeccable and fruitful relations that this past practice produced.
- At&t $177 Million Settlement for Data breach.
Current and former AT&T subscribers might soon be eligible for a payout from a $177 million settlement over two recent data breaches at the carrier.
On Friday, a US district judge in Texas gave preliminary approval to the settlement, with the goal of kicking off the process to distribute the funds before a final approval hearing on Dec. 3.
According to court documents, the settlement fund consists of $149 million to address a major data leak in 2019, which allowed cybercriminals to exploit the data for years from both former and existing subscribers. Last March, AT&T finally confirmed the breach, sparking a wave of class-action lawsuits alleging the company had failed to safeguard the data of 51 million users, including their names, Social Security numbers, and dates of birth
The rest of the $28 million is meant to address a second incident involving a hacker breachingAT&T’s account with cloud storage provider Snowflake in April 2024. This enabled the cybercriminal to access call and text records for nearly all customers. Another round of class-action lawsuits followed, alleging corporate neglect. However, AT&T said no customer names were included in the stolen information. Law enforcement also arrested the two alleged hackers involved in the breach.
In a statement, AT&T said: “While we deny the allegations in these lawsuits that we were responsible for these criminal acts, we have agreed to this settlement to avoid the expense and uncertainty of protracted litigation. We remain committed to protecting our customers’ data and ensuring their continued trust in us.” The carrier also expects the settlement will receive approval by the end of this year.
If you’re eligible for a payout, the settlement’s administrator will contact you via email or physical letter this summer. A court document says the settlement program will officially kick off on Aug. 4.
The payout will then be sent out early next year, pending the judge granting final approval. The amount of money offered partly depends on the number of affected users who submit a claim and the degree of personal data exposed in the hacks. Users who submit documentation that they suffered losses from either breach can also receive more, up to $5,000 for the 2019 incident and up to $2,500 for the Snowflake-related hack.
Source https://www.pcmag.com/news/att-customers-eligible-for-177-million-dollar-breach-settlement
- CWA Concerns on Lumen/At&t Acquisition
May 27, 2025
On May 21, AT&T announced plans to acquire Lumen’s residential fiber business across 11 states, which serves a million customers. CWA represents workers at both AT&T and Lumen.
The structure of this transaction raises serious concerns for Lumen’s workers and customers. Rather than transferring the residential fiber assets to AT&T, they are being sold to a new subsidiary that AT&T is calling “NetworkCo,” which will then be partially sold to an as yet unnamed private equity partner.
“We are taking a close look at AT&T’s plans for Lumen’s home fiber business to assess the impact on our members and communities,” said CWA President Claude Cummings Jr. “Our union’s leadership will work with both companies to ensure that our members are respected and protected so that they can continue providing the high-quality service that customers deserve.”
Two years ago, AT&T launched a similar subsidiary, called Gigapower, which has begun operating in several markets. A CWA review of Gigapower’s deployment found that instead of hiring trained, experienced workers, AT&T’s Gigapower relies heavily on multi-tiered subcontracting and temporary staffing agencies. This low-road business model has put public safety at risk. In two cities—Mesa, Ariz., and Bloomington, Minn.—Gigapower contractors have been responsible for nearly 450 incidents of damage to the public right-of-way, and dozens of preventable underground utility hits.
“Our members care deeply about the customers and communities we serve,” said CWA District 7 Vice President Susie McAllister. We have fought to ensure that fiber buildout is done right, with high-quality networks built by experienced union technicians. AT&T’s stated plans for Lumen’s home fiber business put that at risk. CWA members are going to make sure that regulators and elected officials understand and address our concerns as this process moves forward.”
“AT&T should be putting its customers and workers first, not its shareholders,” said CWA District 3 Vice President Richard Honeycutt. “Lumen’s customers deserve a first-class fiber network, and that’s what CWA members deliver. Before this transaction is approved, AT&T and Lumen must commit to maintaining a well-trained, directly hired union workforce and make sure that customers who depend on Lumen’s copper network are not left behind.”
About CWA: The Communications Workers of America represents working people in telecommunications, customer service, media, airlines, health care, public service and education, manufacturing, tech, and other fields.
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