SBC workers peaceful, but serious on strike

5/24/2004

By SCOTT ALDIS-WILSON scottaw@gctelegram.com

Posted on Friday, May 21, 2004 2:05:17 PM

There was no shouting, no chants and no fights on the front curb of the local SBC Communications Inc. central office, but nine employees were serious about their union's strike that began today.

Carrying signs with messages like "SWA on Strike Against SBC for Healthcare and Hometowns," "CWA Fighting for Retirees Healthcare" and "CWA on Strike Against Corporate Greed," employees like communications technician Kay Hoskinson strolled back and forth in front of the 407 N. Seventh St. building to make sure passing cars could see their grievances.

The CWA stands for Communications Workers of America, the union that announced the strike across SBC's 13 states by pulling an estimated 100,000 union workers out.

Like others there, Hoskinson said, she was involved in the walkout starting today and lasting through Monday because of proposed raises to health benefit costs and more jobs being moved overseas. Another thing, she said, is SBC has talked about charging fees for retired workers' benefits when retirees did not have to pay before.

Though the action is a protest by definition, she said, tensions were not particularly high between workers and management.

"No, you just do your job," she said.

Herb Epp, a former technician who retired in 1988 after 41 years with the company, said he hadn't kept up with the specific offers, but came out with a sign to support those like Hoskinson who have been employees for nearly 34 years.

"I just had to be here. These people are my friends and were my co-workers," he said. "We're all one family of people whether we're active or retired."

Aside from those passing by the signs, Hoskinson said several SBC customers might not know about the work stoppage if the company is able to keep up on service for the four days.

"They won't notice unless they have trouble or they get the new service," she said.

Mike Schul, also a communications technician on strike, said the only thing that might make people sit up and take notice would be any storms that necessitate repairs if SBC doesn't have enough repair workers on hand this weekend.

But Don Brown, media relations manager for SBC Kansas out of Topeka, said reports this morning had the network of about 1.1 million land lines and DSL Internet service holding steady at 99.99 percent reliability.

Using a system of retirees, vendors and cross-trained non-union employees similar to when the company has a weather emergency, he said, results have been good.

"Everything is pretty much business as usual on customer service," he said.

Don Waetzig, a repair technician and president of the area CWA chapter, said the priority is a new contract, better than what has been offered during the last few months of negotiations. Once that happens, he said, things will go back to normal.

"The best I can tell you on this deal is the CWA members and management, we're a family and we're having a fight right now," he said.

Locally, it is a relatively small number of striking employees compared to one Waetzig heard about in Wichita that has caused traffic jams due to rubberneckers. Locally, he said, a dozen workers would be covered by the contract, while nine are union members and retirees are honorary union members.

People were expected to carry signs until about noon today, Waetzig said, and might continue into the afternoon. Later, he said, he and other union officers will travel to other area offices in Liberal, Pratt and Greensburg for protests today and Monday.

A local services office at 104 N. 12th St. had a couple of protesters, he said, but the union probably will focus on the Seventh Street address for its visibility.

Brown said the most recent draft of the new contract released Wednesday will be the one on the table through Monday. The draft features items like office co-pays rising from $15 in 2005 to $30 by 2009, and emergency room co-pays rising from $50 in 2005 to $75 in 2008 and 2009. It also proposes a 4 percent lump sum wage increase in the first year, followed by 2.5 percent adjustments in years two and three and 2.25 in years four and five.

"That offer remains valid through SBC for the next four days," he said.

If it is not accepted by the end of the strike, he said, the company and union will have to start from a clean slate, but they intend to let employees back in for regular work when the strike is done.

"We assured them we won't lock them out," he said.