PICKETS HIT LOCAL SBC OFFICE ON STRIKE'S LAST DAY.Byline: Peggy Hager Staff Writer PALMDALE - Truckers and motorists honked as they passed SBC (1) (SBC Communications Inc., San Antonio, TX, www.sbc.com) A large, national telecommunications company that grew from a multitude of local and regional companies, including Southwestern Bell, Pacific Bell and Nevada Bell, into a single, unified brand by 2002. workers picketing Monday beside Palmdale Boulevard. Monday was the last day of a four-day strike called by Communications Workers of America Communications Workers of America (CWA) is the largest communications and media labor union in the United States (the union also has locals in Canada), representing over 700,000 workers in both the private and public sectors. across California and Nevada in an effort to bring attention to contract negotiations with the company. ``I believe that we brought a lot of awareness to the general public of the causes - for outsourcing, for health care, trying to keep jobs here in America,'' said Ed Meyette, district steward for CWA CWA Clean Water Act (33 USC) CWA Communications Workers of America CWA Concerned Women for America CWA CEN Workshop Agreement (European pre-normative document) CWA County Warning Area CWA Clean Water Action Local 9503. ``I believe the public's been made aware of it. They're showing great support.'' About 60 employees work in two Palmdale SBC offices and on average have worked for the company 20 years or longer, said Meyette, a 23-year maintenance technician. ``We're very concerned about what's happening to our working-class jobs,'' explained Meyette. Another employee on the strike line yelled out that they were striking for their grandchildren GRANDCHILDREN, domestic relations. The children of one's children. Sometimes these may claim bequests given in a will to children, though in general they can make no such claim. 6 Co. 16. . The strikers marched carrying signs and blowing whistles from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday through Monday. Most took four- or five-hour shifts on the picket line, but some die-hards planned to stay the entire 13 hours. The four-day walkout followed the expiration of a monthlong contract extension. Health care and job security are among the issues surrounding three months of fruitless negotiations. Under the proposed contract, SBC employees would see their copayment co·pay·ment n. A fixed fee that subscribers to a medical plan must pay for their use of specific medical services covered by the plan. copayment, n for health care rise on average by $420 a year. Employees are currently making copayments of about 4 percent to 7 percent, with SBC proposing about a 150 percent increase. The San Antonio-based company is also planning to start a three-tier drug plan in 2005, charging $10 for generic drugs generic drug, a drug sold or prescribed under the nonproprietary name of its active ingredients or under a generally descriptive name rather than under a brand or trade name. , $20 for formulary formulary /for·mu·lary/ (for´mu-lar?e) a collection of recipes, formulas, and prescriptions. National Formulary see under N. for·mu·lar·y n. drugs and $40 for brand-name drugs. Workers currently pay about $5 or less for generic prescriptions. CAPTION(S): photo Photo: (color) SBC cable locator Tony Valencia, front, and Lauren Carver, rear, with Communications Workers of America, picket Palmdale's SBC building. Charlotte Schmid-Maybach/Staff Photographer |
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