Attached is the agreement regarding the current voluntary AT&T buyout offer.
If the company doesn’t get enough takers during the first round (which is the offer to Maintenance Spicers in the AFO), the Company will go to a round 2 and extend the offer to C&E and DEG Splicers.
If there are still insufficient takers, there will be a round 3 for the Systems Technician title. Round 4 (if necessary) is the Communications Technician title.
For rounds 2, 3, and 4, the company will backfill for the loss. The backfill will come from the Maintenance Splicer organization.
The last date to submit your paperwork in order to take the current offer (for round 1) is Friday, July 10.
In Unity,
Marisa
Questions Regarding Buyout
Here are questions local 9003 submitted to AT&T concerning the current buyout offer.
It should be noted that the main question that was asked has to do with the changes we are hearing about from the Company in regards to differences/changes in medical benefits that will occur if you don’t leave the company during this calendar year (2020).
That question was answered with the following:
The Additional questions listed need to be answered by medical benefits. Employees should contact AT&T Benefits Center 1-877-722-0020.
That being said, Local 9003 recommends that All employees who need the answer to how these changes apply to you (or any benefit affecting questions) please contact the AT&T Benefits Center so that they can take your specific personal information – name, age, ncs date, etcetera and build a profile for you to provide answers to all of your benefit questions.
Here are additional questions and Company responses:
Question 1
How is the $25,000 paid out?
Based on the payout option the employee selects (page 6 of ESRO package).
Can employees request that as a separate check?
No
Is it rolled into the (up to) 53 weeks of pay?
Yes, it is rolled into the weeks of pay (page 9 of ESRO package).
Question 2
On the rollout calls with management, force balancing was mentioned. What does that look like?
Force balancing will be determined based on how many losses a particular location has after it is determined who got ESRO. Management will assess, canvass for available volunteers, and force lest senior if necessary.
Ex; if it goes to a round two to C&E and DEG Splicers, if there are folks from C&E and DEG who want to leave the business, will someone from AFO be forced to go to C&E (assuming there are No volunteers from AFO)?
No
Or would the C&E or DEG person simply not be allowed to leave the business if there are no AFO volunteers to take their spot?
Per MOA, yes.
Same question for Systems Techs and Comm Techs
The same applies
Question 3
Are wages earned up to date off payroll and the lump sum two different checks?
Employees leaving with ESRO would get a final check for wages on the last day worked, 7/24/20. The lump sum is separate payment/check as per payment option (see page 6 of ESRO package) selected.
Question 4
Will employees who take the offer be paid out for all of their vacation fully or will their vacation be paid out on an accrued basis?
Employees will be paid in accordance to the collective bargaining agreement Article/Section 6.06O on page 78.
If vacation is paid out on an accrued basis and the employee has already taken all their vacation for the year, will the employee be required to pay back the difference?
No
Question 5
Will employees that work a differential shift receive the (10%) differential pay increase applied towards the buyout offer?
No (Page 6, Payments section of the ESRO package).
Question 6
Will employees that work a differential shift receive the (10%) differential pay increase applied toward their pension?
Employee should check with Fidelity 1-800-416-2363.
If so, do they have to have been on the differential shift for a minimum period of time in order to qualify for it to be included in their pension?
Employee should check with Fidelity 1-800-416-2363
