Ameritech Closes Two Consumer Offices; Negotiated Protections Soften the Blow

Despite angry protests from CWA, prominent politicians and editorial writers, Ameritech on Aug. 14 announced that the company plans to move ahead with its controversial decision, first announced last March, to close two consumer offices.

CWA Vice President Jeff Rechenbach of District 4 reacted to the Ameritech decision by expressing "deep disappointment," although he noted that by bargaining with the company the union was able to significantly improve options for the workers affected. The Ameritech consumer offices are located in Lansing, Mich., and Milwaukee, Wis. Because a number of employees have already transferred out, payroll for the two offices now stands at about 500. When the decision was first announced March 3, the workforce totaled 800 at the two locations.

Twenty days after the original announcement - because of the clamor of protests - the company said it would negotiate the closings with CWA, which the union had favored all along.

Rechenbach credited Arlene S. Griffin, president of Local 4040, Lansing, and George Walls, president of Local 4603, Milwaukee, and their members, with waging "a heroic struggle" to forestall the closings.

The talks produced a package of relocation, job placement and training benefits. In the negotiations with CWA, Ameritech officials agreed to give the workers a choice between following their work or invoking the hometown jobs employment security commitment, a union-negotiated contract benefit. Employees will have unlimited opportunities to transfer to consumer offices in Appleton, Wis., or Cleveland, Ohio, as well as limited opportunities for all other consumer offices. Ameritech also agreed to offer a gradually reduced pay protection plan for those employees who need it.

The company agreed to pay relocation expenses up to $14,500. And, if a job can't be found for a CWA-represented worker at another customer care center, Ameritech agreed to give the worker priority placement for other jobs, including subsidiaries not yet covered under the core contract. In instances where the new job carries a lower wage rate, Ameritech will continue to pay the higher rate up to 37 months, depending on seniority.

In addition to delaying the closings and improving the workers' options, Rechenbach said, "We accomplished one other thing - CWA sent a clear message to Ameritech that we are prepared to fight long and hard whenever they try to displace our members and cut jobs."

When the company first announced its decision, Griffin and Walls led major rallies and protest demonstrations, editorial writers at The Lansing State Journal and the Milwaukee Sentinel denounced the company decision, and Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson and Michigan Gov. John Engler joined in the chorus.

CWA and IBEW, which represents some Ameritech workers, even drew on support from leaders of several European unions to stage a series of coordinated protests n the U.S. and Europe, where Ameritech has investments.