http://www.unionvoice.org/ct/LpakqqS1SpqS/cwa-comtech-org

Lucent Bargaining Update #1

October 7, 2002

Today Vice President Maly, AAVP Bob Richhart, Staff,

Bargaining Teams, and IBEW met with Lucent representatives

for the opening day of bargaining. Today's purpose

was to officially start the process by each giving

opening statements and to discuss the ground rules,

meeting dates, etc.

There is no doubt that this will be a different type

of bargaining as compared to the past. We are dealing

with an employer that is fighting for survival as a

result of some of their decisions, the economy and

competition.

There will be three tables, a National Table, the Combined

Unit Table and the Installation Bargaining Unit Table.

We will do our very best to keep you informed by the

way of this web site. I believe that when you read

the attached opening remarks (go to the C&T Website

at http://www.unionvoice.org/ct/_1akqqS1SpqL/cwa-comtech-org-update1

to read a copy of the opening remarks. They are linked

in PDF at the bottom of the page) that you will get

a better view of what we all are faced with. As usual

we will need your support and belief, and we know that

you will be ready if we have to call on you and our

retirees for assistance.

The Bargaining Team members names were sent to you

at an earlier date. Mary Jo Sherman will be chairing

the Combined table with assistance from Ruth Marriott.

I will be chairing the Installation table with assistance

from Gerald Souder. I will be chairing the National

table with assistance from Mary Jo Sherman and two

elected Bargaining team members, Brian Reilly and Pete

Vukovich.

You have elected very good bargaining teams and, with

the support from the C&T Staff, our goal is to reach

a fair agreement by October 31st. If we don't reach

a tentative agreement by October 31st, the process

will end and we will have to go back to bargaining

in April of next year.

In Unity,

Robert G. Richhart

Adm. Asst. to V. Pres.

For more information go to

http://www.unionvoice.org/ct/LpakqqS1SpqS/cwa-comtech-org

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