17,000 Workers at AT&T Southeast Strike Over Unfair Labor Practices

ATLANTA, Ga. (WSAV)—Communications Workers of America (CWA) employed by AT&T Southeast are on strike to protest labor practices committed by management during negotiations for a new union contract according to their press release.

The strike will involve over 17,000 technicians, customer service representatives and others who install, maintain and support AT&T’s residential and business wireline telecommunications network in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee according to the press release from CWA.

CWA has filed an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board against AT&T for not bargaining in good faith, engaging in surface bargaining and not sending representatives to the bargaining table with the authority to make decisions. According to the press release, the charges also address the alleged company’s refusal to bargain over mandatory subjects of bargaining and reneging on agreements made in bargaining.

“Our union entered into negotiations in a good faith effort to reach a fair contract,” said CWA District 3 Vice President Richard Honeycutt said in a press release, “but we have been met at the table by company representatives who were unable to explain their own bargaining proposals and did not seem to have the actual bargaining authority required by the legal obligation to bargain in good faith. Our members want to be on the job, providing the quality service that our customers deserve. It’s time for AT&T to start negotiating in good faith so that we can move forward towards a fair contract.”