CWA: AT&T Should Work with Us to Find Real Health Care Solutions

Contact: Candice Johnson, cjohnson@cwa-union.org, 202-434-1168

Washington, D.C. -- The Communications Workers of America rejects AT&T's characterization of current contract negotiations. CWA is focused on helping middle class families, including nearly 100,000 workers and their families involved in this bargaining, hold the line against massive health care cost increases and AT&T's actions that threaten quality jobs.

Incredibly, AT&T management is trying to draw a parallel between a successful and expanding telecommunications company and the U.S. auto industry, which for many reasons is not profitable. AT&T posted profits of $12.9 billion for 2008 and is on track for solid growth this year, top executives say.  

AT&T can and should be a leader in supporting quality middle class jobs and benefits. That makes communities and our economy stronger. Instead, AT&T's demands at a critical time in our country would only weaken the economy.

"AT&T must step up its leadership and continue to work with CWA and others who recognize that real health care reform is critical for our economy. Our nation is on the edge of critical changes in health care. To accomplish this, we need continued leadership from companies like AT&T, not efforts to obscure the issue," said CWA President Larry Cohen.

"If AT&T wants to follow through with its auto industry comparison, let's see a comparison of imported auto costs – where in every other country of origin there is universal health care, paid for with broad based public funding, not through production costs. That will give everyone a much clearer picture of the impact of our nation's failure – until now – to move toward a health care system for all.    

"We need national health care reform not only for the auto industry, but for our nation. We call on AT&T to continue its leadership and work with us on this effort," Cohen said.

CWA members are working, for now, under the terms of the contracts that expired Apr. 4. Locations are:

AT&T East, Connecticut, and AT&T East Yellow Pages. 

AT&T Midwest, in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan and Wisconsin, and AT&T DataCom.  

AT&T Southwest, in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas.

AT&T West, in California, Hawaii and Nevada.

AT&T Legacy, nationwide.