CWA: Lucent-Alcatel Deal Raises Concerns

CWA will meet shortly with Lucent Technologies Inc. officials to discuss employment, the current contract, issues affecting active and retired workers and other concerns about the proposed merger of Lucent with the France-based Alcatel, said Ralph Maly, CWA vice president for Communications and Technologies.

CWA represents about 2,700 Lucent workers; the current contract remains in effect until 2012.

CWA will look for answers about continued U.S. employment, pensions, and health care for both active and retired workers, Maly said. He noted that if the sale goes forward, the United States will no longer have a flagship telecom equipment maker.

"Bell Labs, a part of Lucent, has been responsible for the development of most of the technology used around the world, in addition to applications used in defense and other sensitive work," Maly said. "We are looking for assurances not only on employment and benefit issues, but on workers' rights," he added. 

Alcatel is seeking to acquire Lucent for $13.4 billion. The deal must be approved by shareholders of both companies, regulators in the United States and Europe, the U.S. Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States and the U.S. Justice Department.