CWA Members at AT&T West Reject New Agreement; Members at AT&T Southeast Remain on Strike

Through our strike in the Southeast and our rejection of the tentative agreement in the West, CWA members have sent a strong message to AT&T: we expect good faith bargaining toward a fair contract. Over time, AT&T has turned what were once family-supporting careers into dead end jobs. Meanwhile, the company raked in over $24 billion in profit last year. AT&T is a highly successful company that depends on the hard work and dedication of CWA members. It should strive to be among the best companies to work for; instead it has engaged in a race to the bottom to please investors and pad its bottom line.

“Our members had a chance to review and vote on the AT&T West tentative agreement, and the majority determined that it did not meet their needs,” said CWA District 9 Vice President Frank Arce. “We will be meeting with the members to understand their concerns and go back to the bargaining table to negotiate a contract that addresses those concerns. We will use all the tools at our disposal to win a fair contract, including a strike if it becomes necessary.”

“We will continue to bargain with AT&T for as long as it takes to reach the best possible agreement for CWA members in the Southeast,” said CWA District 3 Vice President Richard Honeycutt. “This may be the wake up call AT&T needed to get these negotiations done. Our members want to be back at work serving our customers.”

“AT&T workers across the country have made it clear that they are not willing to settle for a subpar contract or bad faith negotiations. CWA members are the face of AT&T and eager to continue their work keeping their customers connected,” said CWA President Claude Cummings Jr. “I will be doing everything I can to ensure that AT&T puts proposals on the table with the wages and healthcare benefits that our members deserve.”

Over 17,000 CWA-represented technicians, customer service representatives and others who install, maintain, and support AT&T’s network across nine southeastern states have been on strike against AT&T since August 16. Workers are demanding AT&T return to the bargaining table in good faith so they can secure a fair contract with higher wages, affordable healthcare, and improvements to work-life balance for the workers subject to mandatory forced overtime.

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