AT&T agreements will be submitted to union wireline workers for a vote; wireless workers still fighting
AT&T and the Communications Workers of America said they have reached a tentative four-year settlement that covers more than 17,000 wireline workers in California and Nevada. CWA said the contract provides for pay raises, improvements in job security and retirement benefits, and continued affordable healthcare. The union said the deal also covers DirecTV West workers in California and Nevada, making this the first CWA contract for DIRECTV workers. AT&T purchased DirecTV in 2015 for $49 billion.
In addition, AT&T and the CWA said they have reached a tentative agreement covering almost 200 wireline employees in Connecticut. The union said this agreement provides for pay raises, improvements in severance benefits, continued affordable healthcare, and other improvements.
“We strive in all of our labor negotiations to reach fair agreements that will allow us to continue to provide solid union careers with excellent wages and benefits, and we believe that’s the case with these agreements,” said AT&T spokesperson Marty Richter.
Still unresolved is AT&T’s so-called Orange contract with AT&T Mobility workers in 36 states and the District of Columbia. CWA represents more than 45,000 AT&T wireless workers, and the contracts are based on location.
In late May, AT&T Mobility workers went on strike and a number of AT&T retail stores were closed for all or part of the weekend. The CWA says that AT&T has made no new offers to the wireless workers since the strike.
Verizon double pole deal
The CWA also said it has reached a deal with Verizon that will require the company to repair and replace bad cable, defective equipment, faulty back-up batteries, and to take down 15,000 double telephone poles in Pennsylvania. Double poles are described by CWA as locations where Verizon’s equipment is still in place even though another company has built a new pole at Verizon’s original location. The union has pictures of places in Pennsylvania where this has apparently left pieces of wood dangling from wires.
“For nearly two years, CWA documented Verizon’s failure to repair the copper network and equipment, in areas where Verizon has chosen not to build out its FiOS fiber network,” said CWA District 2-13 VP Ed Mooney. “We submitted those findings, along with substantial and expert testimony about the issue, spotlighting the threat to service quality and public safety. This settlement is a big victory for Pennsylvania consumers, who pay for and expect their telephone service to work.”
