Contracts covering about 14,000 wireline employees at AT&T Midwest and AT&T Legacy T expired over the weekend, with workers remaining on the job as negotiations continue.
That figure represents about five percent of AT&T’s workforce, according to the carrier. AT&T Midwest includes workers in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin, while Legacy T is a nationwide unit. The Communications Workers of America union posted a number of updates over the weekend detailing areas of tentative agreement as well as those still under dispute. According to the union, the latter include contract details on job security, healthcare, absence and pensions, among others.
CWA has cited AT&T’s 2017 profits, as well as the remarks by CEO Randall Stephenson about the potential impact of tax reform on network investment and job creation, in its negotiating position. Workers voted recently to authorize a strike if necessary, but so far negotiations are continuing after the expiration of the current contracts on Saturday.
“AT&T made nearly $30 billion in profits last year, and is reaping major benefits from the passage of the corporate tax cut bill. They can afford to keep good family-supporting jobs in our communities instead of laying off workers and sending their work to low-wage contractors. Our members have overwhelmingly authorized a strike if necessary, and that is still an option,” said Lisa Bolton, CWA VP of telecommunications & technologies, in a statement.
Contacted by RCR Wireless News, an AT&T spokesman responded: “As in all of our contract negotiations, we’re committed to working together with the union to reach fair agreements that will allow us to continue to provide solid union-represented careers with excellent wages and benefits. We’re continuing to bargain with the union and we’re confident that an agreement will be reached. … We have a good relationship with our unions and a long history of bargaining in good faith – including five fair contracts we reached, and CWA members voted to ratify, last year and early this year.”
