An AT&T emblem adorns a employee’s van on April 1 in Miami, Fla.
Joe Raedle/Getty Photographs
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Joe Raedle/Getty Photographs
Greater than 17,000 AT&T employees throughout the Southeast are on strike after accusing firm administration of “unfair labor practices” throughout latest contract negotiations.
An announcement released Friday by the Communications Employees of America (CWA) — the union representing the placing staff — stated AT&T didn’t cut price in good religion and despatched negotiators who didn’t have any authority to make choices.
“Our union entered into negotiations in a great religion effort to succeed in a good contract, however we’ve got been met on the desk by firm representatives who had been unable to clarify their very own bargaining proposals and didn’t appear to have the precise bargaining authority required by the authorized obligation to cut price in good religion,” stated CWA District 3 Vice President Richard Honeycutt.
“Our members need to be on the job, offering the standard service that our clients deserve. It’s time for AT&T to start out negotiating in good religion in order that we are able to transfer ahead in direction of a good contract.”
The union stated it had filed a criticism with the Nationwide Labor Relations Board.
The placing employees embody technicians, customer support representatives, and AT&T wire set up employees.
In an announcement to NPR on Saturday, AT&T denied the corporate was breaking any labor legal guidelines and stated it’s keen to barter a brand new contract.
“CWA’s claims of unfair labor practices should not grounded the truth is,” the corporate stated. “We now have been engaged in substantive bargaining since day 1 and are keen to succeed in an settlement that advantages our hard-working staff.”
AT&T cited three different agreements reached this 12 months with 13,000 staff in different states as proof that it was dedicated to reaching a deal.
The corporate additionally stated clients shouldn’t have to fret about any service disruptions and that it had backup measures in place to maintain operations operating easily.
The strike impacts employees in 9 states, together with Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.
