About 40,000 Verizon workers went on strike last April. Verizon said workers received $130,000 a year in wages and benefits. Union leaders said it was closer to $74,000. A settlement was reached in August when workers were offered a 12-percent raise over three years. The Communications Workers of America, representing 21,000 AT&T wireless workers could call for a strike if their contract requirements aren’t met before Saturday night.
Wireless workers at AT&T are planning protests throughout the nation this weekend ahead of their contract expiration on Saturday night.
The Communications Workers of America (CWA), representing about 21,000 AT&T wireless workers, is planning to protest in a number of U.S. cities to put pressure on the carrier to have them accept their contract requests.
More than 90% of members of the Communications Workers of America recently provided their approval in 36 states for a strike, if necessary.
During a conference call this morning, AT&T spokesperson Marty Richters said, “A strike vote is a routine, not unexpected step in negotiations of this sort and is often part of the process. We’re continuing to bargain with the union and we’re committed to reaching a fair agreement that will allow us to continue to provide solid union-represented careers with competitive wages and benefits. We’re confident an agreement will be reached.”
In beginning early negotiations on Feb. 1, AT&T said it is the country’s largest employer of full-time union-represented labor, and the company’s goal in these negotiations is to continue to “provide employees with high quality union-represented careers with wages and benefits that are among the best in the country.”
Some of the CWA’s concerns include offshoring of call center jobs, outsourcing of retail operations and efforts to reduce pay and benefits.