Over 17,000 Communications Workers of America (CWA) employed by telecoms giant AT&T are striking in protest of unfair labour practices committed by management during negotiations of a new collective bargaining agreement.
The strike began on 16 August, and on CWA and AT&T have entered into mediation with the U.S. federal government this week. The union says the company is not bargaining in good faith among other unlawful practices.
“We are hopeful that mediation might lead us to the agreement our members deserve,” wrote the CWA bargaining team in a statement sent to striking CWA members.
This sentiment was echoed by said Eddie Maresca, President of CWA Local 3603 in Charlotte, N.C., who said: “We’re more than happy to go back to work and more than happy to serve the customers like we do every other day of the year, but until AT&T starts acting right, we’re going to be here on the picket line because they’re bargaining in bad faith.”Show support by signing workers’ petition.
Since the launch of the strike, which covers a number of states in the U.S. Southeast, CWA has raised concern about unsafe conditions as the company has “been sending undertrained managers and contractors to perform highly technical work during the strike,” according to Richard Honeycutt,Vice President of CWA District 3 in the Southeast.
“Our members want to be on the job, providing the quality service that our customers deserve,” Honeycutt continued “AT&T needs to do the right thing and start negotiating with us in good faith.”
UNI is sending support to our union siblings in the United States.
“AT&T must stop its stalling and start meaningful negotiations,” said UNI Global Union General Secretary Christy Hoffman. “AT&T workers are essential to keeping communities connected, and the company should recognize their contributions by bargaining in good faith. We are with them in solidarity, 100 per cent.”
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