AT&T Wireless Workers Threaten Strike This Weekend

[ABFwife]

Some 21,000 workers in AT&T's wireless business threatened to go on strike for two days over the weekend if they do not reach a deal on a new contract by Friday afternoon.

The workers, spread across 36 states, have been working without a contract since February and notified AT&T on April 28 that they may go on strike at any time. The Communications Workers of America union, which represents the AT&T wireless workers, said it also filed an unfair labor practice complaint with federal regulators over the company's alleged refusal to turn over information related to bargaining.

"Going on strike is a decision that is not made lightly," the CWA said in a message distributed to the workers. "Your bargaining team has worked countless hours to negotiate in good faith to reach an agreement, but this company is refusing to budge on the issues that matter the most to us."

AT&T Wireless Workers Threaten To Strike on Friday | Fortune.com

[ABFwife]

Strike is Imminent at AT&T Mobility

Can't find anything this morning as to if they are actually going on strike today. Here is a good post from TDU on how to support striking workers if it happens.

Over 20,000 AT&T Wireless workers will go on strike Friday if they do not reach an agreement on a new contract. Here’s how you can support them.

Teamsters at UPS, in freight and at UPS Freight have the right under our contracts to honor any primary picket line.

If you see a primary picket line at an AT&T Moility location, you do not have to make a delivery there.

UPS drivers can enter “strike” on their DIAD board and bring the delivery back to your center at the end of the day.

Many Teamsters who work under local contracts have the right to honor picket lines too—especially if you have a concern about your safety.

The strike is AT&T Mobility is a planned three-day strike

If you’re affected by the AT&T Mobility strike or any other picket line, check your contract or call your local.

The bottom line is: Teamsters don’t cross picket lines!

Strike is Imminent at AT&T Mobility - Teamsters for a Democratic Union

[ABFwife]

ON STRIKE: AT&T Wireless, Wireline and DIRECTV Workers Walk off the Job

NATIONWIDE— AT&T workers who are members of Communications Workers of America (CWA) walked off the job today, protesting AT&T’s failure to present serious proposals that invest in good jobs with a future. During the three-day strike this weekend, a majority of AT&T wireless, wireline and DIRECTV workers fighting for their contracts are expected to be on strike.

The groups striking represent four different union contracts and include wireless workers in 36 states and DC; wireline workers in California, Nevada and Connecticut; and DIRECTV technicians in California and Nevada. This is the first time AT&T wireless workers have gone on strike, which could result in closed retail stores this weekend and may be the largest strike of retail workers at a national company is U.S. history.

“We will no longer stand by as AT&T hems and haws at the bargaining table, keeping its own workers from achieving the American Dream they once promised,” said Dennis Trainor, Vice President of CWA District 1. “Despite being the largest telecom company in the country with nearly $1 billion a month in profits and the CEO earning $28 million, AT&T continues to pinch its workers’ basic needs and stand in the way of high-quality service its customers pay good money for. This is a warning to AT&T: there’s only one way out of this now—a fair contract—and we’ll settle for nothing less.”

https://www.cwa-union.org/news/relea...s-walk-off-job

[ABFwife]

Hoffa: Teamsters Stand with AT&T Workers on Strike

(WASHINGTON) – The following is a statement from Teamsters General President James P. Hoffa on the decision by 40,000 AT&T workers to begin a three-day strike today. The workers have been at the bargaining table for months seeking a fair contract, but the company has not delivered.

“The 1.4 million members of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters stand in solidarity with 40,000 AT&T workers and their union, the Communications Workers of America (CWA), for taking a strong stand for justice and economic fairness.

“Workers at AT&T have seen their benefits get more expensive year after year, while AT&T offshores thousands of jobs. This company made $13 billion in profits last year, but is now denying its workers, who are making this company so profitable, the contract they deserve.

https://teamster.org/news/2017/05/ho...workers-strike

[ABFwife]

I had been wondering what had been going on with this. Looks like they are back at work.

AT&T worker strikes spread across the country

From May 19 through May 21, 40,000 AT&T workers in 36 states and Washington, D.C. walked off the job. For the first time ever, 21,000 wireless workers in California, Nevada and Connecticut, and DIRECTV techs in California and Nevada engaged in job action. The groups striking have four different union contracts.

The strike led to some retail stores in places such Chicago and Columbus, Ohio closing during busy weekend hours.

Workers in New York City, Boston, Chicago, San Francisco and Los Angeles led the charge Friday, picketing and claiming that AT&T failed to present a real proposal that would give them a better future. According to one employee, workers aren’t asking for much.

“Today, nearly 40,000 wireless, wireline and DIRECTV workers across the country are returning to work and CWA is looking forward to returning to the bargaining table with the expectation we see genuine proposals that protect good jobs and quality service from AT&T,” said Sarrah Nasser, an AT&T wireless call center representative from Paramus, N.J. in an emailed statement sent to the AmNews. “We are organized—with the support of our families, neighbors, elected leaders and customers—and if AT&T doesn’t do what’s right, we’ll keep doing what we need to win. AT&T, it’s your move.”

AT&T worker strikes spread across the country | New York Amsterdam News: The new Black view

[ABFwife]

AT&T and union workers in California and Nevada reach tentative pact

Telecommunications giant AT&T has reached a tentative agreement with a union representing 17,000 employees, including DirecTV technicians, in California and Nevada.

The deal would mark the first time that DirecTV employees have been covered by a union contract, according to the union. AT&T acquired DirecTV, headquartered in El Segundo, in 2015.

The tentative four-year agreement, announced late Friday, includes undisclosed pay hikes, job security measures, retirement benefits and “continued affordable healthcare,” according to a statement by CWA District 9 Vice President Tom Runnion.

Union members had been concerned about rising costs of healthcare as well as the company’s move to shift jobs to foreign call centers to save money.

The AT&T technicians and call center workers had been working without a contract for more than a year. The union staged a three-day work stoppage last month to protest the lengthy stalemate — frustrating some customers who complained about delays for service.

AT&T and union workers in California and Nevada reach tentative pact - LA Times

[ABFwife]

Behind the Big AT&T Strike: Years of Shipping Jobs Overseas

These worker have my praise for what they did!

A recent three-day strike against telecommunications operator AT&T attracted nationwide attention, even though the modern incarnation of the company is a far cry from the gigantic “Ma Bell” monopoly of old. The strike took nearly 40,000 workers off the job. The Communications Workers of America (CWA) union was sending a message to management: Stop stalling, start negotiating.

The immediate cause of the strike was the slowness of the company to reach new contracts with the union for improved wages and benefits for some workers, including those in AT&T’s wireless communications network. But underlying the dispute is a long-term strategy by the company to degrade the quality of its U.S. jobs as it shifts much of its business to lower-paid workers overseas, the union says.

In a recent report, CWA details some of the facts. Since 2011, the company has closed about 30 U.S. call centers while reducing the number of jobs at dozens of others, the union says. These actions resulted in the elimination of about 12,000 U.S. jobs, with much of the work transferred to call centers in low-cost countries like India and the Philippines.

Behind the Big AT&T Strike: Years of Shipping Jobs Overseas - Working In These Times