Nearly 20,000 AT&T union workers have walked out of their jobs amidst their fight with the company for fair contracts and better working conditions.
This walkout occurred in the southeast after AT&T allegedly partook in disrespectful behavior when workers were attempting to negotiate contracts.
Unfair Labor Practices
According to the Communications Workers of America (CWA), contract talks began with AT&T Southeast on June 25.
These contract talks were supposed to help bridge the disconnect between AT&T and union workers. However, now 20,000 workers are walking off the job, citing unfair labor practices.
Workers Have Been Hurting for Years
CWA District 3 Vice President Richard Honeycutt explained in their first meeting with AT&T Southeast that many workers have been struggling for years.
Previous contracts haven’t helped these workers at all. Therefore, Honeycutt wasn’t leaving the negotiation table without ensuring workers got what they wanted.
Why Workers Have Been Struggling
Honeycutt opened up about why various AT&T workers in the southeast have struggled so much in the last few years.
According to Honeycutt, low wages, job security at AT&T, and workers’ overall quality of life have majorly suffered. As a result, these union employees have decided to strike.
Worrisome AT&T Moves
AT&T has also made some recent moves that have greatly worried many employees. For example, the company intends to cut operating costs, replacing workers with AI in the process.
This has made unions worry that the company isn’t in any way prepared to treat its workers fairly.
AT&T Wants to Cut Costs
AT&T wants to cut costs to ensure they’re still bringing in profits. To do this, they’re focusing on AI and other methods.
However, this effort to cut costs will more than likely negatively impact workers — and the CWA wants to ensure this doesn’t happen.
Not Bargaining Accurately
Once these meetings began, CWA realized that AT&T wasn’t acting in good faith — and clearly wasn’t ready to bargain.
The union noticed this when AT&T sent negotiators who didn’t have any power to truly negotiate or make any real decisions. As a result, the meeting had no purpose.
Wasting People’s Time
The CWA called out AT&T for making this move, as all it did was waste people’s time — and keep workers from accurately getting the work and contract they needed.
This also resulted in the CWA filing an unfair labor practice charge against AT&T with the National Labor Relations Board.
Surface Bargaining
The CWA further insinuated that AT&T was “surface bargaining”, meaning that the company had no intent to actually make concessions or reach agreements, as the negotiators they sent had no power to actually negotiate.
The union also claimed that AT&T pulled out of some agreements they had already agreed to with the CWA.
Negotiating in Good Faith
Honeycutt has called AT&T out for these practices, telling them it’s time to come to the table.
He said, “Our members want to be on the job, providing the quality service that our customers deserve. It’s time for AT&T to start negotiating in good faith so that we can move forward towards a fair contract.”
AT&T’s Response
AT&T has claimed that they haven’t unfaithfully bargained with the union. Instead, the company has said they’ve done everything they can to work with the union.
The company also explained that they’ve worked with various other unions in recent years and months to reach similar conclusions.
Union Disputes Rise Around the Country
In recent years, more and more workers have banned together with unions to fight for better working conditions and higher wages.
Most recently, Disneyland workers also voted to strike this year. Now, AT&T is the latest company to declare a strike until negotiations are met.
