The strike commenced on August 16th when CWA’s third district, which includes Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Tennessee, Kentucky, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Puerto Rico, lodged unfair labor practice (ULP) charges against AT&T for engaging in negotiations in bad faith.
The nearly 17,000 AT&T employees who were CWA-represented returned to work on Monday, ending the local telecommunications strike. This strike marked the longest in the history of the region.
“I believe in the power of unity, and our members’ and retirees’ outstanding unity during these contract negotiations has been truly exceptional. Their unwavering support has provided our bargaining teams with the necessary strength to secure robust contracts,” expressed CWA President Claude Cummings Jr. in a press release.
AT&T’s network installation and maintenance will now be covered under the new contract, which includes 17,000 technicians, customer service representatives, and other professionals.
During the negotiations, the main focus was on wages and healthcare costs. As a result, a five-year agreement was reached, which includes a 19-percent increase in wages for all employees. In addition, wire technicians and utility operations will receive an additional 3-percent increase.
“We understand that our customers have also experienced difficulties during the strike. We are pleased to resume work and maintain the safety and connectivity of our communities,” stated Richard Honeycutt, Vice President of CWA’s District Three. “Our negotiation team has put in relentless efforts to secure a contract that offers substantial wage increases, recognizing the dedication and hard work of our union members.”
