CWA, AT&T to Open National Negotiations: Job security, access to new jobs top CWA bargaining goals

Washington, D.C.– The Communications Workers of America will begin national talks with AT&T on Monday, March 11, in Washington, D.C., for a new contract covering 28,000 workers. The current contract expires May 11.

Across the country on Monday, CWA members will be "practice picketing" at AT&T locations, sending the message that keeping quality jobs at the company is critical, for workers and customers, CWA said.

"CWA members want AT&T to succeed and want to remain a vital part of this company. But by slashing jobs and contracting out work to low pay, high turnover operations, AT&T is jeopardizing quality service and that's a real disservice to employees and customers," said CWA President Morton Bahr. AT&T has cut more than 20,000 jobs over the past four years, CWA noted.

The July 2001 spinoff of AT&T Wireless and the proposed merger of AT&T's broadband operations with Comcast Communications leave consumer and business services as the core of the company. While workers have been hit with layoffs, top executives are rewarding themselves with multi-million-dollar compensation packages and new jobs – with extensive job security protections – at the new broadband company, CWA noted.

Ralph Maly, the CWA vice president responsible for AT&T, said CWA's bargaining goals include access for members to jobs in the growth areas of the company, improvements in retirement security, maintaining quality health care, and improving working conditions for customer service representatives.

"There is no question that AT&T can provide quality jobs as well as the opportunity for workers to move into the jobs that are being created by new technology," Maly said.

At AT&T, CWA members work as network and communications technicians, customer service representatives and operators.

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