KYLE MURPHYStaff Writer

The Communications Workers of America (CWA) union members have officially gone to the picket line to strike over unfair labor practices during recent negotiations for a new contract with AT&T Southwest.

“CWA has filed an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board against AT&T for not bargaining in good faith, engaging in surface bargaining, and not sending representatives to the bargaining table with the authority to make decisions,” the union said in a statement issued on Friday, Aug. 16. “The charges also address the company’s refusal to bargain over mandatory subjects of bargaining and reneging on agreements made in bargaining.”

The strike involves over 17,000 technicians, customer service representatives, and others who install, maintain, and support AT&T’s residential and business wireline telecommunications network in Tennessee, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina and South Carolina.

Locally, members of the local CWA 3803 chapter, out of Pulaski, were picketing at the AT&T work center in Tullahoma, located at 200 Mitchell Blvd. According to CWA Chapter 3803 Vice President Joe Charlton, the work center covers Tullahoma, Manchester, Sewanee and Fayetteville.

“We’re out here holding the line,” Charlton said. “They are not bargaining fairly with us so we are asking them to bring somebody that can bargain to the table.”

According to CWA District 3 Vice President Richard Honeycutt, the union entered negotiations in a good faith effort to reach a contract, but were met by company representatives who were not able to explain their own proposals and did not appear to have the bargaining authority required by the legal obligation to bargain in good faith.

“Our members want to be on the job, providing the quality service that our customers deserve,” Honeycutt said. “It’s time for AT&T to start negotiating in good faith so that we can move forward towards a fair contract.”

AT&T has issued updates and statements regarding the ongoing negotiations, stating the CWA’s claims were not grounded by facts, and that their team has been engaged in “substantive bargaining” since day one and are eager to reach an agreement that benefits all employees.

“We remain committed to working with District 3 in the same manner,” AT&T representatives said. “We’re disappointed that union leaders would call for a strike at this point in the negotiations, rather than directing their energies toward constructive discussions at the bargaining table. This action needlessly jeopardizes the wages and well-being of our employees.”

AT&T representatives added the company has various business continuity measures in place to avoid disruptions to operations and to continue to provide customers with service. However, Honeycutt said in a statement Monday, Aug. 19, that AT&T customers should be aware that the workers responding to calls during the strike may not have the same level of expertise.

“AT&T has been sending undertrained managers and contractors to perform highly technical work,” he said. “Our members have seen them at work in their communities and documented unsafe practices, including failure to wear proper safety equipment, failure to secure ladders and other equipment putting the worker and nearby vehicles and pedestrians at risk, and failure to mark work areas with safety cones. We are encouraging members of the public to use extra caution when encountering these worksites.”

As for the Chapter 3803, they will continue to picket at either the work center in Tullahoma or uptown until a deal is reached.

“We’re just asking for AT&T to bargain fairly with us,” Charlton said.