CWA Withdraws From Negotiations With AT&T, Entering 3rd Week of Strikes
Communications Workers of America announced Tuesday it would withdraw from the mediation process between AT&T and the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service as it entered its third week of strikes (see 2408220053). More than 17,000 workers across Alabama, Florida, Georgia,…
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Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee are striking545. CWA said that as a result of the strike, AT&T is using "undertrained managers and contractors," resulting in "widespread outages" and long wait times for repairs or service. CWA District 3 Vice President Richard Honeycutt said in a statement that the group appreciated the mediator's efforts, but AT&T was "using the mediation process as another delaying tactic" to "stall negotiations." An AT&T spokesperson also thanked the mediator and told us CWA's decision was "unexpected, since withdrawing from mediation seems inconsistent with the union’s allegation of unfair labor practices." The decision "also goes against their stated intention to bargain toward a mutually agreeable resolution," the spokesperson said: "Regardless of whether a neutral third-party is present, progress will not be made without a willingness to compromise." AT&T is "focused on reaching a fair and competitive agreement that benefits our hard-working employees as quickly as possible, and this won’t change. In the meantime, we will remain prepared for all contingencies to ensure our customers receive the excellent service they deserve," the spokesperson added.