AT&T Workers Strike in Southeast

MIAMI - Over 17,000 AT&T employees across nine Southeastern states have initiated a strike, citing unfair labor practices during ongoing contract negotiations. The Communications Workers of America (CWA), representing the workers, announced that employees walked off the job on Friday after AT&T allegedly failed to engage in good faith bargaining. The union claims that the company sent representatives without the authority to negotiate effectively and has not honored previous agreements. Richard Honeycutt, vice president of CWA District 3, expressed frustration over the negotiations, stating that the union had approached discussions with a genuine intent to secure a fair contract. The strike includes technicians, customer service representatives, and other personnel involved in maintaining AT&T's telecommunications network in states such as Alabama, Florida, and Georgia. Workers are demanding better pay to cope with the high cost of living in their regions. In response to the strike, AT&T has denied the union's allegations, asserting that the claims of unfair labor practices lack factual basis. The company emphasized its commitment to substantive bargaining and noted that it has reached agreements covering over 13,000 employees this year. Additionally, the union has filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board regarding the situation. As the strike continues, the union has raised concerns about AT&T's decision to deploy undertrained managers and contractors to handle technical work during the labor action, while the company insists it has measures in place to maintain service continuity for customers.