‘We don’t want our people suffering:’ Florence AT&T workers join regional strike over contract dispute
In a move that’s gained regional attention, AT&T workers in Florence have joined a strike covering nine states over ongoing contract disputes. Workers associated with the Communication Workers of America (CWA) chapter in Florence are among nearly 17,000 AT&T employees who have ceased work as part of an ongoing contract dispute.
The Strike: A Powerful Stand for Employee Rights
The discord began in June as talks between employees and AT&T began. On Friday, a massive workforce including members from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, and the Carolinas voluntarily stopped work. RC Lee, president of the Florence chapter, shares that decision to strike hasn’t been made lightly but commended the extensive support they have received in their pursuit of fair contracts and labor equality.
A Coverage Downside: Customers’ Services Potentially Impacted
“We do feel bad about our customers that are left out hanging, waiting for service, needing help, getting stuff restored. But that kind of falls back on the company,” Lee said. “All of this could have been resolved if they had just bargained in good faith to start with. Never would have been a strike if they had just done their job the way we tried to do our job.”
Solidarity in Union: Support from AFL-CIO
The AFL-CIO chapter of South Carolina has voiced its full support of the union’s demands for fair wages. In an attempt to challenge AT&T’s stance before workers walked off the job, CWA went ahead to file a National Labor Relations Board challenge against the company.
AT&T’s Controversial Response
In response, AT&T has sent out an email statement denying the claims made by the union. The telecommunications giant stated that the CWA’s unfair labor accusations are ungrounded and are not based on factual assertions.
The Duration of the Strike: An Uncertain Future
The marathon struggle for labor equality persists, with the duration of the strike remaining uncertain. Employees, primarily involved in everything from installation and maintenance to cable repair, working with the billing department, and the network, continue to push for a fair resolution of the contract dispute. Collaborating with other CWA presidents in South Carolina, RC Lee and his compatriots are resolved to see this through to the end.
A Call for Understanding
“We don’t want our people suffering. Going on strike is a lot of suffering for a lot of people. I’m not necessarily saying we’re going hungry, but … our family counts on us to work,” Lee said.
