Florence AT&T Workers Join Regional Strike Over Contract Dispute
FLORENCE, S.C. – A contentious turn came to light as workers in the Florence division of AT&T, affiliated with Communication Workers of America (CWA), joined their colleagues in a firm-wide strike over a contract dispute.
At a Glance
As of Tuesday, close to 17,000 employees spanning nine different states decided to down tools in the face of unresolvable contract negotiations. This strike altogether spans Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, and the Carolinas. Negotiations date back to June with workers halting work since last Friday.
In Support of the Cause
President of the Florence chapter, RC Lee, highlighted the significant support the striking workers have been receiving. Many sympathizers with their actions thronged West Evans Street across from an AT&T facility, expressing solidarity with the workers.
Impact on Service and Customers
Lee voiced regret for the inconvenience foisted upon customers in light of the strike, pointing out that it fell to the company to resolve the issue. “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,” he said.
The Nub of the Issue
The difficulty in negotiations arose from a failure on AT&T’s part to bargain in good faith, according to the employees. The CWA, prior to the strike, filed a challenge with the National Labor Relations Board against AT&T.
Allegations of Unsafe Practices
Richard Honeycutt, Vice President of CWA District 3 in the Southeast, accused AT&T of sending “undertrained managers and contractors to perform highly technical work”. AT&T, however, categorically denied all claims and branded them ungrounded.
Path Forward
The future of the strike appears uncertain at this point. “We had preferred there never would have been a strike. But the options that the company has left us in, this is kind of the only option we have,” said Lee.
The Struggle Continues
Lee noted that the jobs affected encompass a wide range of roles, including installations, maintenance, cable repair, Internet services, and network issues to name some. He expressed that their decision to strike has been difficult but necessary in their fight for labor equality.
