ST. LUCIE COUNTY, Fla. -- Thousands of Communication Workers of America members of AT&T Southeast have gone on strike in nine states and Puerto Rico.
They cite “unfair labor practices during management negotiations” as the reason for the strike and workers across Martin, St. Lucie and Indian River Counties woke early to hit the picket lines at 6:45 a.m. The union strike officially began at 12:01 a.m.
According to Peggy Ward, president of Communication Workers of America local 3111 in Fort Pierce the union needs the right people at the bargaining table to make a mutual agreement between AT&A and Communication Workers of America. Ward says the strike is not about salary, benefits and better working conditions but a fair and equitable contract that expired Aug. 3 that now impacts customers.
”We want to give good customer service - without our customers - we don’t have a job,” said Ward. “However we want AT&T to realize this and be respectful. And we want to come to the table and bargain a fair and equitable contract. We’re willing to to meet them half-way.”
A representative from AT&T issued the following statements:
"A strike would be in no one’s best interest. We’re baffled as to why union leadership would call one when we’re offering terms that would help our employees – some of whom average from $121,000 to $134,000 in total compensation – be even better off,” said Jim Kimberly, spokesperson for AT & T Global Media Relations in a statement. “We have offered the union terms that are consistent with what other CWA-represented employees have approved in recent contract negotiations; the company has reached 20 fair agreements since 2017 covering more than 89,000 employees. The Southeast contract covers fewer than 8 percent of our employees. We’re prepared for a strike and in the event of a work stoppage, we will continue working hard to serve our customers."
"AT&T customers can rest assured that the company prepares for all contingencies and will make every effort to deliver the great service to which they are accustomed. The company has systematically and thoroughly planned for a potential work stoppage and has a substantial contingency workforce of well-trained managers and vendors in place."