Communications Workers of America (CWA) members are returning to work at AT&T Southeast following a four-day strike. The MTD-affiliated union and the company reached a settlement early August 28.
“CWA members’ spirit and solidarity over the last four days showed the company that we would not back down until they bargained with us in good faith,” stated CWA District 3 Vice President Richard Honeycutt. “This was a historic strike that showed the power that working people have when they join together.”
The union said members walked off the job on August 24 because of unfair labor practices committed by management during contract negotiations. Among the charges were not bargaining in good faith and not sending representatives to the bargaining table with the authority to make decisions.
The strike involved more than 20,000 technicians, customer service representatives, and others who install and maintain AT&T Southeast’s residential and business telecommunications network in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.
Representatives from the Greater South Florida Maritime Trades Council marched in solidarity with CWA members in Sunrise, FL, on August 26. “It was a hot day, but we knew we had to be there for them,” noted PMC Vice President Kris Hopkins.