The Communications Workers of America (CWA) announced the union has reached a tentative agreement with AT&T, ending a month-long strike across the Southeast. This strike, which began in mid-August, was the longest in the region’s telecommunications history and was initiated due to claims of unfair labor practices by AT&T and stalled contract negotiations, according to CWA.
CWA President Claude Cummings Jr. praised the unity and determination of the members during the strike, which provided strong backing for the bargaining teams. The new contract will cover approximately 17,000 workers responsible for installing, maintaining, and supporting AT&T’s residential and business wireline telecommunications network across nine states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.
Key aspects of the tentative five-year contract include:
- Wage Increases: A 19.33 percent wage increase for all employees, with an additional three percent increase specifically for wire technicians and utility operations workers.
- Health Care Costs: Health care premiums will remain steady in the first year of the contract, decrease in the second and third years, and only see “modest monthly increases” in the fourth and fifth years.
If ratified, the contract will be made official and go into effect, marking a significant victory for CWA members in the Southeast.
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