FIRESTORM: AT&T Mobility, CWA bicker over stalled union contract negotiations: Strike looms over No. 2 wireless provider

The Communications Workers of America and AT&T Mobility failed to reach an agreement over the weekend on a new contract covering 20,000 wireless workers in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, Mountain States and West Coast. However, the dispute has yet to materialize into a strike as union employees in those states continue to report to work, even as both sides trade barbs over the breakdown in negotiations.
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The union contract covering wages and pension for those 20,000 AT&T Mobility workers expired at midnight Saturday. CWA members last week voted to authorize a strike on behalf of unionized AT&T Mobility workers in those regions (known as Mobility Orange). Benefits are bargained separately.
AT&T Inc., the parent company of the No. 2 wireless provider, accused CWA negotiators in a Web update yesterday of walking away from the bargaining table on Sunday afternoon.
“The AT&T bargaining team remains available for discussions through the agreed-upon extension. . AT&T is proud of this fair and reasonable offer during these difficult economic times when companies are cutting off 401(k)s, freezing salaries, and sometimes failing entirely, throwing employees out of work. Layoffs have surged – more than 600,000 last month alone – and unemployment levels are soaring. Many workers are voluntarily making sacrifices to help keep troubled companies afloat,” AT&T stated.
Walt Sharp, an AT&T spokesman, pointed out that wireless workers were offered a 9.4% pay increase over the next four years in the company’s last best offer.
CWA, noting that the existing contract remains in effect for affected workers, accused AT&T Mobility of refusing to agree to a request to extend the current contract 30 days in order to reach a new agreement. Organized labor called the claim by AT&T Mobility that CWA walked away from contract talks “another management lie.” AT&T Mobility is the exclusive service provider of the popular Apple Inc. iPhone and the most union-friendly wireless carrier in the nation.
“CWA is disappointed that Mobility management would rather bargain in the media and use scare tactics to frighten employees instead of sitting down and working out an equitable agreement,” said CWA Executive VP Annie Hill. “AT&T Mobility employees are a big part of the company’s success. They are looking for an equitable agreement that recognizes their part in making AT&T Mobility an industry leader. AT&T, even in these challenging economic times, is a profitable company and should be a leader in maintaining quality jobs.”