An AT&T strike involving southeast workers in the Communications Workers of American union is nearing a full week, and Columbus union members are showing out in public to raise awareness of the work stoppage.
A group of Columbus workers in red t-shirts joined by their dog, Roxy, in matching attire encouraged drivers to honk in support as they pass the AT&T Service Control Center on Williams Road Thursday.
More than 17,000 CWA District 3 members across nine southern states walked off the job on Aug. 16 protesting AT&T’s bad-faith bargaining tactics, according to a news release .
Local 3212 comprises workers who service lines, build the network, and work in central offices, member William Newsome told the Ledger-Enquirer. Local 3212 represents about 400 employees throughout Georgia, he said, including around 75 workers in Columbus.
These workers have been working without a contract since Aug. 3, he said. He also said AT&T hasn’t sent people to the bargaining table who can make the decisions required to sign a contract.
“When you’re bargaining with a company, the people you’re sitting across from the table should be able to make offers, listen to your offer, and then sign a contract,” Newsome said. “But AT&T is sending people to the table who do not have that authority.”
The union filed an unfair labor practice charge against AT&T with the National Labor Relations Board, according to an Aug. 16 news release by CWA. The filing accuses AT&T of not bargaining in good faith, engaging in surface bargaining, and not sending representatives with authority.
Charges also address the company’s refusal to bargain over mandatory subjects and reneging on agreements made in bargaining, according to the release.
The claims of unfair labor practices are not grounded in fact, according to an Aug. 16 statement by AT&T .
“We have been engaged in substantive bargaining since day 1 and are eager to reach an agreement that benefits our hard-working employees,” the AT&T statement said.
Bringing in federal mediation
As customer service representatives, AT&T installation and maintenance technicians striking, the company has begun using unqualified subcontractors to keep the network running, CWA said in a Thursday statement .
“During the strike, AT&T has been sending undertrained managers and contractors to perform highly technical work,” said CWA District 3 Vice President Richard Honeycutt in the statement.
Members have seen these workers in their communities, Honeycutt said in the statement, and documented unsafe practices like failure to wear proper safety equipment, failure to secure ladders, failure to mark work areas with safety cones, and putting the worker and nearby vehicles and pedestrians at risk.
AT&T offered to bring in a federal mediator to “ensure there is no question about either side’s commitment to this process,” according to the company’s statement on Wednesday.
“We welcome (federal mediation),” Newsome said. “We are currently working with a federal mediator. We’re trying to resolve our differences and get back to work.”
Newsome appreciates the support Columbus residents have shown them as they’ve been striking, he said, which includes some people stopping to offer them food and drinks. Anyone who sees their line setup and would like to come out, picket, and hold a sign is more than welcome to join the group, Newsome said.
Otherwise, they love to hear drivers honk in support as they drive past them.
“We appreciate the support of the community,” Newsome said.
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