Local CWA union members strike against ATT

BAY COUNTY, Fla. ( WMBB ) – The communications workers of America strike against AT&T is now in its third week.

Local CWA union members were back on the picket line on Friday, outside of the AT&T building in downtown Panama City.

The union claims AT&T has been conducting unfair negotiations with CWA’s District 3 in the southeastern United States since June.

AT&T claims its last offer would give workers competitive market-based pay that exceeds projected inflation and an increase in employee healthcare contributions by up to 25%.

But local workers say they aren’t striking for higher pay or benefits.

“We’re having a strike because a contract has been came due and they’ve been negotiating since June of this year. With the company. And the company is not bargaining fairly. And so they’ve decided to walk into an unfair labor practice. And they’ve got that going on. So the national labor relations board and that’s what we’re just trying to get fair negotiations and so we can provide the quality service that our customers, you know, deserve and require,” CWA District 3 Secretary-Treasurer Ron Vontoon said.

AT&T’s statement says they don’t believe they will reach a solution soon.

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