PADUCAH — For several weeks, AT&T workers on strike have been a common sight in Paducah, and as of Tuesday, there is no short end in sight.
On Thursday, an AT&T spokesperson sent a statement outlining what was called AT&T’s final offer.
AT&T workers are striking against AT&T over contract negotiations. Photo taken Sept. 10, 2024.
“At our suggestion, a skilled, independent federal mediator was helping the parties bargain productively, but earlier this week, CWA District 3 representatives decided to dismiss them,” the statement read.
The offer included more than $40,000 of additional cumulative wages over the life of the agreement, as well as increased money for benefits like health care and retirement savings.
Current employees who would be under the new contract, and receive raises, make an average of $75,000 per year, according to an AT&T spokesperson.
Local representatives from CWA 3315 said it about more than the money.
Jason Wilson is the vice president for the local union and said they walked out at 2 p.m. Friday, Aug. 16.
Jason Wilson has worked for AT&T for over 20 years and is the vice president of the Communications Workers of America Local 3315 union representing the Purchase Area. Photo taken Sept. 10, 2024.
“The reason we went on strike has nothing to do with money, wages, benefits or anything in the contract,” Wilson said. “It had to do with AT&T [and] the union, filing an unfair labor practice [complaint] with the National Labor Relations Board against AT&T for not bargaining in good faith.”
Wilson said the decision makers were not at the table, which complicated their negotiation, and ultimately resulted in the employees going on strike.
AT&T denied any wrongdoing on the part of their negotiations.
“CWA’s claims of unfair labor practices are not grounded in fact,” a AT&T spokesperson wrote in an email Tuesday. “We have been engaged in substantive bargaining since day 1 and are eager to reach an agreement that benefits our hard-working employees.”
Corey Anthony, the senior vice president of engineering and operations, released a statement defending the company’s current offer.
“We are proud the have the largest unionized workforce in our industry,” Anthony said. “We believe this offer, if accepted, would provide our employees with competitive market based pay that actually exceeds projected inflation. We’re also offering to increase financial contributions to employee healthcare and wellness by up to 25% per year.”
On Tuesday a spokesperson for AT&T’s chief operating officer said that the “final offer” spoken about last week has been reopened.
“On Sept. 8, we reopened discussions on the terms of the final offer we submitted to the CWA on Sept. 4 as we continue the constructive negotiations we’ve engaged in since day one,” the statement read. “We are hopeful that the CWA will engage with us in the same spirit and work towards an agreement to get our employees back to work.”
Reporters tried to reach the Communications Workers of America, the union representing the over 17,000 AT&T workers on strike, and it has not returned a request for comment.
