AT&T, CWA Reach Tentative Agreements in Southeast

AT&T has reached a tentative pact covering its Southeast wireline operations with the Communications Workers of America (CWA).

The telecom giant also has entered tentative agreements with CWA – the union representing 700,000 workers in private and public sector employment – on regional contracts covering AT&T Billing Southeast and Southeast Utility Operations.

AT&T said the agreements will be submitted to CWA’s membership for a ratification vote in the coming days.

The pacts cover roughly 24,000 employees in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.

“Our goal throughout these negotiations has been to work cooperatively with the union to bargain a fair and balanced contract that will allow us to continue to provide excellent union-represented careers with wages and benefits that are among the best in the country, while controlling costs and maintaining the flexibility the company needs to operate in an extremely competitive industry,” said Mark Royse, AT&T’s executive vice president-Labor Relations. “This agreement achieves that goal.”

AT&T said it would not comment on the details until the agreements have been presented to union membership for a vote by their leadership.