AT&T Landline Workers Strike in California, Nevada

federal law,” Communications Workers of America said in a news release. “AT&T reneged on an agreement to resolve the dispute without any explanation.” Striking workers picketed call centers in California and Nevada, and CWA filed an unfair labor allegation with the National Labor Relations Board, the union said. Workers are protesting a recent AT&T practice of shifting the duties of the higher-paid systems technician to the lower-paid premises technician without appropriate compensation, said Rob Pais, an AT&T technician for 18 years and a local CWA leader. Earlier this week, workers in Escondido, California, went on a grievance strike about that issue and now all 17,000 workers in California and Nevada joined in support, Pais said in an interview Wednesday. “My family depends on this job,” he said. “We’re on strike because the company is not bargaining with us in good faith on our contract.” Pais said he long had good wages, but the company moved in “the wrong direction.” Workers are prepared to strike “until we get a fair contract, no matter what it takes,” he said. The telco is in talks with the union to get employees back to work soon, a said. “A walkout is not in anybody’s best interest, and it’s unfortunate that the union chose to do that.” AT&T is “very prepared to continue serving customers,” he said. “We’re a customer service company and we plan for all contingencies, whether related to weather, natural disasters, work stoppages or any other factors.” Workers voted in December to authorize a strike, and nearly 80 elected officials supported the union workers last week (see 1703140034). Last month, AT&T wireless workers threatened a separate strike in 36 states (see 1702090054).