AT&T Employees Strike Against Alleged Unfair Labor Practices

AT&T union employees throughout California, Nevada and Connecticut are on strike claiming the company has not bargained fairly during ongoing contract negotiations.

The two-day strike is against alleged "unfair labor practices" (ULP's) and is expected to last until Wednesday in these three states.

In Castro Valley, about 40 employees walked off the job from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday, holding picket signs and going on strike off Castro Valley Boulevard near Stanton Avenue.

No members wished to further comment regarding the alleged ULP's but agreed that they would return around the same time on Tuesday to continue the strike.

In months of contract negotiations, AT&T has demanded major concessions from workers on health care, job security, scheduling, sick leave, disability, and pensions according to a press released issued by the Communications Workers of America (CWA) union. Members have been working under an expired contract since April.

Here's further information from the union release:

AT&T violated provisions of the National Labor Relations Act by denying workers’ rights to engage in protected, concerted activity; and by implementing unilateral changes without bargaining.

Workers are especially angry about AT&T’s abrupt, unannounced changes in working conditions for the UVerse Video Technicians and

Union members were quick to protest, staging a series of concerted actions escalating to today’s general unfair labor practice strike.

Jim Weitkamp, a union vice president, claims AT&T had violated the law repeatedly.

"Given AT&T’s record profits, tax breaks and jaw-dropping executive compensation, there is no reason for them to insist on lowering the standard of living of a single worker," he said.

AT&T Spokesperson John Britton told Castro Valley Patch that the company has already reached reached tentative agreements with the union last night in the Southeast Region. On July 21 AT&T reached tentative agreements in the Midwest Region Britton added.

"Concerning union allegations of 'unfair labor practices,' we have been negotiating in good faith since Feb. 29 in the West and the other regions, as illustrated by the tentative agreements we've reached in other regions. We remain ready to negotiate," he said.

Back in April, these same employees reading "WTF: Where's The Fairness," questioning recent contract negotiations.

lead to AT&T management allowing union employees to come back to work the following day.