KENTUCKY ( FOX 56 ) — After 30 long days, AT&T employees returned to work on Monday.
AT&T and Communications Workers of America (CWA) have reached a tentative contract agreement after employees went on strike, asking for better pay and work protection. AT&T said the new contract covers 17,000 employees in the Southeast region, with a wage increase of 19.33% and an additional 3% for wire technicians and utility operations workers, as well as better healthcare premiums.
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Jonathan Campbell, CWA president of the local 3321 chapter and an A&T employee who has been with the company and union for more than 20 years, described the result as a relief.
“There are some, you know a few things in there that all of us would have liked to have seen better. But I think overall, it’s a good agreement,” said Campbell.
AT&T released a statement:
“We are pleased to announce that we’ve reached 2 tentative agreements with the Communications Workers of America (CWA). The first is in District 9 in the West, which comes within days of getting back to the negotiating table to constructively reach a new deal. The second is in District 3 in the Southeast, bringing the work stoppage to an end on Sept. 16.