After a month-long strike, members of the Communications Workers of America (CWA) have reached a tentative agreement with AT&T Southeast, marking the end of the longest telecommunications strike in the region’s history.
Alongside a separate agreement at AT&T West, these contracts signal the resolution of labor disputes affecting thousands of workers across the country.
The strike, which began on August 16, involved 17,000 CWA members across nine southeastern states, including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Tennessee. These employees, consisting of technicians, customer service representatives, and other roles critical to maintaining AT&T’s residential and business telecommunications network, were pushing for improved wages, better health care, and fair working conditions. The new five-year contract in the Southeast includes a 19.33% wage increase across the board, with additional pay raises for Wire Technicians and Utility Operations. It also addresses healthcare costs, keeping premiums steady in the first year and reducing them in the following two.
CWA President Claude Cummings Jr. praised the solidarity of union members across regions, noting the significant support from both current members and retirees.
“The unity our members and retirees have shown during these contract negotiations has been outstanding,” said Cummings .
He also highlighted the importance of the collective action that backed the bargaining teams.
In the West, a separate agreement was reached following a previous rejection of a tentative deal earlier in September. The new four-year contract in California and Nevada improves on previous wage agreements and includes enhanced provisions for overtime and scheduling. Workers in this region will see wage increases retroactive to the contract expiration date, resulting in a total increase of 15.01%.
Union representatives from both regions expressed pride in their members’ resolve and the resulting improvements in wages, job security, and healthcare provisions. CWA District 3 Vice President Richard Honeycutt thanked members for their sacrifices during the difficult negotiations, while District 9 Vice President Frank Arce lauded the swift resolution following the rejection of the initial agreement in the West.
AT&T expressed satisfaction with the agreements, noting that they support the company’s competitive position in the broadband industry. The company emphasized its goal of achieving fair contracts that recognize the hard work of its employees, providing competitive pay and benefits. AT&T COO Jeff McElfresh highlighted that these agreements also strengthen the company’s ability to compete against mostly non-union competitors.
With the strike officially ending on September 16, CWA members in the Southeast will return to work, and both agreements will now undergo a ratification process where union members in each region will vote on whether to accept the proposed contracts.
With input from Communications Workers of America, FOX5, News19, ABC4 News.
