Forty workers with AT&T’s Luling work center walked off their jobs at 7 a.m. today (Aug. 28) as part of a Greater New Orleans area strike over unfair labor practices.
“All employees should be treated equal when it comes to safety,” said Stephen Edler, Union 3410 president with the Communications Workers of America (CWA), said of 450 protesters who will be on strike until midnight Saturday (Aug. 29). “The union asks AT&T to be fair with their safety practices – that’s all we’re asking.”
Local strikers, including wire, service and facility technicians, gathered outside the Luling work center on Maryland Drive.
AT&T spokesman Marty Richter said AT&T anticipated the workout and has workers to continue operations.
“Nevertheless, preparing for contingencies is all part of what we do for customers,” Richter said. “Whether it’s hurricanes, floods, snowstorms or even a work stoppage, we’re always ready. We have systematically and thoroughly planned for a potential work stoppage and have a substantial contingency workforce of well-trained replacements ready.”
Edler said the strike focuses on an Aug. 21 incident in Chalmette where a union member accused an AT&T manager of striking him with a vehicle during an earlier protest over stalled contract talks with AT&T, which expired Aug. 8. The union contends the company has ignored union requests to take action against the man.
Richter said the matter is a closed.
“The company is committed to employee safety, but we have found nothing to indicate the manager was at fault and had any intent to injure the picketing employee,” Richter said. “Local police investigated the incident and found no violations.”
Edler disagreed, adding, they’ve filed labor charges against the manager with the National Labor Relations Board.
“The reason we’re striking is the union believes AT&T has done nothing about the incident,” he said. “If we have a safety infraction to that magnitude, AT&T should take swift action yet a week later nothing has been done.”
Richter maintained a walkout is not in anyone’s best interest.
Edler emphasized today’s strike is not connected with contract talks with AT&T, but he did clarify the CWA has already unanimously authorized CWA International President Chris Shelton to call a strike should talks fail.
“We have been working without a contract since Aug. 8 and that is a mechanism that allows the strike,” said Edler, which could involve up to 29,000 employees.
Richter said the company is committed to bargaining with the union and remain committed to reaching a fair agreement.
“Our goal throughout these negotiations has been to continue to provide our employees with high quality middle class careers with wages and benefits that are among the best in the country,” he said. “Our employees in these contracts are very well compensated, and will continue to be. We are not proposing to reduce the wages of any employees in these contracts, and we remain committed to providing great benefits.”
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