AT&T workers on strike
BUTLER TWP — The seven striking AT&T workers at Butler Commons began a three-day work stoppage Friday. They were a few of about 40,000 AT&T employees who went on a strike over contract issues with the company, according to The Associated Press.
Jordan Gibson, 25, one of the local workers on strike, said that company management had until 3 p.m. Friday to offer a contract the Communications Workers of America found acceptable.
“We want (management) to come to the table on Monday and bargain for a fair contract,” Gibson said.
He added that the strike will end when they return to work at 8:30 a.m. Monday. Until then, management will run the store.
Gibson said the last contract expired Feb. 11. He said AT&T is trying to raise its employees’ health care costs by 30 percent and trying to reduce sick pay.
Another worker, Brittany Frazier, said the union is asking for wage increases that cover rising health care costs, job security against outsourcing jobs, a fair schedule policy that doesn’t diminish sick pay and affordable health care.
“It’s not so much about us,” said Frazier, 26. “It’s (on) a national level.”
According to the AP, 21,000 employees on strike work in the wireless department, while about 17,000 others work in the company’s home phone, Internet and cable division, and 2,000 more are DirecTV workers.
Kirsten Franchuk said she has worked for AT&T for five years and is taken aback by the turn of events.
“I didn’t think it was going to come to this,” she said.
Workers at the Cranberry Township AT&T store were also seen participating in the strike Friday afternoon.
AT&T did not respond to a message left for comment Friday.
