CWA President: AT&T strike "a tactic we may yet use"

http://www.fiercetelecom.com/story/cwa-president-t-strike-tactic-we-may-yet-use/2009-04-23

April 23, 2009 — 11:54pm ET | By Doug Mohney

Speaking at the union's first ever e-meeting Thursday, CWA President Larry Cohen said a strike against AT&T remains a "tactic we may yet use" against the company. However, the union and its members need to "act strategically" and plan several moves ahead, while understanding the consequences of each move.

Cohen's remarks were part of a 35-minute online video session conducted at 9 p.m. EST to outline where the union was at the bargaining table with AT&T, the reason why health care continues to be a roadblock between the two sides, and next steps the union needs to take to keep the pressure on AT&T.

CWA tried to get a national negotiating "table" set up with AT&T, but couldn't reach agreement with the firm as to what would be included. Instead, the union ended up negotiating with AT&T on a region-by-region basis.

Health care continues to be the major point of contention. Currently, the average out-of-pocket cost of health care for a union worker ranges from $1100 to $1500 dollars per year, said CWA executive vice president Annie Hill. AT&T's first position had workers paying $3800 to $5700 per year, while a second proposal brought it down to $2800 to $4200 - still two to three times what workers currently pay. "This is totally unacceptable for an employer as profitable as AT&T," said Hill.

Cohen said two conflicting messages were presented around AT&T's first-quarter earnings report - one for workers, one for Wall Street. AT&T stressed the losses in wireline income and customers with a call to keep costs in line to its workers. A much rosier picture was given to investors, with solid growth and earnings, a dramatic slowing of landline losses, $3.13 billion in profits beating Wall Street expectation and an average landline revenue increase of about 2 percent.

FULL story at link.