AT&T Reaches Deal with CWA

AT&T Inc. has recently finalized a year-long pending deal with the Communications Workers of America (CWA) in relation with the AT&T Mobility Orange unit employees.

CWA members have approved a four-year contract with AT&T by an overwhelming majority after a difficult months long labor standoff. The deal rolls back offshoring and outsourcing and sets a new standard for wireless retail and call center jobs in America.

The agreement offers a guaranteed 80% increase in the portion of customer service calls handled exclusively by wireless workers in the U.S. who are CWA members, along with first-ever job security language that guarantees a job for workers whose store or call center is closed or whose job title is removed.

On the compensation and take-home pay front, $2,500 has been shifted from commission to base pay for 14,000 retail workers, making pay more stable. There will be an increase in on-call pay for technicians, and AT&T will enable flat health insurance cost-sharing to minimize out-of-pocket costs for workers.

Particularly, the latest contract follows after 11 months of negotiations and public disputes between the company and workers. In May, thousands of CWA members held a three-day strike at several locations in New Jersey, including East Brunswick, Toms River, and Oakhurst. The contract expires on Feb 12, 2021.

With the new agreement, AT&T has reached 32 different labor agreements since 2015 covering about 165,000 employees. This, in turn, is expected to help the service provider strengthen relationship with the union and encourage employees to continue working with the company.

Other terms include limits on the types of monitoring and surveillance that can be in use at retail and call center locations (so that worker evaluation is fair and reasonable), a greater ability to use sick days without risk of discipline and safety equipment for warehouse workers.

"When working people have the freedom to join together and negotiate, they can use their power to increase job security and keep good jobs in our communities," said Dennis Trainor, vice president of CWA District One. "CWA members at AT&T Wireless should be proud of what they have achieved through their solidarity and persistence."

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