AT&T CWA California, Nevada workers join wireless unit in three-day strike

AT&T wireline workers in California, Connecticut and Nevada represented by the Communications Workers of America (CWA) have joined their fellow wireless workforce in a three-day strike.

The telco has over 17,000 wireline workers in the three states represented by the CWA union.

In all, the groups striking represent four different union contracts and include wireless workers in 36 states and D.C.; wireline workers in California, Nevada and Connecticut; and DirecTV technicians in California and Nevada.

Related: AT&T wireless and wireline workers go through with 3-day strike

AT&T workers will return to work on Monday and have vowed to do what they have to do if AT&T violates their rights or an open-ended strike becomes necessary.

“As a father, striking is not an easy decision for me. But to make sure I can give my kids the future they deserve, we must take a stand against any and all attempts to skimp on good jobs and financial security,” said Mark Bautista, an AT&T wireline worker from El Sobrante, California. “And our fight for a fair contract is about more than just my co-workers and me—it’s about fighting a system that’s been rigged against us and way too many others for far too long. On the picket lines today, I’ll be chanting ‘No Contract, No Peace,’ until I lose my voice.”

Tensions between union-represented wireline employees California and Nevada and AT&T have been intense during the labor contract process.

In March, AT&T wireline technicians and call center employees in California and Nevada returned to work after walking off the job in protest of the company’s actions.

At that time, employees at AT&T call centers and offices throughout California and Nevada picketed at dozens of locations across the two states with major picket lines in Los Angeles, Reno, Fresno, Sacramento, Bakersfield, Carson City, Tustin, San Diego and San Francisco.

As part of an agreement settled between the CWA and AT&T management, the company will no longer require technicians to perform work assignments outside of their expertise and classification.