AT&T West, CWA workers lock horns on 3-year contract

AT&T (NYSE: T) and the Communications Workers of America (CWA) District 9 faced a new setback in wireline union negotiations on Thursday as they were not able to ratify a three-year agreement with AT&T West.

The telco said in a statement that "it was unfortunate that the very fair and reasonable contract was not ratified."

Covering over 17,000 employees in California and Nevada, the new contract would have given CWA workers annual wage and pension increases and would have "preserved excellent middle class careers."

It plans to work with CWA to reach a final agreement.

In February, AT&T struck a tentative agreement with the CWA District 9 for wireline workers in the telco's West region.

Outside of the West territory, AT&T wireline has made progress in ratifying similar contract in three other regions last year: Midwest, Southeast, and the Southwest.

Meanwhile, negotiations are continuing with AT&T East in Connecticut, covering 3,000 members of CWA Local 1298.

For more:
- see the release

Related articles:
AT&T, CWA District 9 reach tentative agreement
CWA District 6 members last month rejected a tentative agreement
AT&T reached an agreement with CWA Midwest workers last summer
AT&T wireline union workers protest in California, Nevada