UPDATE: Kansas CWA local president: Talks with AT&T 'not going well'
As tensions mount amid ongoing negotiations between AT&T and the Communications Workers of America, CWA executive vice president Annie Hill lashed out at AT&T Wednesday as "another big corporation looking out for its executives and big investors at the expense of workers." Hill made this comment and others pointing out AT&T's large profit in 2008 as evidence that the company was wrong to demand concessions on pay increases and health care benefits. Hill is leading a charge to get 10,000 signatures on a petition to the company to stop trying to cut jobs.
"AT&T claims that these cuts are necessary because of the poor economy," Hill wrote. "They've even had the nerve to compare telecom to the auto industry, even though telecom continues to expand and remain profitable. Just last year, AT&T made $12.9 billion in profits - almost a billion more than the previous year."
Hill opines that AT&T should lead in supporting quality middle class jobs and benefits. The company maintains retiree health benefits and further concessions to the union will result in eventual loss of competitive position.
For more:
- see the letter by Hill here
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