LOS ANGELES, Calif.–Workers for AT&T West in California and Nevada today rejected a tentative contract agreement and a strike could be imminent.
Communication Workers of America President Larry Cohen has given final approval for a strike by the 17,000 covered employees, including 2,400 in the Los Angeles area, which could come as soon as final voting numbers are released Saturday.
The tentative agreement rejected was reached on Feb. 20 after several weeks of working with a federal mediator, but bargaining committee members unanimously recommended a no vote as did T Santora, president of CWA’s Los Angeles Local 9003.
Issues that divided the parties included wages, the amount employees would pay for health care premiums, amount of sick leave and working conditions for U-verse technicians.
Union officials are awaiting AT&T’s response.
Union workers have been without a contract since the former agreement expired at midnight on April 7.
New contracts between CWA and AT&T were settled in other parts of the country, but AT&T West and AT&T East, based in Connecticut, were the two exceptions.
AT&T could not be immediately reached after the close of regular business hours.
