The Communications Workers of America issued a 30-day notice that its union members working at SBC Communications may go on strike if a new contract is not reached. CWA's local unions at SBC will begin the strike authorization vote among their members, with the results to be announced on April 29. If members vote to strike, the next step would be for CWA's executive board to authorize CWA's president to set the strike date.
The union alleges that SBC is not addressing workers' concerns about employment security, noting that CWA members are seeking limits on excessive subcontracting as well as gaining access for workers to jobs in growth areas of the company. SBC is outsourcing thousands of jobs in such areas as call centers, DSL tech support and others. Much of this work is being sent by contractors offshore to India and other countries. Health care is another issue.
CWA President Morton Bahr said the union has a two-prong strategy. Having given notice to SBC, CWA will be in a position to strike at the end of the 30-day period. In the meantime, the union will prepare for other tactics that potentially could affect the company's revenue but which don't rely on a strike. This would include gathering pledges from unions and union families in SBC territory to switch local and long distance service if CWA determined that it was necessary. CWA has used this strategy successfully in the past, Bahr said. http://www.cwa-union.org
- CWA represents 100,000 workers at SBC West (formerly Pacific Bell), SBC Midwest (Ameritech), SBC Southwest (Southwestern Bell) and SBC East (Southern New England Telephone.)
