AT&T wants workers to pay

AUSTIN, Texas--Some 50 AT&T workers and their supporters gathered outside an office building here on February 24 as a Communications Workers of America (CWA) contract for AT&T Mobility workers approached expiration, and management has refused to retreat from their demand for concessions.

AT&T recently lost $4 billion in a failed attempt to merge with T-Mobile. The company wants to push those costs onto workers by reducing benefits and threatening layoffs--even though AT&T is still enormously profitable.

"It's [AT&T CEO] Randall Stevenson's $4 billion mistake, not ours," said Clifford Kay, echoing the signs held by the protesters. Kay said that health insurance for his family might go from $160 a month to over $400 if the company gets its way in negotiations. "They're trying to get out of it," he said.

Juan Palomino, an AT&T employee for four years, agreed the company is responsible for the loss, but said that "the ones who are going to feel it are us."

Despite the failure of the T-Mobile bid, CEO Randall Stevenson made more then $21 million last year alone. All the while, workers are experiencing threats to their job security and benefits, as well as deteriorating working conditions. Some employees even said they are forced to raise their hands to go to the bathroom.

Other larger CWA bargaining units have contracts expiring with the telecommunications giant, setting the stage for more battles this spring.

At the protest in Austin, the mood was good, and spirits were high. The protesters chanted and held signs reading "No contract, no peace" and "United we bargain, divided we beg," showing solidarity and camaraderie. Some said they are ready and willing to strike.