BREAKING: AT&T workers in Evansville, Indiana, are actively picketing this afternoon, demanding better health insurance and higher wages. Members of the Communication Workers of America (CWA) claim their contract expired on February 13, and negotiations with AT&T have stalled.
Workers assert that AT&T is attempting to shift all healthcare costs onto employees while refusing to provide raises that align with inflation. This urgent protest follows a series of informational pickets that began in January as negotiations commenced.
“We bring in a majority of their sales and other service, us and the call centers and the retail stores. Why they don’t want to come to the table and bargain I’m not sure,” said Lindsey Wilkerson, a division representative for CWA. “We deserve fair pay, livable wages, not living paycheck to paycheck and that’s where we’re at right now—paycheck to paycheck.”
The union has not yet initiated a strike but warns that it may become necessary if negotiations do not improve. The union’s leadership is leveraging the picket as a bargaining tool, amplifying pressure on AT&T to respond.
AT&T released a statement expressing their commitment to reaching a fair agreement. “We value our union-represented employees and are committed to reaching a fair agreement with the CWA that recognizes our employees’ role in delivering outstanding customer service and supporting the AT&T Guarantee,” the statement said. “As the largest union employer in our industry, only AT&T goes above and beyond to support our more than 55,000 union-represented employees with competitive pay and great benefits for their family’s total wellbeing.”
The situation remains fluid, with AT&T employees mobilizing support from the community and drawing attention to their plight. As negotiations continue, the stakes are high for workers seeking fair treatment in a challenging economic landscape.
Stay tuned for further updates as this story develops.
