There have been many times in Illinois where a dissatisfied worker walks off the job. This is not all that uncommon in today’s business world. However, when 17,000 employees do so together, it’s a clear sign that a contract negotiation might not have gone so well.
Unionized workers from AT&T have banded together to make their voices heard regarding several important issues that have negatively affected their jobs. For one, they say they’ve been performing duties typically assigned to higher paid employees, except they have not been adequately compensated for their efforts. The workers are also reportedly angry about the company’s hiring of overseas workers.
Erosion of health benefits is another central issue at the heart of the ongoing contract dispute between AT&T and the technicians involved in this contract dispute. Incidentally, the workers have been without working without a contract for nearly a year; that is, until they decided to walk off the job and launch a strike. Union representatives told reporters the company has grown disconnected from the needs of its workers and customers. Spokesmen also noted that the current situation has adversely affected many workers’ families.
AT&T says the strike only makes matters worse. The company also stated it is working very hard to secure a fair and agreeable solution to the contract-related problems. While the company promotes itself as a union-friendly establishment, the workers seem to disagree with that assessment. When a contract negotiation problem arises in Illinois, it’s often best to ask an experienced business and commercial law attorney for help.
Source: consumerist.com, “17,000 AT&T Technicians Go On Strike Amid Contract Dispute“, Mary Beth Quirk, March 22, 2017
