CWA workers defend health care at AT&T

"As long as negotiations continue, we\’ll stay at work," said Shari Wojtowicz, president of CWA Local 7250, as a couple dozen CWA members picketed and chanted outside AT&T\’s Minneapolis offices.

A nationwide contract covering approximately 8,000 workers expired April 4.

Workers picketed outside the AT&T office in downtown Minneapolis Thursday. Photo by Steve Share

"AT&T has already made it clear they don\’t want to agree to our major issues," Wojtowicz said. "They are still unwilling to address retiree health care," she said, which is a key concern for the union. "We\’re still so far apart with health care we can\’t even talk to them about their proposal," she said.

One of the workers walking the informational picket line was Pam Boone, St. Paul, a 14-year AT&T employee who works as a credit representative. She was taking action with her union, she said, "to keep our jobs, to keep good
benefits."

AT&T\’s downtown Minneapolis offices are staffed by about 320 members of CWA Local 7250 and 120 members of CWA Local 7200.

Steve Share edits the Labor Review, the official publication of the Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation. Learn more at www.minneapolisunions.org