RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK – AT&T workers in the southeast have voted to go on strike if no new contract is signed, according to the union that represents them.
“Everyone needs to save money in case there is a strike,” the union says at its website.
The current contract expires Aug. 3.
“Our members are prepared to do whatever it takes to support their negotiations,” Richard Honeycutt, vice president for District 3 of Communications Workers of America, said in a statement.
Union: AT&T is cutting hundreds of jobs in Carolinas, across southeast
The CWA group represents workers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Louisiana, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky and Mississippi.
Last month, the union said the telecom giant is cutting hundreds of jobs in the southeast.
The cuts of 911 jobs represents more than half the 1,800 layoffs being made nationally, according to the CWA.
AT&T says it is hiring to fill other open jobs. Specifics about where cuts are being made have not been disclosed.
The strike vote was taken earlier this week, according to a report in The Advocate.
Worker concerns include mandatory overtime, safety and job security as well as other issues
“We’re confident an agreement will be reached,” an AT&T spokesperson told The Advocate.
AT&T also made layoffs in January.
AT&T confirms layoffs as giant continues hiring in some job areas
