Unionized Workers at BellSouth in Chattanooga, Tenn., Authorize Strike
Posted on: Thursday, 5 August 2004, 06:00 CDT
Aug. 5--After watching their ranks shrink by three fourths in the past decade and a half, unionized workers at BellSouth in Chattanooga have authorized a strike this weekend to try to block more job cuts.
"Job security is a major concern for us," Shane Williams, president of the Communications Workers of America Local 3802 in Chattanooga, said Wednesday. "Over the past 15 years, we've gone from about 1,000 members in Chattanooga to less than 250 today. BellSouth wants to contract out even more of our jobs."
The 47,000 employees of BellSouth represented by CWA across the phone company's 9-state region are preparing for a possible strike Sunday if a new contract is not reached. The union's current 3-year pact with BellSouth expires at midnight Sunday.
Representatives for both the company and union said they hope to avoid the first employee walkout against BellSouth in 20 years. The phone company has vowed to continue normal telephone service even if a strike comes.
BellSouth officials said the company is trying to bring its benefits and staffing policies more in line with other companies and competitors. Among the Fortune 100 companies, BellSouth has the most generous employee health benefits, according to Kenny Blackburn, vice president of external affairs for BellSouth in Tennessee.
Union-covered workers at BellSouth, which include technicians, customer service representatives and operators, currently do not pay health care premiums, according to the Associated Press. However, they do have out-of-pocket costs, including co-pays for doctors visits.
"We believe that in the face of rapidly escalating costs, sustainable health care requires a brand new partnership between the company and its employees and retirees," Mr. Blackburn said. "We are dealing with an unpredictable regulatory environment and a tough economy. We must maintain the flexibility to adjust our workforce to meet our customers' demands."
BellSouth has reduced its work force from about 100,000 employees to 64,000 in the past four years. The current total excludes Latin America, where BellSouth is in the process of selling its holdings to Spanish telecommunications giant Telefonica SA.
Among union workers, 97 percent voted to authorize a strike against BellSouth, according to CWA.
But BellSouth spokesman Jeff Batcher said he expects the two sides will soon settle on a new labor contract.
"We've maintained a responsible relationship with the union, we're working with the union on finding solutions on the complex issues that are facing our business, like health care and job security, and we are hopeful that we will reach an agreement," he said.
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