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SNET fires back at union
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August 24, 1998: 1:53 p.m. ET
Telephone company accuses CWA of unfair labor practices; strike continues
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NEW YORK (CNNfn) - Southern New England Telephone came out swinging Monday against the union that represents its striking workers.
The New Haven, Conn.-based telecommunications firm filed a five-count charge with the National Labor Relations Board accusing the Communications Workers of America (CWA) of unfair labor practices.
SNET charges the union with rejecting a tentative labor agreement that they signed Aug. 7, of refusing to submit the agreement to members for ratification, and of failing to send negotiators with sufficient authority to the bargaining table.
Moreover, the company says the CWA issued new bargaining demands after issues had been settled and "engaged in 'surface bargaining' and other bad faith bargaining with no intention of entering into a final and binding agreement."
"We want to talk, but bargaining is a two-way street," said Karin Mayhew, SNET's chief negotiator. "For the sake of the 6,300 SNET employees now on strike, the union negotiators need to start getting serious about bargaining."
According to the company, the tentative contract agreement reached earlier this month would have increased pay by up to 11 percent and raised average pensions by close to 12 percent by the end of the agreement.
At midnight Sunday, some 6,300 SNET workers, members of the CWA, struck the company after negotiators failed to reach contract agreements.
Union members at SNET say they oppose the "disparity and inequity in pay and benefits" for all workers, including operators, technicians, customer service representatives and engineers.
Health-care cost shifting remains another key concern.
The CWA Monday launched a full-scale media campaign focused on SNET's billion-dollar earnings with what they call an unfair wage system and low wages.
The union, which resolved a strike earlier this month against Bell Atlantic, also represents striking workers at telecommunications firm US West.
On Friday, Utah District Judge Stephen L. Henriod issued a restraining order prohibiting the CWA and its members from interfering with access to U S WEST buildings and threatening or intimidating people entering or leaving the buildings.
The company had accused the union of foul play. Over the weekend, US West echoed some of SNET's complaints, saying the CWA was not taking contract negotiations seriously.
"We are stunned that CWA negotiators would characterize this as progress [to the media]," US West spokesman Mike Fernandez said over the weekend. "Despite our best efforts, the union has only bargained with us for a total of 65 minutes since the strike began. And they haven't offered any proposals, counterproposals or been willing to seriously discuss at all key issues -- such as wages and pensions, health care benefits, performance bonuses or even overtime."
Shares of US West (USW) were trading up ½ at 51-9/16 Monday afternoon on the New York Stock Exchange.
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US West
CWA
NLRB
SNET
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