CWA Sues AT&T For “Corporate Shell Game” To Avoid Contractual Obligations

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.laborradio.org/node/9850

The Communication Workers of America have filed suit against AT&T for what the union says is a “corporate shell game” to avoid contractual obligations. Jesse Russell reports:

The papers against AT&T were filed in last week and ask the court to order AT&T to “cease and desist” violations of contracts between the company and members. The suit lists a number of offenses including the use of internal reorganization on the heels of a number of mergers that allow the company to reassign workers and alter previously negotiated benefits agreed to under former companies absorbed by AT&T. The suit asks the court to file an injunction against AT&T that would make the company honor and respect previously existing contracts. Some of the companies that have been absorbed include SBC, Bell South, and Ameritech. Nearly 180,000 AT&T workers are represented by the CWA. The company has called the allegations unsubstantiated and plans to mount an “aggressive defense.”