By Myra Bean

Panola County Communication Workers of America (CWA) joined their 20,000 plus co-workers and members across nine southeastern states to picket the treatment of AT&T Monday morning.

The walkout will last through Wednesday at 9 a.m. The union members are waiting on AT&T to come to the table and talk about unfair labor practices and company insurance its representatives said.

Spokesperson James Cargile said, “AT&T got a tax break for jobs but they have taken jobs from us instead.”

Steven Gorin, a 21-year employee, spoke about the company’s health insurance. “They are taking more away and giving us nothing,” he said.

Employees carried signs that said Honk 4 Workers, AT&T Unfair Labor Practices and CWA on Strike.

WSAV News channel 3 in Savannah, Ga., quoted an AT&T spokesperson who said they are working with CWA leaders to resolve this walk out issue.

“A strike is in no one’s best interest…our bargaining team is negotiating this contract with CWA leaders in the same way we have successfully done with other CWA contracts over the years,” the unnamed spokesperson said.

Savannah local CWA president Robert Fordham accused AT&T of not sending someone to the bargaining table who can actually make decisions regarding contract. Fordham is also concerned about the AT&T customers not being served.

“The biggest thing is that our customers are going to suffer the most out of this because we are not on the trucks every day and our boots aren’t on the ground,” said Fordham. “So that’s our biggest downfall and these guys, we love our customers.”

News Channel 3 said the company went on to say they are prepared for the strike and will continue working hard to serve customers.