AT&T retirees picket during contract talks

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AT&T retirees picket during contract talks
Friday, June 19, 2009 Kalamazoo

KALAMAZOO -- Local AT&T union retirees carried picket signs Thursday in downtown Kalamazoo to try to draw attention to ongoing contract negotiations between the company and the Communication Workers of America.

Officials with CWA Local 4123 said there are concerns that retirees and workers could see reduced health-care and pension benefits.

``I earned it, and now they're going to try to take it from me?'' asked Leo Harris, a retiree who worked for AT&T for 31 years.

He was among about two dozen retirees who assembled in front of AT&T's call center at the corner of South Rose and Lovell streets from about 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Thursday.

But an AT&T spokesman said that retiree benefits are not part of the current contract negotiations.

``We take good care of our retirees and will continue to do so,'' Marty Richter, the spokesman, said in a written statement to the Kalamazoo Gazette.

AT&T's contract with the CWA expired April 4. AT&T officials have said that dealing with the rising cost of health-care coverage is a major component of the talks.

Paul Zak, regional vice president for the local union, said the union just wants a fair contract.

``We're not one of the Big Three (automakers),'' Zak said. ``We're making profits, and we're being treated like they're losing money.''

AT&T reported profits in 2008 of $12.9 billion.

Zak said all CWA-represented workers for AT&T, including about 430 in Kalamazoo, have continued working without a contract and plan to hold more informational pickets.

``Hopefully we'll get a fair contract,'' he said. ``That's all we're asking for.''

Richter said CWA-represented workers are in a part of AT&T's business -- wired voice services -- that is declining.