Union Oks Strike If At&T; Talks Falter

The executive board of a union representing 90,000 workers at AT&T Corp. gave permission Monday for its president to call a strike at any time.

“We’re one step closer” to a strike, said Jeffrey Miller, spokesman for the Communication Workers of America. “I think it reflects our frustration.”

Company and union negotiators met during the weekend but talks were suspended Monday because CWA negotiators had a prior commitment, Miller said.

The talks cover about 90,000 CWA members and an additional 20,000 represented by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. The unions are bargaining jointly to renegotiate the three-year contract that expired May 27. Members of both unions have continued working under a contract extension.

Both sides were scheduled to meet again today.