AT&T talks continue; workers may walk out

NEW YORK – About 40,000 AT&T landline workers are staying on the job this week without a contract, their union said Sunday.

The workers’ contracts expired over the weekend, raising the possibility of a strike. But the Communications Workers of America and AT&T Inc. said that they’ll keep working on a new deal.

CWA spokeswoman Candice Johnson said union representatives met with AT&T on Sunday after talks ended late Saturday. She doesn’t know how long it will take to reach an agreement.

“Everyone wants to get this done soon,” Johnson said.

The employees, meanwhile, will continue to receive the same wages and benefits as before. If negotiations break down, they still have the option to call for a walkout.

AT&T spokesman Marty Richter also said talks were ongoing. He said earlier that the company has been planning for the possibility for a strike for two years, and managers and vendors will step in to keep service running if there is one.