Showdown Looms In Phone Talks At&T;, Unions Remain Far Apart As Deadline Approaches

AT&T Corp. and two unions representing about 110,000 workers face a midnight contract deadline, and both sides acknowledge critical issues remain unresolved.

Although AT&T spokesman Herb Linnen said he believes both sides want to avoid a strike, the company has taken precautions to ensure that “high quality service” continues in any emergency.

“A great deal of the service we provide is automated and most people dial their calls directly,” he noted. “However, in cases where an operator would be involved, we would staff that position with a management person if a strike were to occur.”

“We’re still very far apart on the major issues in these talks,” said James Irvine, vice president of the Communications Workers of America, which is negotiating jointly with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.

Although talks began April 3, both sides said unresolved issues include wages and pensions, employment security and union access to jobs in AT&T units currently outside its jurisdiction.

“It’s fair to say a number of critical issues still have to be resolved,” said Linnen.

“But we remain confident that the company and the CWA and IBEW can reach an agreement that is fair to AT&T and to its union employees,” he added.

The CWA’s 90,000 AT&T members have voted to authorize union President Morton Bahr to call a strike if a new agreement is not reached by 11:59 p.m. EDT today, when the current three-year contract expires.

About 3,000 IBEW telephone operations members also have authorized a strike and the union said its 17,000 manufacturing members are prepared to vote quickly if needed.

In addition to long-distance assistance, union members provide other services ranging from manufacturing, installing and repairing equipment to business, sales and various support functions.

Linnen said average wages range from $807 a week for equipment installers to $435 for account representatives.

The current contract could be extended beyond the deadline if progress is being made, which occurred during the last negotiations in 1992. The last nationwide strike against AT&T occurred in 1986 and lasted about a month.