CWA strike deadline nears: BellSouth, Bell Atlantic, U S West affected

Three Bell regional holding companies are facing possible strikes this week if negotiations fail with the Communications Workers of America.

BellSouth and Bell Atlantic had contracts with the CWA that expired Aug. 8. The U S West contract expires Aug. 15. The contracts cover more than half of the employees at each of the three companies (see figure).

The union is looking for better wages and benefits, in line with the RHCs' improved businesses. The union also wants the companies to hire more workers and to eliminate, or at least cut down, forced overtime.

According to the union, BellSouth cut 27% of its work force between 1984 and 1997, while U S West eliminated 17% and Bell Atlantic cut 15%.

"They've gone to mandated overtime so they don't have to pay benefits," said a CWA spokesman.

The union also wants to get into the RHCs' non-unionized business units, including wireless, Internet and other new services

Officials from the RHCs classified the strike votes as union posturing and expected to reach contract agreements before any labor action was taken. All declined to discuss the specifics of the negotiations.

During the last round of negotiations three years ago, CWA settled with five of the seven RHCs at contract expiration.

The two exceptions were Bell Atlantic and Nynex, which are now one company. Nynex settled with CWA early, while CWA workers went five months without a contract at Bell Atlantic.

"They wanted us to strike, so we didn't," the CWA spokesman said. "They wanted a contract that was outside the 'pattern' [similar to those with other RHCs]. We took several inside actions. We eventually settled for a contract that was within the pattern."