A strike may cause many AT&T cell phone retail stores across the nation, including one in Burlington, to temporarily close this weekend.
AT&T workers walked off the job Friday to protest a contract they have been negotiating for the past four months demanding the company give more benefits, higher pay and a reduction of offshore jobs, according to a press release from their union, Communications Workers of America.
As of 3 p.m., the company decided they may close stores for the weekend because they don’t have the employees to work, said Don Trementozzi, the union’s Local 1400 president.
“I think the company is testing us — they didn’t think we would strike,” Trementozzi said. “Hopefully this shows them we are united and we can get back to the bargaining table to negotiate a fair and equitable contract.”
They will be picketing over the weekend in many locations throughout the region including at the retail store on Church Street in Burlington.
They expect workers and members of the public at each location, Trementozzi said.
The is the first time AT&T workers have gone on strike, the release stated.
Since 2011, AT&T has eliminated 12,000 call center jobs in the U.S., while contracting with third-party vendors operating in countries with low wages, the release states.