AT&T Inc. (T) is putting the smack down on its union workers.
The carrier said Wednesday it is making its last and best offer to 27,000 employees who have been pushing back against AT&T’s efforts to reduce health care benefits, wages, pensions and 401(k) contributions. AT&T said it will increase pensions and wages and keep retirement account contributions, in addition to “above-market health care,” Reuters reported.
AT&T made the offer to the 9 percent of its Communications Workers of America (CWA) union workers whose contracts have expired; the employees are located in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas.
CWA officials said the AT&T offer is not good enough, calling it a step backwards.
AT&T, meanwhile, is continuing negotiations on contracts covering 80,500 of its 299,000 employees.