AT&T; says 20,000 workers begin strike

AT&T; Inc, the largest U.S phone company, said 20,000 employees represented by the Communications Workers of America have begun a strike on the East and West Coast.

The West contract covers more than 17,000 wireline employees in California and Nevada, while the East contract covers more than 3,000 in Connecticut, AT&T; said today in a statement.

Separately, AT&T; reached a tentative agreement with the CWA in contract negotiations for more than 22,000 land-line employees in the southeastern U.S.

The company forged a deal with workers in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee, according to statement from the carrier today. The three contracts will be submitted to the CWA’s membership for a ratification vote, Dallas-based AT&T; said.

The new three-year agreement, which replaces a contract that was set to expire on Aug. 9, includes wage increases in each year and “modest” pension increases, AT&T; said. The company reached an agreement with Midwest employees last month.