Union Backs Cingular Bid for AT&T; Wireless

Cingular Wireless, the second-largest U.S. mobile-telephone company, received support from the Communications Workers of America union for its attempts to acquire AT&T; Wireless Services Inc.

The CWA, which represents 700,000 industry workers, urged members and retirees who hold AT&T; Wireless shares to support a sale to Cingular. CWA members include employees of Cingular and its parents, SBC Communications Inc. and BellSouth Corp.

SBC and BellSouth have made an offer of $11 a share, or about $30 billion, to acquire Redmond, Wash.-based AT&T; Wireless, which has asked potential buyers to submit bids by Friday.

Shares of AT&T; Wireless, the No. 3 U.S. wireless carrier, slipped 5 cents to $11.25. Atlanta-based BellSouth rose 26 cents to $30.21 and San Antonio-based SBC gained 29 cents to $25.94. All are traded on the NYSE.