AT&T union workers rally for contract

New Haven (AP) - Hundreds of AT&T workers staged rallies across the state Saturday, with job security and benefits as their main concerns.

Union workers are waiting for a new contract from their employer. They are looking for strong health benefits and increased wages, but so far no agreement has been reached.

Hundreds of communications workers rallied at several Connecticut AT&T locations today, including George Street in New Haven.

The workers' current deals are set to expire on April 4th.

Landline workers say they are concerned about their job security. AT&T says they've lost 21 percent of landline business as the company looks to expend wireless operations.

The workers are also concerned about potential changes to their health care benefits.

"AT&T has lost focus, is only looking at the bottom line, not about people," Communication Workers of America Local 1298 President Bill Henderson said. "It's all about greed, pure greed. How many billions can you make? They made thirteen billion this year. How many more billions can you take? Is enough enough? When's too much?"

In a statement AT&T spokesman Walt Sharp said:

"The landline business in which these employees work is a part of our business that is declining.

"We want to maintain good jobs with excellent wages and benefits, but we need a more market-based health plan structure in order to maintain competitiveness.

"While we are not anticipating a work stoppage, we are a customer-oriented company and we make plans to meet our customers' needs under any circumstances, be it a natural disaster or a work stoppage. "

The contract is set to expire next Saturday.

Henderson said a few things could happen: an agreement could be reached, the contract will become retroactive as negotiations continue, or there could be a work stoppage.

AT&T stock closed at $26 a share on Friday. It's 52-week high is $40.70.