AT&T makes final offer to striking CWA union by Reuters

(Reuters) – Telecom operator AT&T (NYSE: ) has presented its final offer to the Communications Workers of America bargaining committee, the union said on Thursday, adding that the proposal fell short of its expectations.

The CWA union said the proposal was made on Wednesday and made a counteroffer later in the day.

The union said it was the first time the company had presented a “full economic package”.

More than 17,000 company employees, including technicians and customer service representatives and others who install, maintain and support AT&T’s residential and business cable telecommunications network, went on strike last month to protest unfair practices of work.

“We made a strong final bid to CWA District 3 in the Southeast. We believe this offer, if accepted, would provide our employees with a competitive market-based wage that exceeds expected inflation,” Jeff McElfresh, AT&T’s chief operating officer, told Reuters. in a statement.

The company is also offering to increase its financial contributions to employee health and wellness by up to 25 percent per year, McElfresh added.

The union notified AT&T and the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service on Monday that it would no longer be part of the mediation process, calling it another “delay tactic.”