Sacramento,CA – The 15,000 workers at AT&T West, members of the Communications Workers of America, will work without a contract as their collective bargaining agreement expired at midnight.

“We’re going to continue fighting for a fair contract while we stay on the job,” said CWA District 9 Vice President Tom Runnion. “For weeks we have called on AT&T West to get serious about bargaining and negotiate a fair agreement for its workers. Our members showed their determination to achieve a fair contract with over 95% voting to authorize a strike if necessary. That remains an option,” Runnion said.

Negotiations cover workers at AT&T West in California and Nevada.

AT&T is a very profitable company and its $49 billion purchase of DirecTV closed last July. However, in bargaining for the workers who have helped make it successful, AT&T is demanding outrageous concessions.