Mississippi members of the Communications Workers of America are continuing their strike after the union entered federal mediation with AT&T Wednesday..

The strike began last Friday after contract negotiations between the union and the company stalled. The Communications Workers of America accuses AT&T of not bargaining in good faith. This included sending representatives who did not have the authority to bargain to the negotiating table. They also filed an unfair labor practice complaint against AT&T.

Over 17,000 CWA members are on strike across nine states in the Southeast. In Mississippi, strikers set up pickets across the state.

“Everybody wants to work for an employer that’s fair,” said Jermaine Travis, the local president of the Mississippi Communications Workers of America and a facility technician. “Everybody wants to be treated with respect in every regard in terms of how we’re paid, in terms of our health care, that’s it basically.”

AT&T has denied the CWA’s accusations.In a statement, it said “We’re disappointed that union leaders would call for a strike at this point in the negotiations, rather than directing their energies toward constructive discussions at the bargaining table. This action needlessly jeopardizes the wages and well-being of our employees.”

Since then, the union has also accused AT&T of creating a safety hazard by sending undertrained managers and contractors to work on repairs. They claim union members have seen safety violations at these work zones.

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