Approximately 100,000 SBC Communications Inc. workers went on strike early Friday to protest the local-phone company's latest contract offer. Negotiations have been in progress for three months and SBC officials say that if the workers do not accept the contact by Monday, they will take their latest offer off the table. The main issues in contract talks revolve around health care payments and outsourcing.
See "SBC Workers Start Strike Over Health Care", T.A. Badger, Chicago Tribune, May 20, 2004