Close to 3,000 members of the Communication Workers of America across the country may strike the Sprint corporation today if the company does not compromise on raises and reduced subcontracting by a midday strike deadline. The workers in Oregon, Indiana, Tennessee, North Carolina and Florida are employed in the company's telecommunications division, providing local telephone service, bundled local, long distance and internet services, and information products and services. Members in each of the locations are covered by separate contracts, and contracts with CWA locals in Pitsburg, PA and Hickory, NC were settled over the weekend.
See "Sprint, union face Tuesday strike deadline in 5 states over local telephone operations", The Associated Press, San Francisco Chronicle, January 20, 2003