SBC workers ready to strike

Mike Kollar tried to stay focused on the task at hand on Tuesday but he could not help but wonder if he would be working for the rest of the week.

"I've heard a few people say they would be very, very concerned and upset if we do have a work stoppage,"he said.

Health care costs and union member access to technical jobs of the future are keeping both sides far apart on the issues and contract negotiations.

"As of 1p.m. tomorrow all the contracts across the country will expire," said Local 1298 President Paul Hongo,"... what that means is that if we choose, we will continue to work under the existing terms and conditions but it also means ... all of us could walk out."

SBC insists that customers would not notice a difference in service. They say they have trained managers and executives to handle work on the front lines. Union members insist that service would suffer.

Carmine Bracale, an employee of SBC for 9 years, is mapping out a back-up plan. He says knowing the latest on the negotiations would help.

"The little we do find out is from management and they're kind of in the dark too, so we don't know what the plan is really going to be," said Bracale.

"Everybody's frustrated, anxiety levels are high, emotions are running high and what we are trying to do is just pump out the information as soon as we get it,"said Hongo.

The local union leadership says there is not much more they can do so they are waiting for word from Washington D.C., where the negotiations are taking place.