BROOKHAVEN — Red shirts, picket lines and vehicles honking on Monticello Street accompanied a local protest Monday morning. The protestors stood across the road from First Baptist Church of Brookhaven protesting alleged unfair labor practices by AT&T amidst contract negotiations. 

Tony Clements said the protest was called by Communications Workers of America in District 3. The union and AT&T are in the middle of a contract bargaining dispute. 

Protests are ongoing by CWA District 3 in Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina and Puerto Rico. According to CWA’s bargaining report published Monday morning, the union and company are at odds over wages, healthcare benefits, pensions and 401K savings plans. 

Both parties accuse each other of not bargaining in good faith. Clements said all of the protestors out Monday morning are local. 

“We just want to be able to work and provide services to our customers,” Clements said. 

Signs held by Clements and others on Monticello Street state “Honk if you support workers,” and “Fighting for the middle class.” Protestors are also set up at the AT&T work center on Brookman Drive.