Groundbreaking AT&T Wireless Agreement Extends Gender Identity Protections to Tens of Thousands of Workers

In a precedent-setting tentative agreement covering 21,000 AT&T wireless workers, in addition to curbing outsourcing and raising pay, workers have won the widest-reaching protections for transgender employees of any telecom industry contract.

The tentative agreement provides the first-ever enforceable protections against discrimination based on gender identity in 16 states where no statewide non-discrimination law covering this category exists—proving the power of union bargaining in addressing workplace discrimination in all forms. Many of these states have laws in place allowing companies to terminate employees for their gender identity or expression.

"We stand in solidarity and unity with LGBTQ members of the CWA family. Their fight for equality and a workplace free of discrimination and harassment is our fight too and we are proud to carry the torch on their behalf," said Dennis G. Trainor, Vice President, CWA District One.

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