By Thomas Gryta; The Wall Street Journal ~ Aug 07, 2012

AT&T Inc. T -0.40% reached three-year agreements with unions covering more than 22,000 workers, but groups representing another 20,000 have formed picket lines out of frustration over talks with the giant telecom company.

Dallas-based AT&T came to “handshake” agreements with three groups that are part of the Communications Workers of America in the Southeast U.S., continuing its recent agreements with labor groups representing wireline workers. But the last groups are holding out and began striking Tuesday over claims of unfair labor practices and filing charges with the National Labor Relations Board.

AT&T spokesman Marty Richter said the company has been negotiating in “good faith” since February and is ready to return to the bargaining table.

“We don’t feel that a strike is in anyone’s best interest,” he said, noting that the workers on strike have jobs similar to those that have reached agreements in other regions. AT&T isn’t proposing to reduce wages or to take away benefits, he added, calling the workers “very well-compensated.”

Union officials weren’t immediately available to comment, but statements from the groups claim that AT&T is retaliating against union workers. Mr. Richter said the company complies with all labor laws.

The striking workers are comprised of more than 17,000 wireline employees in California and Nevada, and more than 3,000 in Connecticut. Their previous contracts expired in April.

Bill Henderson, president of CWA local 1298 in Connecticut, said in a video

posted to the union’s website that the strike would last two days. The group is asking the public and deliveries to not cross its picket lines.

“Just because the company is meeting with the union does not mean that they are bargaining with us,” he said. “Ultimately, our goal is to win.”

Regarding the picket lines Tuesday, Mr. Henderson said that “foul and derogatory language should be avoided at all times although the term ‘scab’ or ‘lousy scab’ is allowed.”

In a bulletin last week, the CWA district covering California, Hawaii and Nevada said it has filed charges against the company with the NLRB for retaliating against AT&T union workers.

AT&T said it has been planning for more than two years for such a strike and “has a substantial contingency workforce of well-trained managers and vendors in place.”

In the last month, AT&T has reached several separate agreements with unions covering about 48,000 wireline employees. The latest pacts with be submitted for union ratification and covers workers from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. The contract for the group expired Aug. 4.

The company had about 242,000 total workers at the end of June, according to a regulatory filing.

In general, the telecom carriers have seen their wireline businesses deteriorate as people depend more heavily on mobile devices and switch off their traditional land-based home phones.

AT&T rival Verizon Communications Inc. VZ -0.47% recently agreed to federal mediation with two labor unions as they attempt to reach a contract covering about 45,000 wireline workers at the telecom company.

Talks are ongoing between the two groups, according to a recent statement from the government agency overseeing the bargaining. The move to mediation came after almost a year of unsuccessful talks and volatile public statements from both parties.

Write to Thomas Gryta at thomas.gryta@dowjones.com