Updated: The Communications Workers of America and AT&T agreed to extend a contract covering Southwest Mobility workers to 11:59 p.m. on Feb. 22 to allow additional time for negotiations. The contract was to have expired at midnight Feb. 21.

***

Thousands of unionized AT&T workers in Texas have authorized a strike if the Communications Workers of America union can’t reach a new contract with the Dallas-based media and telecommunications company.

The contract, which expires Friday, covers retail workers, call center customer service representatives and technicians. Union members voted 98% in favor of giving its union authority to strike.

Bargaining over a new contract between CWA-represented employees and AT&T has been ongoing since Feb. 4. CWA’s 8,000 Southwest Mobility workers account for roughly 3% of the company, according to AT&T. They span Texas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Kansas and Arkansas and nearly half of the workers are in Texas.

The authorization vote doesn’t necessarily mean workers will strike. But in August, 20,000 AT&T workers went on strike in nine states across the southeastern U.S. protesting what union leaders described as unfair labor practices in contract negotiations.

“AT&T Mobility workers in the Southwest are not afraid to do whatever it takes to make sure that the company invests in its employees so that we can build and support the next generation networks that our communities need,” CWA staff representative Jason Vellmer said in a statement. “We have made progress toward a fair contract over the last few days, but several critical issues remain unresolved."

Union leaders weren’t immediately available Thursday to discuss the sticking points. Union negotiators have said they’re seeking wage and benefit increases and “a commitment to keeping good, family-supporting jobs in the region.”

AT&T spokesman Jim Kimberly, in a statement to The Dallas Morning News, called the strike authorization vote “a routine, not unexpected step in negotiations of this sort.”

“We’re continuing to bargain with the union, and we’re committed to reaching a fair agreement that will allow us to continue to provide solid union-represented jobs with competitive wages and benefits," he said. "We’re confident an agreement will be reached.”

Job cuts at AT&T have been a particular point of concern for CWA. AT&T has cut more than 37,000 jobs since the Trump administration’s tax cuts took effect in 2018, according to the union.

In its latest quarterly results, AT&T reported it has 4,040 fewer employees than three months earlier. The company had 247,800 employees at the end of 2019.

CWA also reiterated its concern about activist investor Elliott Management’s influence over AT&T’s operations. The New York hedge fund bought a $3.2 billion position in AT&T in September and issued a four-part plan to boost the company’s stock price above $60 by the end of 2021.

“Elliott is pushing AT&T to extract profits from the company by eliminating jobs, outsourcing work, and divesting critical assets,” according to CWA.