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ELLETTSVILLE - Before and after work most weekdays, 20 to 30 Smithville telecommunications union workers are standing with signs outside their workplace letting people know they aren't happy.

The workers, members of Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 4818, are construction workers who install underground internet fiber.

They're in the midst of an informational picketing campaign, CWA Local 4818 vice president Steve Frazo said. The purpose is to let Smithville managers know they're serious about demands for higher wages to compensate for increased healthcare insurance premiums and inflation.

"They're showing the company that they all are united together on this," Frazo said Thursday afternoon. "With everyone doing it, it's showing the company they are serious."

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Frazo said bargaining teams from both sides meet each morning for updates and discussion.

The contract Smithville had with the group of union workers expired a few months ago, but they agreed to an extension to negotiate for better pay and lower health insurance costs.

Local 4818 represents about 250 people employed in the telecommunications field, Frazo said, including 25 to 30 at Smithville. Frazo works for AT&T, which has about 180 employees in the union.

Not all of Smithville's construction and cable splicing workers are union members. Just 25 to 30 are, all men except for one woman, Julie Wrightsman.

"What it boils down to is health insurance costs are going up and the company is trying to put more of the burden on our members," Frazo said. "The premiums are going up more than their pay is going up, so they're wanting to get better wages to balance that out. And they want a pay increase to cover inflation as well."

He said the union workers' pay range fluctuates, depending on experience and training. "The top-paid members are close to $30 an hour, and it goes down from there."

He said some union workers at Smithville allege the company values non-union workers who they say are treated better than those who pay union dues.

"The guys, and gal, feel like they are getting left behind," Frazo said. "This has never happened at Smithville before."

The picketing on Ind. 46 at the entrance to the Smithville headquarters starts most mornings at 7:15 and ends after 45 minutes when the workday begins. Workers return around 4:30 for an hour or so; they take Thursdays off, Frazo said.

Erica Dooley-Dorocke, Smithville's vice president, oversees marketing and media inquiries. She didn't return a call from the H-T Thursday to respond to the job action and explain the company's stance.

Contact Herald-Times reporter Laura Lane at llane@heraldt.com or 812-318-5967.

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Smithville telecommunications union workers picketing for pay hike - The Herald-Times