WILMINGTON, NC (WECT) – WECT received multiple reports of phone service outages from residents in southeastern North Carolina beginning Thursday, August 22nd.

AT&T issued the following statement on Friday:

“We are working as quickly as possible to restore internet service to customers in the Wilmington area after a contractor damaged our fiber optic line. We thank our customers for their patience while repairs are made.”

Since Friday evening, customers have reported that service has been restored.

Meanwhile, more than 17,000 Communications Workers of America employees went on strike at AT&T Southeast last week.

The CWA said on August 22 that AT&T had refused to negotiate on mandatory issues and that the company had not sent a representative with decision-making authority despite negotiations that began in late June. At the same time, AT&T had used unqualified subcontractors to keep the network running, according to the CWA.

“I have been in close contact with Richard Honeycutt, CWA Third District Vice President, and have complete confidence in our bargaining team. I have told AT&T executives that the striking workers and the bargaining team have my full support. I expect AT&T to treat each member with respect and to send representatives to the bargaining table who have negotiating authority and who are serious and willing to negotiate in good faith,” CWA President Claude Cummings Jr. said in a statement.

On August 23, AT&T stated that the CWA’s allegations of bad faith negotiations were false and that the CWA’s goal was to reach a fair settlement that recognized the workers’ work.

“We are trying to reach an agreement in the Southeast and know that only constructive dialogue will ultimately lead to success. At our invitation, a federal mediator has sat down at the negotiating table so that there is no doubt about the seriousness of our words and actions on this critical issue,” AT&T said in a statement.

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