MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- More than 17,000 AT & T workers in nine states across the Southeast are on strike after accusing the company of unfair labor practices during contract negotiations this summer.

The Communications Workers of America — the union representing the striking workers — said employees walked off the job Friday. They are protesting AT & T’s failure to negotiate in good faith. Workers have been trying to reach a new agreement since June. The labor organization said AT & T has not sent representatives to the bargaining table with the power to make decisions. They also claim the company has gone back on promises made during negotiations.

“Our union has been negotiating in good faith to reach a fair contract. However, we have encountered company representatives who cannot explain their own proposals and do not seem to have the authority to actually negotiate. This violates the legal obligation to bargain in good faith,” Richard Honeycutt, vice president of CWA District 3 in the Southeast, said in a statement.

The strike includes AT & T technicians, customer service representatives and others who install, maintain and support AT & T’s residential and business wireline telecommunications network. It involves workers in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee

The union said it filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board alleging unfair labor practices.

AT & T denied the union’s accusations.

“CWA’s claims of unfair labor practices are unfounded. We have been engaging in meaningful bargaining since the beginning and are eager to reach an agreement that benefits our hard-working employees,” the company said in an emailed statement. AT & T said it has reached three separate agreements this year covering more than 13,000 employees.

The labor union on Monday also accused AT & T of “assigning inadequately prepared supervisors and subcontractors to handle complex tasks” during the work stoppage. AT & T stated it has “various contingency plans in place to prevent disruptions to operations and will continue to provide our customers with the high-quality service they anticipate.”