(THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA) - Communications Workers of America (CWA) District 9 Members rallied with community supporters in a show of solidarity with the AT&T and DirecTV Bargaining Teams.

The simultaneous rallies took place in Los Angeles and Sacramento with participants braving the rain in L.A. to make their voices heard.

These demonstrations came just days after a district-wide day of solidarity.

Members wore red, entered their workplaces as a unified group, and even turned their backs on management during morning briefings to show their determination.

At the Sacramento rally, which drew a crowd of 200 Members and supporters, CWA Area Director Lynn Johnson and CWA Local 9412 President Keith Gibbs addressed the crowd that gathered at Cesar Chavez Plaza.

The group then marched to an AT&T Central Office to picket.

In Los Angeles, CWA District 9 Vice President Frank Arce thanked the crowd of more than 300 for braving the rain and encouraged those in attendance to remain steadfast in their resolve to secure a new contract.

Other speakers at the Los Angeles rally included CWA Local 9400 President Maurice Washington, Local 9003 President Marisa Remski, Local 9505 President Omar Cervantes, Local 9416 President David Martinez, and Airline Flight Attendants (AFA)-CWA Secretary-Treasurer Dante Harris.

All echoed Arce’s call for unity and pledged CWA would not back down from a fight.

Despite having put forth numerous proposals during negotiations, the AT&T Bargaining Team is seeing little progress from the company, CWA Officials said.

Demonstrations of solidarity are energizing the Bargaining Team and shows the company that Workers are paying attention, they added.

Negotiations with DirecTV have been more productive as of late, especially when compared to the glacial pace of bargaining with AT&T, the Union said.

The CWA Bargaining Team has won some early concessions from DirecTV to include optional consecutive days off and is hopeful about other key points.

For both AT&T and DirecTV, Union Negotiators are urging workers to stay ready for escalation.

Both contracts will expire on Saturday (April 6th).