(Reuters) -The Communications Workers of America (CWA) have informed AT&T and the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service that it would no longer be a part of the mediation, it said in a statement on Monday.

"The company was using the mediation process as another delaying tactic," said CWA District 3 Vice President Richard Honeycutt.

More than 17,000 Workers represented by the CWA union, which include technicians, customer service representatives, and others who install, maintain, and support AT&T's residential and business wireline telecommunications network, remain on strike which began last month.

"Regardless of whether a neutral third-party is present, progress will not be made without a willingness to compromise," an AT&T spokesperson said in a statement to Reuters late on Monday.

The telecom operator also said it will remain prepared for all contingencies to ensure smooth services to its customers.

(Reporting by Abhinav Parmar in Bengaluru; Editing by Sandra Maler)