| May
19, 2006
CWA told Comcast Corp. shareholders at the company's annual
meeting in Philadelphia that Comcast was treating them as
badly as it treated workers who wanted a union voice.
CWA Local 6150 President Larry Ihfe attended the meeting
with three Comcast employees from Farmers Branch, Tex., near
Dallas. The workers had voted for CWA representation nearly a
year ago but Comcast is dragging its feet in bargaining.
"We finally got Comcast to the bargaining table in
November, but the company is refusing to respond to our
proposals. In fact, one Comcast official actually told us that
the company has no intention of reaching a contract settlement
before the operations are shifted to Time Warner this summer.
That's not good faith bargaining, that's a disgrace," Ihfe
told shareholders.
But Comcast isn't treating its shareholders much better,
Ihfe said.
He asked shareholders to support a CWA-sponsored proposal
that called for a "one-share-one-vote" structure for all
Comcast outstanding stock. "This is the basis of good
governance and democracy in the United States, but Comcast
doesn't see things this way," he said. Ihfe pointed out that
Comcast CEO Brian Roberts owns just slightly more than 1
percent of shares outstanding, but holds one-third of the
voting power. "This means shareholders who are taking the
actual investment risk have their vote diluted by CEO
Roberts," he noted.
Ihfe also called on shareholders to stand with workers who
want fairness from their company, and told them that the three
Farmers Branch employees with him were taking a big risk,
given Comcast's track record for harassing and firing union
supporters. "Let Comcast know that you support fair treatment
for employees," he urged.
Fairness was the theme of a candlelight vigil held the
evening before the meeting, sponsored by the Philadelphia
Interfaith Coalition and the International Brotherhood of
Electrical Workers. Religious and community leaders and
workers spotlighted Comcast's abuse of workers' rights.
A petition signed by clergy members from many faiths
calling on Roberts to affirm workers' human rights was
delivered during the annual meeting.
CWA members at Avaya voted overwhelmingly to authorize a
strike if a fair contract cannot be reached. The current
contract expires May 27, and the parties remain far apart on
critical issues for CWA workers, including jobs and health
care, said CWA Vice President Ralph Maly, communications and
technologies.
Members voted for the strike authorization by a
96 percent vote.
CWAers stepped up their mobilization actions this week,
with demonstrations at FedEx Kinko's, where some Avaya workers
directly report to work, and other outlets. Local 7777 members
wore black from head to toe mourning the loss of quality
customer service due to Avaya's policies.
And across the call centers, workers suffered strong
reactions to Avaya's unacceptable health care proposals. In
Atlanta, Oklahoma City, Florida and other locations, workers
used bandages, crutches and aspirin packets and in many call
centers had loud and prolonged periods of sneezing and
coughing during the workday.
CWA represents about 2,900 workers at Avaya, with another
600 represented by the International Brotherhood of Electrical
Workers.
Shelby Nash is one of a new breed of CWA steward, a union
builder who reaches out beyond her bargaining unit to bring
new members into her local. Just recently elected a steward,
she immediately volunteered as an organizer and took the lead
in signing up the entire Delaware retail unit of 49 Cingular
Wireless workers. The American Arbitration Association
certified representation on May 11.
Working with District 13 Organizing Coordinator Pam
Tronsor, Nash spoke to workers at nine Cingular stores across
the state and followed up with small group meetings and
one-on-one conversations to answer their questions.
"She has tremendous energy and enthusiasm," Tronsor said.
"It's amazing she had just gotten involved in the union and
got more involved through organizing — and now wants to do
more."
Nash said better health care benefits were a big incentive
for the Cingular workers to join CWA. "It was a win-win
situation, but still they had a lot of questions," Nash said.
"My task was mainly getting them to that point where they had
confidence in what they were signing up for."
Bringing union representation to others is "very, very
important," she said. "Organizing strengthens us as a union,
and I came away from the campaign feeling a lot more certain
about my role. It just validates you across the board."
Nash, 31, has worked for Verizon for seven years. She
started her steward's work Jan. 1, while working and
completing a bachelor's degree in psychology at Wilmington
College.
The Cingular campaign increased Local 13100's membership
from about 160 to 210 members, a gain of 31 percent.
CWA, overall, has now organized 16,632 former AT&T
Wireless workers, 75.5 percent of those eligible, including:
6,835, or 98 percent, in customer care; 6,071, or 65 percent
in retail sales; 3,330, or 95 percent, in business; 360, or 25
percent, in network, and 36 in other titles.
CWA members at Alltel in Kentucky, forced to strike for a
fair contract three years ago, ratified a new agreement that
raises wages and protects most of their health care
benefits.
The 350 workers, members of Locals 3371 and 3372, will
receive a 3 percent raise in each year of the three-year pact,
which is effective June 8, along with a $500 ratification
bonus. Through the end of 2008, the company will continue to
pay 85 percent of health care premiums; Alltel will then lower
its share to 80 percent.
Retiree health care, one of the key issues that led to the
four-week strike in 2003, was a very contentious issue, said
Bob Richhart, assistant to CWA Telecommunications Vice
President Jimmy Gurganus.
Richhart said workers were forced to accept some additional
health care cost shifting for future retirees — those retiring
after May 31, 2009.
Under a merger pending with Valor Communications, Alltel's
landline operations will become a new company, called
Windstream Corp., during the course of the contract. Alltel's
wireless business will be a separate company. CWA is expecting
a decision from the Kentucky Public Utility Commission in June
regarding limitations the union is seeking in regard to the
split.
In addition to the Kentucky pact, CWA has 13 on-going
contracts with Alltel in seven other states — Pennsylvania,
Nebraska, Ohio, South Carolina, North Carolina, Florida and
Mississippi.
- The National Mediation Board will send voting
materials to 9,300 Northwest Airlines flight attendants
beginning June 8, with the representation vote to be counted
July 6. Voting will be conducted through a
telephone process.
More than 5,000 flight attendants
at Northwest have indicated that they want AFA-CWA
representation. Under the NMB process, 50 percent plus one
of the unit must vote in favor of the union. Those who
don't vote are counted as "no" votes.
- Sen. Max Baucus of Montana signed on this week
as a cosponsor of the Employee Free Choice Act, joining 41
other U.S. Senate Democrats and one Republican, Pennsylvania
Sen. Arlen Specter, in supporting the bill.
The bill provides for cardcheck recognition in union
organizing drives and first contract arbitration if the
parties are unable to reach an agreement. In the Senate,
only two Democrats have not yet signed on, Kent Conrad
(D-N.D.), and Ben Nelson (D-Neb.). In the House, there are
216 co-sponsors.
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