Texas Dish Workers Vote CWA in Two Elections

Workers at two Dish Network locations in Texas won CWA Local 6171 representation in spite of management's illegal efforts to intimidate them.

The 103 network technicians and warehouse employees in Farmers Branch and North Richland Hills voted for CWA in separate elections. CWA District 6 Vice President Andy Milburn said local organizers helped workers build strong inside committees and stay united.

The Farmers Branch campaign got underway when Dish cut hourly pay for some workers by $13 an hour and changed the pay system for all workers. Three-quarters of the workers signed a public statement supporting union representation, and workers voted 25-19 for CWA Local 6171.

Trying to intimidate the workers, management challenged every vote during the election. Local organizer Tony Shaffer helped workers stick together and face down management's threats. Shaffer is a cable tech who helped organize co-workers when he worked at AT&T Broadband and Comcast.

The 53 workers at the North Richland Hills office voted 33-16 for CWA, hours after the first election. Key to the victory were workers' unity and that three-quarters of the workers signed the public support statement.

Local 6171 organizers Shaffer and Jody Wilborn, Local President Allen Whitaker and Executive Vice President Milton Grant, District 6 staff representatives Jerrell Miller and Guy Stewart, and District 6 organizing coordinator Sandy Rusher all supported the workers' campaign.