T-Mobile Workers Rally to Keep Good Jobs in Kansas

Workers tell T-Mobile that they're standing together.

Below: In the middle of a snowstorm, AFT and CWA members encourage T-Mobile not to outsource good union jobs. Photo by American Federation of Teachers-Kansas.

Workers in Kansas expect better.

This past weekend, CWA 6402 joined forces with AFT, Sunflower Community Action and Interfaith Worker Justice at a rally outside of T-Mobile USA's call center in Wichita, Kan. Their goal: Preserve the call center's 350 jobs.

The FCC recently approved the merger between T-Mobile and MetroPCS, the country's respective fourth and fifth largest wireless providers. The concern is that both companies will continue their destructive business practice of sending jobs overseas. CWA has been fighting to keep good jobs at home ever since T-Mobile closed seven call centers last summer, displacing more than 3,300 workers. And MetroPCS currently outsources 100 percent of its customer care, billing, payment processing and logistics operations.

CWA Local 6402's Tammy Chaffee, T-Mobile employee Josh Coleman, Sunflower Community Action Executive Director Sulma Arias and Rev. David Hansen, who runs the Kansas chapter of Interfaith Worker Justice, all addressed the crowd.

And despite the sleet and snow, dozens of protesters turned out to wave signs that read "Stand Up, Be Heard" and "Organize Now."

"People were really enthusiastic and I know it caught the attention of T-Mobile," said Chaffee.

This week, CWA launched a new video series "Voices of T-Mobile Workers." Watch T-Mobile workers discuss working conditions and why they are joining together for justice and respect.