Press Releases

The Communications Workers of America (CWA) today hailed the growing national outrage over taxpayer subsidies for corporations that send jobs off shore, as Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) introduced S.3402, a companion bill to the ?U.S. Call Center and Worker Protection Act? in the United States Senate. Among other provisions, the legislation would ban companies that off shore American call center jobs from receiving federal loans, grants or subsidies for five years.

The Communications Workers of America was successful in gaining Trade Adjustment Assistance benefits for up to 3,300 T-Mobile USA workers after the company closed seven call centers in June. The Department of Labor granted CWA?s petition and affirmed that because ?there has been an acquisition from a foreign country by the workers? firm of article/services that are like or directly competitive with those produced/supplied by the workers? firm,? workers should receive assistance. The TAA designation makes employees eligible for enhanced unemployment benefits, tuition assistance for job retraining programs and tax credits for family health insurance, among other benefits.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) is reiterating his intention to pursue meaningful rules reform in the U.S. Senate in light of the continued unprecedented obstruction from Senate Republicans. On the Ed Schultz radio show last Friday July 13th, Reid made a commitment to pursue Senate rules reform if the Democrats maintain control of the Senate and President Obama is re-elected, and also provided extensive rationale for his remarks.

The proposed deal between Verizon Wireless and the big cable companies will cost workers and communities 72,000 jobs, according to a new report by the Communications Workers of America.

Today, 32 members of the U.S. House of Representatives released a letter to Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski expressing concern about the proposed Verizon Wireless/Big Cable deal?s impact on consumers in their districts and across the country. The letter urges the FCC to ensure that the final agreement falls in line with the Telecommunications Act of 1996 by preserving a healthy level of competition in the industry. In its current form, the proposal would eliminate competition by allowing the companies to cross-market each other?s products?thereby killing or preventing the creation of thousands of jobs, deepening the digital divide between cities and wealthy suburbs, reducing consumer choice, and raising prices.