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1,000 Cingular, Delaware State Workers Choose CWA
Some go through cardcheck. Where that's not possible, others do it the old fashioned way, through an election. But regardless of method, workers across the land continue to choose CWA representation in large numbers: 934 Cingular call center employees were certified by the American Arbitration Association on Nov. 4., and just one day earlier 113 Delaware State Police civilian employees overwhelmingly voted to join the union in a Public Employee Relations Board election.
Key issues for Cingular call center workers in Bothell, Wash., include addressing the pace and volume of call processing and having access to the better health care plan that unionized Cingular workers enjoy.
"The difference we'd have to pay for the non-union health care plan actually covers most of the cost of our union dues," said Carolyn Frisk, a customer care representative. "And, if you have more than one person on your plan, it more than covers the cost of our dues."
The Bothell call center is a Business Markets Group location, where more than 900 workers signed cards to join thousands of other former AT&T Wireless workers in CWA. They will be represented by WashTech/CWA Local 37083 in Seattle.
Local President Marcus Courtney, Vice President Todd Tollefson and Staff Organizers Karen Estevenin, Craig Gamble and Dan Gillespie worked tirelessly with a committee of workers to sign up their colleagues in cafeterias and break rooms and in leafleting outside the call center.
Other local organizers from around District 7 - including Jeanne Carpenter and Michelle Garza from Local 7901 in Portland and Gerald Haskell from Local 7704 in Salt Lake City - helped in a blitz of more than 300 home visits over the weekend of the campaign.
In Delaware, assisted by District 13 Organizing Coordinator Pam Tronsor and Local 13101 Executive Vice President Frank Santore, State Police civilian employees at nine locations across the state built their union.
They learned about the benefits of a union contract from state 911 workers already represented by the local. The Delaware State Troopers, who have their own association, allowed the civilian employees to use their hall for meetings. Local 13101 Division Vice President Bob Hairgrove set up a website for the workers, where he posted meeting notices and their mission statement.
Others who worked on the campaign include Local 13101 President Bud Speakman, Division Vice Presidents Jim Hummel and Bob Hairgrove, and CWA Representative Jim Byrne.
When mail-in ballots were counted, the workers had voted 69-11 to join CWA, with one ballot voided.
Key issues for Cingular call center workers in Bothell, Wash., include addressing the pace and volume of call processing and having access to the better health care plan that unionized Cingular workers enjoy.
"The difference we'd have to pay for the non-union health care plan actually covers most of the cost of our union dues," said Carolyn Frisk, a customer care representative. "And, if you have more than one person on your plan, it more than covers the cost of our dues."
The Bothell call center is a Business Markets Group location, where more than 900 workers signed cards to join thousands of other former AT&T Wireless workers in CWA. They will be represented by WashTech/CWA Local 37083 in Seattle.
Local President Marcus Courtney, Vice President Todd Tollefson and Staff Organizers Karen Estevenin, Craig Gamble and Dan Gillespie worked tirelessly with a committee of workers to sign up their colleagues in cafeterias and break rooms and in leafleting outside the call center.
Other local organizers from around District 7 - including Jeanne Carpenter and Michelle Garza from Local 7901 in Portland and Gerald Haskell from Local 7704 in Salt Lake City - helped in a blitz of more than 300 home visits over the weekend of the campaign.
In Delaware, assisted by District 13 Organizing Coordinator Pam Tronsor and Local 13101 Executive Vice President Frank Santore, State Police civilian employees at nine locations across the state built their union.
They learned about the benefits of a union contract from state 911 workers already represented by the local. The Delaware State Troopers, who have their own association, allowed the civilian employees to use their hall for meetings. Local 13101 Division Vice President Bob Hairgrove set up a website for the workers, where he posted meeting notices and their mission statement.
Others who worked on the campaign include Local 13101 President Bud Speakman, Division Vice Presidents Jim Hummel and Bob Hairgrove, and CWA Representative Jim Byrne.
When mail-in ballots were counted, the workers had voted 69-11 to join CWA, with one ballot voided.