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3,300 Cingular Workers in District 9 Join CWA
Nearly 3,300 Cingular employees in District 9 became CWA members within a two-week period in October, bringing union benefits and job security to the workers.
"My congratulations to all of our new members and to the locals and staff that helped them organize," District 9 Vice President Tony Bixler said. "CWA President Larry Cohen has said it many times, and our success at Cingular clearly shows, that given the opportunity, free from employer intimidation and harassment, workers will choose CWA."
So far, 9,684 former AT&T Wireless employees at Cingular have organized with CWA in 2005 - most since early August, when CWA's cardcheck and neutrality agreement with Cingular went into effect after the two companies merged. The first group of former AT&T Wireless workers at Cingular - 278 customer service representative in Jackson, Miss. - organized with CWA in March.
When workers hear what union membership and a union contract can mean for them they are eager to join, though their reasons may vary.
"Equal treatment across the board makes a good working environment," said William Joseph, one of 23 technicians in Maryland who became a member in late September.
"Job security is the main reason I supported CWA," said Craig Widdowson, a Maryland retail sales representative. "When you work in a quota and commission-based environment, it's extremely important."
Family pride and a legacy of good wages and benefits has inspired others, such as Sam Satiago. He's one of 1,582 retail sales workers in stores across California who gained CWA representation Oct. 21, when the American Arbitration Association certified that a majority of the unit signed cards to join the union. "Union Yes!" Santiago exclaimed. "My father retired from SBC as a union member."
Strong employee committees supported by the coordinated efforts of 21 CWA locals were key in gaining representation for the retail employees.
Bixler said preparation and coordination made it possible for CWA to help the workers - spread out in 191 stores - build majority support.
Locals worked with the employees to identify leaders and to spread the word about CWA through flyers and conversations. The locals held weekly conference calls to share ideas and experiences.
In mid-October, 1,616 customer care representatives in three California call centers organized - 634 in Anaheim, 261 in Cerritos and 721 in Sacramento. Also 87 retail sales reps in Nevada gained recognition.
Hundreds more Cingular workers recently joined CWA in states including Arizona, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Utah and the District of Columbia.
"My congratulations to all of our new members and to the locals and staff that helped them organize," District 9 Vice President Tony Bixler said. "CWA President Larry Cohen has said it many times, and our success at Cingular clearly shows, that given the opportunity, free from employer intimidation and harassment, workers will choose CWA."
So far, 9,684 former AT&T Wireless employees at Cingular have organized with CWA in 2005 - most since early August, when CWA's cardcheck and neutrality agreement with Cingular went into effect after the two companies merged. The first group of former AT&T Wireless workers at Cingular - 278 customer service representative in Jackson, Miss. - organized with CWA in March.
When workers hear what union membership and a union contract can mean for them they are eager to join, though their reasons may vary.
"Equal treatment across the board makes a good working environment," said William Joseph, one of 23 technicians in Maryland who became a member in late September.
"Job security is the main reason I supported CWA," said Craig Widdowson, a Maryland retail sales representative. "When you work in a quota and commission-based environment, it's extremely important."
Family pride and a legacy of good wages and benefits has inspired others, such as Sam Satiago. He's one of 1,582 retail sales workers in stores across California who gained CWA representation Oct. 21, when the American Arbitration Association certified that a majority of the unit signed cards to join the union. "Union Yes!" Santiago exclaimed. "My father retired from SBC as a union member."
Strong employee committees supported by the coordinated efforts of 21 CWA locals were key in gaining representation for the retail employees.
Bixler said preparation and coordination made it possible for CWA to help the workers - spread out in 191 stores - build majority support.
Locals worked with the employees to identify leaders and to spread the word about CWA through flyers and conversations. The locals held weekly conference calls to share ideas and experiences.
In mid-October, 1,616 customer care representatives in three California call centers organized - 634 in Anaheim, 261 in Cerritos and 721 in Sacramento. Also 87 retail sales reps in Nevada gained recognition.
Hundreds more Cingular workers recently joined CWA in states including Arizona, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Utah and the District of Columbia.