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400 at Valor Telecommunications Join CWA Through Card-Check
Nearly 400 customer service representatives at Valor Telecommunications — a new, mostly Hispanic owned company comprising former GTE properties — have become CWA members.
President Mike Simmons of Local 6171, Krum, Texas, received notice of certification from the American Arbitration Assoc-iation on Dec. 29 for bargaining units of 116 customer service representatives at Valor’s call center in Carlsbad, N.M.; 15 in Broken Arrow, Okla.; and 230 in Texarkana, Texas.
Two weeks earlier, Local 7019, headquartered in Phoenix, Ariz., received certification for a fourth unit of 35 Valor service reps in Espanola, N.M., reported local President Joe Gosiger.
The campaigns by both locals were conducted under a card-check and neutrality agreement signed by Valor and the union on Nov. 17, 2000, after Valor purchased GTE properties at the four locations. It grew out of an existing agreement that CWA Telecommunications Vice President T.O. Moses negotiated with GTE.
In Local 6171, Executive Vice President Linda James led field efforts by a strong committee of officers, members and Valor employees. “They were great. They put in a lot of effort,” Simmons said.
For explaining current contract benefits to co-workers one-on-one at the service centers and at receptions after work, Simmons credited local Area Vice Presidents Al Leconey, Texarkana; Joe Nelson, Broken Arrow; Jimmy Funk, Carlsbad; and members at all three locations.
Nearly 400 outside technicians and service center employees at Valor already have a CWA contract through Aug. 16, 2001, which the new company inherited from GTE. “With this campaign we effectively doubled our membership there,” Simmons said.
James said service reps Danny Bowling, Shannon Fannin, Rubin Salcido, Tracey Lawler, Bonnie Garrett, Lynn McIntosh and Debbie Straabe also worked on the campaign.
In Local 7019, Organizer Sue Hemphill headed the project, and the workers learned firsthand the benefits of CWA membership from members Isaac Romero, Jimmy Ortega and Jeannie Abeyta. Marcia Valdez, a Valor service rep, and at least nine of her co-workers also helped in the Espanola campaign.
The Valor service reps are seeking to iron out pay discrepancies and establish uniform work rules and policies for seniority, vacations, eligibility for training and benefits. They also want additional pay for using bilingual skills in assisting customers, Hemphill said.
The two locals will negotiate appropriate wage scales and the service reps will be brought under existing contracts, Simmons said.
President Mike Simmons of Local 6171, Krum, Texas, received notice of certification from the American Arbitration Assoc-iation on Dec. 29 for bargaining units of 116 customer service representatives at Valor’s call center in Carlsbad, N.M.; 15 in Broken Arrow, Okla.; and 230 in Texarkana, Texas.
Two weeks earlier, Local 7019, headquartered in Phoenix, Ariz., received certification for a fourth unit of 35 Valor service reps in Espanola, N.M., reported local President Joe Gosiger.
The campaigns by both locals were conducted under a card-check and neutrality agreement signed by Valor and the union on Nov. 17, 2000, after Valor purchased GTE properties at the four locations. It grew out of an existing agreement that CWA Telecommunications Vice President T.O. Moses negotiated with GTE.
In Local 6171, Executive Vice President Linda James led field efforts by a strong committee of officers, members and Valor employees. “They were great. They put in a lot of effort,” Simmons said.
For explaining current contract benefits to co-workers one-on-one at the service centers and at receptions after work, Simmons credited local Area Vice Presidents Al Leconey, Texarkana; Joe Nelson, Broken Arrow; Jimmy Funk, Carlsbad; and members at all three locations.
Nearly 400 outside technicians and service center employees at Valor already have a CWA contract through Aug. 16, 2001, which the new company inherited from GTE. “With this campaign we effectively doubled our membership there,” Simmons said.
James said service reps Danny Bowling, Shannon Fannin, Rubin Salcido, Tracey Lawler, Bonnie Garrett, Lynn McIntosh and Debbie Straabe also worked on the campaign.
In Local 7019, Organizer Sue Hemphill headed the project, and the workers learned firsthand the benefits of CWA membership from members Isaac Romero, Jimmy Ortega and Jeannie Abeyta. Marcia Valdez, a Valor service rep, and at least nine of her co-workers also helped in the Espanola campaign.
The Valor service reps are seeking to iron out pay discrepancies and establish uniform work rules and policies for seniority, vacations, eligibility for training and benefits. They also want additional pay for using bilingual skills in assisting customers, Hemphill said.
The two locals will negotiate appropriate wage scales and the service reps will be brought under existing contracts, Simmons said.