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900 Cingular Workers, Others, Join CWA
Across three CWA districts, 731 Cingular Wireless workers gained CWA representation, and the union grew by 179 members with the addition of Camden, N.J., food service workers.
On Nov. 16, the American Arbitration Association certified that a majority of 534 Cingular call center workers in Bloomington, Minn., signed cards seeking to join CWA. A committee of 23 employees talked with co-workers on breaks, during lunch and before and after shifts, explaining how the union could help them address issues of low pay, inconsistency in raises and bonuses and their cost for health care, District 7 Vice President Annie Hill reported.
The workers are also seeking increased respect, job security and an end to mandatory weekend training.
"They believe that having a union will give them the voice they need in building a better future at Cingular Wireless," said District 7 Organizing Coordinator Jana-Smith Carr.
Local 37002 Lead Organizer Tom Lonegran, Local 7200 Organizers Tim Donovan and Staci Lorenz, and Local 7250 Organizers Shari Wojtowicz and Matt Begansky worked on the campaign, with assistance from CWA Representatives Mary Taylor and Al Piker. The workers will be represented by Local 7200.
That same day, 67 workers in the Fraud and National Employee Account Services departments of Cingular's call center in Paramas, N.J. were certified.
"More than 90 percent of employees signed cards to become part of CWA Local 1101," District 1 Organizing Coordinator Erin Bowie said, crediting the work of organizers Heather Trainor, Keith Purce, Dan Levitan and Jim Trainor.
On Nov. 10, 130 former AT&T retail sales consultants at 30 Cingular retail stores across Ohio achieved certification, reported Susan Baxter Flemming, administrative assistant to District 4 Vice President Seth Rosen.
"IUE-CWA Local 84768 loaned their full-time organizer, Cheryl Baker, who did a great job leading this drive," Baxter-Fleming said.
Local 4340 Organizer Michelle Quintus helped workers build a solid majority in the northern part of the state, and Jim Carmigiano, the local's chief steward at SBC, collected signed cards from workers at a store in his neighborhood.
Supported by Local 4320 President Jack Huber, local Vice President Cathy Mason and Organizer Glen Skeen assisted workers in the Columbus area.
In Camden, N.J., Local 1079 President Leroy Baylor and an organizing committee of 15 helped 179 food service workers employed by the Board of Education win certification though a cardcheck supervised by the Public Employee Relations Commission. Earlier this year the local organized 50 food service supervisors.
"As a result of this organizing victory, Local 1079 has almost double its membership in less than one year from organizing," said District 1 Organizing Coordinator Tim Dubnau.
On Nov. 16, the American Arbitration Association certified that a majority of 534 Cingular call center workers in Bloomington, Minn., signed cards seeking to join CWA. A committee of 23 employees talked with co-workers on breaks, during lunch and before and after shifts, explaining how the union could help them address issues of low pay, inconsistency in raises and bonuses and their cost for health care, District 7 Vice President Annie Hill reported.
The workers are also seeking increased respect, job security and an end to mandatory weekend training.
"They believe that having a union will give them the voice they need in building a better future at Cingular Wireless," said District 7 Organizing Coordinator Jana-Smith Carr.
Local 37002 Lead Organizer Tom Lonegran, Local 7200 Organizers Tim Donovan and Staci Lorenz, and Local 7250 Organizers Shari Wojtowicz and Matt Begansky worked on the campaign, with assistance from CWA Representatives Mary Taylor and Al Piker. The workers will be represented by Local 7200.
That same day, 67 workers in the Fraud and National Employee Account Services departments of Cingular's call center in Paramas, N.J. were certified.
"More than 90 percent of employees signed cards to become part of CWA Local 1101," District 1 Organizing Coordinator Erin Bowie said, crediting the work of organizers Heather Trainor, Keith Purce, Dan Levitan and Jim Trainor.
On Nov. 10, 130 former AT&T retail sales consultants at 30 Cingular retail stores across Ohio achieved certification, reported Susan Baxter Flemming, administrative assistant to District 4 Vice President Seth Rosen.
"IUE-CWA Local 84768 loaned their full-time organizer, Cheryl Baker, who did a great job leading this drive," Baxter-Fleming said.
Local 4340 Organizer Michelle Quintus helped workers build a solid majority in the northern part of the state, and Jim Carmigiano, the local's chief steward at SBC, collected signed cards from workers at a store in his neighborhood.
Supported by Local 4320 President Jack Huber, local Vice President Cathy Mason and Organizer Glen Skeen assisted workers in the Columbus area.
In Camden, N.J., Local 1079 President Leroy Baylor and an organizing committee of 15 helped 179 food service workers employed by the Board of Education win certification though a cardcheck supervised by the Public Employee Relations Commission. Earlier this year the local organized 50 food service supervisors.
"As a result of this organizing victory, Local 1079 has almost double its membership in less than one year from organizing," said District 1 Organizing Coordinator Tim Dubnau.