NY State Senate Hearing Calls Out Xerox/ACS on EZ Pass Fight

E-Z Pass call center workers in Staten Island, N.Y., are getting growing support from New York State elected and public officials in their fight for a fair contact.

A New York State Senate committee that oversees the Metropolitan Transit Authority, the New York State Thruway Authority and other agencies held a hearing April 30 to investigate the company's refusal to bargain fairly and the hostile work environment that E-Z pass workers face because of their support for CWA representation.

CWA District 1 Vice President Chris Shelton testified at the hearing, as did President Ed Luster, CWA Local 1102, which represents the 300 call center workers since they voted for a union last August.

Ten current and former workers testified before the committee, telling senators about harsh working conditions and the company's refusal to begin contract negotiations.

Also testifying were representatives from the New York State Thruway Authority, the MTA, the Port Authority and other agencies.

Michael Fleischer, head of the Thruway Authority, told the Senate hearing that Xerox was contractually obligated to tell the government agencies about the labor dispute, but it hadn't done so. Fleischer said the labor dispute had reached the point where it could affect the service that E-Z Pass customers receive.

No Xerox executives or representatives attended the hearing.

Earlier this year, ACS/Xerox illegally fired 14 union activists. A big public backlash that targeted the company and Xerox CEO Ursula Burns for the company's illegal actions got workers their jobs back.