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Bell Atlantic Hit for 'Roadkill' Suspensions
Justice is a step closer for hundreds of members suspended by Bell Atlantic for mobilizing against the company's downsizing in 1994 by cutting 5,600 workers. The company sent at least 1,200 Pennsylvania members home the day before Thanksgiving that year, with two-day suspensions for wearing t-shirts proclaiming, "We Won't Be Roadkill on the Info Highway." The slogan was accompanied by a cartoon illustration of a member flattened by a truck, representing the company.
On Dec. 1, 1998, Region 4 of the National Labor Relations Board issued a complaint requiring Bell Atlantic to face trial before an administrative law judge on May 17, 1999 on charges CWA filed in response to the suspensions.
Suspensions numbering about 6,000 were issued by the company for various CWA mobilization activities across CWA Districts 1, 2 and 13 in 1994 and 1995, during the union's most intense mobilization campaign of that round of telecommunications bargaining.
Said District 13 Vice President Vincent Maisano, "Thousands of members were suspended for exercising their rights under the law. This ruling by the NLRB supports the rights of workers. We have the right to concerted activity, and we must continue to mobilize to win fair agreements and justice in the workplace."
Bell Atlantic members in Pennsylvania continue to wear red t-shirts to work on Thursdays as a sign of solidarity, Maisano said.
The complaint, a consolidation of charges filed by CWA Local 13000, cites Bell Atlantic manager James O'Connell for issuing a rule prohibiting employees who make contact with customers from wearing shirts as described above. Bell Atlantic is cited for, "interfering with, restraining and coercing employees in the exercise of the rights (concerted activity) guaranteed in Section 7 of the (National Labor Relations) Act," and "discriminating in regard to the hire or tenure or terms or conditions of employment... thereby discouraging membership in a labor organization."
Jim Short, assistant to Maisano, said a final ruling by the NLRB would effectively negate Arbitrator Daniel Brent's May 1998 ruling in Bell Atlantic's favor, issued on the basis that, "the t-shirts embarrassed the company."
"This is a major victory," said Short, who indicated that any settlement would require the payment of back wages and removal of write-ups from members' files.
On Dec. 1, 1998, Region 4 of the National Labor Relations Board issued a complaint requiring Bell Atlantic to face trial before an administrative law judge on May 17, 1999 on charges CWA filed in response to the suspensions.
Suspensions numbering about 6,000 were issued by the company for various CWA mobilization activities across CWA Districts 1, 2 and 13 in 1994 and 1995, during the union's most intense mobilization campaign of that round of telecommunications bargaining.
Said District 13 Vice President Vincent Maisano, "Thousands of members were suspended for exercising their rights under the law. This ruling by the NLRB supports the rights of workers. We have the right to concerted activity, and we must continue to mobilize to win fair agreements and justice in the workplace."
Bell Atlantic members in Pennsylvania continue to wear red t-shirts to work on Thursdays as a sign of solidarity, Maisano said.
The complaint, a consolidation of charges filed by CWA Local 13000, cites Bell Atlantic manager James O'Connell for issuing a rule prohibiting employees who make contact with customers from wearing shirts as described above. Bell Atlantic is cited for, "interfering with, restraining and coercing employees in the exercise of the rights (concerted activity) guaranteed in Section 7 of the (National Labor Relations) Act," and "discriminating in regard to the hire or tenure or terms or conditions of employment... thereby discouraging membership in a labor organization."
Jim Short, assistant to Maisano, said a final ruling by the NLRB would effectively negate Arbitrator Daniel Brent's May 1998 ruling in Bell Atlantic's favor, issued on the basis that, "the t-shirts embarrassed the company."
"This is a major victory," said Short, who indicated that any settlement would require the payment of back wages and removal of write-ups from members' files.