Search News
For the Media
For media inquiries, call CWA Communications at 202-434-1168 or email comms@cwa-union.org. To read about CWA Members, Leadership or Industries, visit our About page.
Comcast Detroit Service Hit; Bargaining Continues
Comcast is squirming in Detroit over a CWA-sponsored report of more than 40,000 safety violations, while it is seeking to renew its cable franchise and is bargaining with two area CWA locals.
The Detroit Cable Communications Commission endorsed a report based on a technical audit by the Kramer Firm in December 2003, paid for by CWA. The report lists numerous violations of the National Electric Safety Code and the National Electric Code, including unsecured lock boxes and cable strung through windows, clear evidence that the work done by CWA-represented technicians is superior to that performed by subcontractors.
The commission, in a letter to Comcast, ordered the company to respond in writing to each of the reported violations, to submit a plan for correcting them and to document proof of performance tests by May 7. The commission also wrote that the report and lack of test results, "are substantial and documented evidence of breaches of the franchise agreement by Comcast."
Comcast appeared before the commission at its May 10 meeting, claiming that many of the problems were cosmetic and that it was doing a "rebuild" that would deal with many of the problems, said Patrick Hunt, CWA research economist.
Hunt, who also appeared at the hearing, told commissioners that "rebuilds are usually from head end to the node and most of the problems identified were related to the drop or the customer's home, work not normally handled by rebuilds."
The Kramer report estimated it will take 12 to 18 months to correct the electrical violations.
"We hope these errors are quickly repaired so that people's homes are safe and that customers get the quality service they deserve," Hunt said.
The city has extended Comcast's franchise through December 2004 and is negotiating a renewal, Cable Commission Executive Director Paula Gentius-Harris told the Multichannel News. District 4 Organizing Coordinator Shannon Kirkland told News reporter Linda Haugsted that CWA financed the safety report when city officials indicated they did not have funds to include a technical audit as part of the refranchising process.
Kirkland is heading bargaining for a new contract with Comcast for 51 members of CWA Local 4100 in Detroit, which opened May 13.
Bargaining has also resumed for 35 Comcast workers in Local 4107, Port Huron, Mich. The National Labor Relations Board recertified the local as collective bargaining agent after the company dropped its objections to the local's overwhelming victory in the second of two decertification elections.
Elsewhere, negotiations on behalf of about 70 Comcast workers in Local 9415, Oakland, Calif., headed by Jim Gordon, administrative assistant to District 9 Vice President Tony Bixler, also continues. "Key economic issues are yet to be resolved," Gordon said.
The Detroit Cable Communications Commission endorsed a report based on a technical audit by the Kramer Firm in December 2003, paid for by CWA. The report lists numerous violations of the National Electric Safety Code and the National Electric Code, including unsecured lock boxes and cable strung through windows, clear evidence that the work done by CWA-represented technicians is superior to that performed by subcontractors.
The commission, in a letter to Comcast, ordered the company to respond in writing to each of the reported violations, to submit a plan for correcting them and to document proof of performance tests by May 7. The commission also wrote that the report and lack of test results, "are substantial and documented evidence of breaches of the franchise agreement by Comcast."
Comcast appeared before the commission at its May 10 meeting, claiming that many of the problems were cosmetic and that it was doing a "rebuild" that would deal with many of the problems, said Patrick Hunt, CWA research economist.
Hunt, who also appeared at the hearing, told commissioners that "rebuilds are usually from head end to the node and most of the problems identified were related to the drop or the customer's home, work not normally handled by rebuilds."
The Kramer report estimated it will take 12 to 18 months to correct the electrical violations.
"We hope these errors are quickly repaired so that people's homes are safe and that customers get the quality service they deserve," Hunt said.
The city has extended Comcast's franchise through December 2004 and is negotiating a renewal, Cable Commission Executive Director Paula Gentius-Harris told the Multichannel News. District 4 Organizing Coordinator Shannon Kirkland told News reporter Linda Haugsted that CWA financed the safety report when city officials indicated they did not have funds to include a technical audit as part of the refranchising process.
Kirkland is heading bargaining for a new contract with Comcast for 51 members of CWA Local 4100 in Detroit, which opened May 13.
Bargaining has also resumed for 35 Comcast workers in Local 4107, Port Huron, Mich. The National Labor Relations Board recertified the local as collective bargaining agent after the company dropped its objections to the local's overwhelming victory in the second of two decertification elections.
Elsewhere, negotiations on behalf of about 70 Comcast workers in Local 9415, Oakland, Calif., headed by Jim Gordon, administrative assistant to District 9 Vice President Tony Bixler, also continues. "Key economic issues are yet to be resolved," Gordon said.