Comcast Opposes Oakland City Council Effort to Safeguard Consumers, City in Cable Franchise

Council's call for 'non-confrontational' procedures rejected by Comcast

San Diego – Union leaders at the AFL-CIO Executive Council meeting here condemned the latest bully tactic of Comcast Communications.

At a news conference, CWA President Larry Cohen said Comcast was attempting to strong arm the community of Oakland Calif., by threatening to yank its 13-year franchise agreement. Comcast is objecting to a City Council ordinance requiring "non-confrontational and expeditious procedures" at major franchise holders – including Comcast – by which workers can demonstrate their choice regarding union representation.

Comcast earlier rejected the opportunity to show that it would abide by federal labor law when it refused the inclusion of any language in the franchise agreement. After hearing testimony from many workers about Comcast's abusive labor practices, the City Council decided to sponsor an ordinance that would protect the interests of the city and consumers while also seeking to reduce or eliminate workplace strife, Cohen said.

"Comcast has been demonstrating just this kind of confrontation in its relations with communities and workers across the country," Cohen said. "Workers at Comcast locations nationwide have been illegally fired, harassed, wrongly disciplined, denied promotions, and denied benefits provided to workers at non-union locations," he said. "Now, the company is threatening Oakland citizens with the loss of cable stations and a network link for schools and government offices."   

After three years of negotiations to renew the franchise agreement, Comcast says it will walk away from the multi-million-dollar deal. What Comcast really wants is to start the negotiation process all over again to pressure the city council to drop the protections for consumers and workers, Cohen said. 

As more evidence of the company's arrogant and illegal tactics, Cohen noted that in early 2006, Comcast fired 10-year employee and Navy veteran, Will Goodo. "Goodo's offense was testifying before the Oakland City Council and at a workers' rights forum last December about Comcast's unrelenting assault on workers in the Oakland system who wanted a union voice," Cohen said.

Federal labor law states that workers have the right to fairly choose union representation, but in practice, employers like Comcast routinely attack workers who express any interest in a union. Comcast has been cited by the National Labor Relations Board for numerous incidents of illegal activity. About 200 Comcast workers in the Bay Area are represented by CWA, about 80 in the Oakland system.