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CWA, Global Unions Join Forces to Tackle Telecom Meltdown
CWA and telecom unions around the world are working together to tackle the meltdown in the telecommunications industry that has cost more than a million jobs worldwide.
This current global crisis is marked by widespread economic slowdown, regulatory failure, excess debt and fraudulent corporate practices, the unions said, but the turmoil in the industry can be eased by more productive investment in new technologies, universal service and better regulation of corporate action.
During a multi-site video news conference, the unions outlined an action plan that includes initiatives to promote universal service and high-speed Internet access, and to end corporate corruption in the telecom industry.
The session was organized by the World Telecom Sector of Union Network International, representing more than 2 million telecom workers in 100 countries. Joining the videoconference were leaders from telecom unions in the United Kingdom, Denmark, Mexico and the United States, plus journalists at all three sites in Washington, London and Mexico City.
In Washington, Larry Cohen, CWA’s executive vice president and president of UNI’s Telecom Sector, stressed that the industry’s continuing global meltdown requires that unions, management and governments focus on providing full financial disclosure, universal affordable service and good jobs with quality service.
“Regulatory policies should be adopted in each nation that encourage investment and universal broadband services, rather than competition at the expense of investment and services,” he said.
Jeannie Drake, deputy general secretary of the UK’s Communication Workers Union, repeated that message, noting that unions had engaged the government to some degree in the United Kingdom, but much work was yet to be done to make broadband access available to all citizens. This is an issue of national interest and should not be left to the market alone to deliver, she said.
In Mexico City, Francisco Hernandez Juarez, general secretary of the Mexican Telephone Workers Union, stressed his opposition to a government proposal that would provide big subsidies to telecom companies and outlined the union’s alternate proposal that focuses on improving infrastructure and the availability and cost of service.
In London, remarks also were made by Simon Petch, general secretary of the UK’s Connect, and Bo Larsen, president of the Danish telecom union, TKF. The session was moderated by Neil Anderson of UNI’s Telecom Sector.
This current global crisis is marked by widespread economic slowdown, regulatory failure, excess debt and fraudulent corporate practices, the unions said, but the turmoil in the industry can be eased by more productive investment in new technologies, universal service and better regulation of corporate action.
During a multi-site video news conference, the unions outlined an action plan that includes initiatives to promote universal service and high-speed Internet access, and to end corporate corruption in the telecom industry.
The session was organized by the World Telecom Sector of Union Network International, representing more than 2 million telecom workers in 100 countries. Joining the videoconference were leaders from telecom unions in the United Kingdom, Denmark, Mexico and the United States, plus journalists at all three sites in Washington, London and Mexico City.
In Washington, Larry Cohen, CWA’s executive vice president and president of UNI’s Telecom Sector, stressed that the industry’s continuing global meltdown requires that unions, management and governments focus on providing full financial disclosure, universal affordable service and good jobs with quality service.
“Regulatory policies should be adopted in each nation that encourage investment and universal broadband services, rather than competition at the expense of investment and services,” he said.
Jeannie Drake, deputy general secretary of the UK’s Communication Workers Union, repeated that message, noting that unions had engaged the government to some degree in the United Kingdom, but much work was yet to be done to make broadband access available to all citizens. This is an issue of national interest and should not be left to the market alone to deliver, she said.
In Mexico City, Francisco Hernandez Juarez, general secretary of the Mexican Telephone Workers Union, stressed his opposition to a government proposal that would provide big subsidies to telecom companies and outlined the union’s alternate proposal that focuses on improving infrastructure and the availability and cost of service.
In London, remarks also were made by Simon Petch, general secretary of the UK’s Connect, and Bo Larsen, president of the Danish telecom union, TKF. The session was moderated by Neil Anderson of UNI’s Telecom Sector.