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District 6 Organizes 400 in Two Bargaining Units
Two voluntary recognitions in District 6 have brought 400 new members to CWA. Local 6215 and Local 6132 won recognition for 270 workers at SBC Internet Services. And, Hanson and McClain, a nationwide financial advice company to employees in the telecommunications and utilities sectors, recognized Local 6171 as bargaining representative for 130 financial advisers.
The SBC campaign began in fall 2004 when the district began to look into jobs that the locals believed should be in the bargaining unit but which the company classified as management.
"The locals identified people they knew in the units and began meetings, building lists, internal committees and majority support," said District 6 Organizing Coordinator Sandy Rusher, reporting the victory on April 7.
Former employees of Southwestern Bell Telephone in Dallas, surplused two years ago, now work for SBC Internet Services. They already knew the benefits of CWA membership and made up the initial organizing committee in Dallas.
In a campaign fueled by job insecurity, lack of a wage progression and other issues, more workers joined them in demanding a union. Their duties range from provisioning and customer service to tier II and network support.
Working on the campaign, with the support of Rusher and District 6 Area Director Danny Fetonte, were Vice President Al Hunte and Opal Oliver of Local 6215, and Luz Riley and Richard McCullough of Local 6137.
Effective April 24, the workers will be covered by an SBC Internet Service contract bargained in District 9. Dina Beaumont, executive assistant to CWA President Morton Bahr, and William Davis, assistant to District 6 Vice President Andy Milburn, helped bring the workers under the existing contract, and CWA representative Currie Halford and Jerrell Miller conducted contract explanation meetings.
At Hanson and McClain, Local 6171 Executive Vice President James Smith and CWA Representative Donna Bentley, assisted by Rusher, helped the employees organize. The company agreed to voluntary recognition on April 1.
The SBC campaign began in fall 2004 when the district began to look into jobs that the locals believed should be in the bargaining unit but which the company classified as management.
"The locals identified people they knew in the units and began meetings, building lists, internal committees and majority support," said District 6 Organizing Coordinator Sandy Rusher, reporting the victory on April 7.
Former employees of Southwestern Bell Telephone in Dallas, surplused two years ago, now work for SBC Internet Services. They already knew the benefits of CWA membership and made up the initial organizing committee in Dallas.
In a campaign fueled by job insecurity, lack of a wage progression and other issues, more workers joined them in demanding a union. Their duties range from provisioning and customer service to tier II and network support.
Working on the campaign, with the support of Rusher and District 6 Area Director Danny Fetonte, were Vice President Al Hunte and Opal Oliver of Local 6215, and Luz Riley and Richard McCullough of Local 6137.
Effective April 24, the workers will be covered by an SBC Internet Service contract bargained in District 9. Dina Beaumont, executive assistant to CWA President Morton Bahr, and William Davis, assistant to District 6 Vice President Andy Milburn, helped bring the workers under the existing contract, and CWA representative Currie Halford and Jerrell Miller conducted contract explanation meetings.
At Hanson and McClain, Local 6171 Executive Vice President James Smith and CWA Representative Donna Bentley, assisted by Rusher, helped the employees organize. The company agreed to voluntary recognition on April 1.