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.
District 9 2-Week Cingular Organizing Total, 3,300
Nearly 3,300 Cingular employees in District 9 became CWA members within a two-week period in October, bringing union benefits and job security to the workers and capping one of the most rapid growth spurts the union has experienced in many years.
In addition to the 1,616 workers at three call centers reported in the last CWA Newsletter, 1,582 retail sales workers in 191 stores in California organized with the help of 21 CWA locals. The unit was certified by the American Arbitration Association on Oct 21.
"My congratulations to all of our new members and to the locals and staff that helped them organize," said District 9 Vice President Tony Bixler. "CWA President Larry Cohen has said it many times, and our success at Cingular clearly shows, that given the opportunity, free from employer intimidation and harassment, workers will choose CWA."
So far, 9,734 former AT&T Wireless employees at Cingular have organized with CWA in 2005 - most since early August, when CWA's card check and neutrality agreement with Cingular went into effect following the merger of the two companies. The first group of former AT&T Wireless workers at Cingular - 278 customer service representatives in Jackson, Miss. - organized with CWA in March.
When workers hear how union membership and a union contract can help them, they are eager to join.
Family pride and a legacy of good wages and benefits figure big for many, such as Sam Satiago, a new member in California. "Union Yes!" Santiago exclaimed. "My father retired from SBC as a union member."
Strong employee committees, supported by the locals, were key in gaining representation. Bixler said advance preparation and coordination made it possible for CWA to help the workers build majority support.
Locals worked with the employees to identify leaders and to spread the word about CWA through literature distribution and one-on-one conversations. The locals held weekly conference calls to share ideas, experiences and how obstacles were addressed and resolved.
Hundreds more Cingular workers recently joined CWA in states including Arizona, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and the District of Columbia.
The most recent include 88 retail sales consultants in Utah, organized with help from Locals 7704 and 7705, 46 in Wisconsin assisted by Local 4603 and 50 in Connecticut helped by Local 1298.
In addition to the 1,616 workers at three call centers reported in the last CWA Newsletter, 1,582 retail sales workers in 191 stores in California organized with the help of 21 CWA locals. The unit was certified by the American Arbitration Association on Oct 21.
"My congratulations to all of our new members and to the locals and staff that helped them organize," said District 9 Vice President Tony Bixler. "CWA President Larry Cohen has said it many times, and our success at Cingular clearly shows, that given the opportunity, free from employer intimidation and harassment, workers will choose CWA."
So far, 9,734 former AT&T Wireless employees at Cingular have organized with CWA in 2005 - most since early August, when CWA's card check and neutrality agreement with Cingular went into effect following the merger of the two companies. The first group of former AT&T Wireless workers at Cingular - 278 customer service representatives in Jackson, Miss. - organized with CWA in March.
When workers hear how union membership and a union contract can help them, they are eager to join.
Family pride and a legacy of good wages and benefits figure big for many, such as Sam Satiago, a new member in California. "Union Yes!" Santiago exclaimed. "My father retired from SBC as a union member."
Strong employee committees, supported by the locals, were key in gaining representation. Bixler said advance preparation and coordination made it possible for CWA to help the workers build majority support.
Locals worked with the employees to identify leaders and to spread the word about CWA through literature distribution and one-on-one conversations. The locals held weekly conference calls to share ideas, experiences and how obstacles were addressed and resolved.
Hundreds more Cingular workers recently joined CWA in states including Arizona, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and the District of Columbia.
The most recent include 88 retail sales consultants in Utah, organized with help from Locals 7704 and 7705, 46 in Wisconsin assisted by Local 4603 and 50 in Connecticut helped by Local 1298.