Ohio Rally Protests Layoffs at Century Tel

About 100 CWA members, other unionists and political candidates turned out for a rally and march in Lorain, Ohio, on March 3 to protest the layoff of several hundred workers by Century Tel there and at other locations in Districts 4, 6, 7 and 3. 

The cuts affect mostly women and in at least one case, a worker with more than 40 years' service with the company, said Telecommunications Vice President Jimmy Gurganus. As the Newsletter went to press, he was still trying to learn the exact number of CWA-represented workers and titles to be eliminated at Century Tel locations spanning the four CWA districts.

Noting that Century has been shifting union jobs to non-union locations, Gurganus said, "It is truly disappointing that Century Tel believes the way to deal with competition is to lay off its workers. Its customers not only want a high quality network, they also want to deal with local employees when they have problems with their service or their bill."

The company cited an 8 percent drop in its customer base and claimed a need to cut jobs to remain competitive.

Gurganus said CWA is filing unfair labor practice charges for untimely notification and was looking at the possibility of other labor board charges.

Local 4370 President Harry Williamson organized the Lorain rally. Rep. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), a candidate the U.S. Senate, sent a top staffer and the two candidates vying for the Democratic nomination for his House seat — Capri Caffaro and Gary Kucinich — showed up to support the workers.

Sal LaCause, assistant to District 4 Vice President Seth Rosen, said, "It's a disgrace that Century Tel continually outsources good union jobs to non-represented areas. The company tells us they are not anti-union, but their actions make that questionable."