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Sprint Locals Gear Up for Possible Strikes
Local 3871, representing 333 Sprint workers in Tennessee and Virginia, has become the third local to take a strike vote in the 2005 round of Sprint bargaining—almost three months before contract expiration.
It joins Local 3672, representing 98 workers in Hickory, N.C., whose contract expired May 31, and Local 3176, with 476 Sprint technicians and clerical workers in the Ocala, Altamonte Springs and Apopka area Florida. Their contract expired March 31.
"All of our locals have become frustrated by the lack of progress in negotiations and are looking for alternatives to get bargaining moving again," said Jimmy Gurganus, CWA vice president for Telecommunications.
If it comes to a strike in any of the locals, it will be authorized by the CWA Executive Board, with the date to be determined by CWA President Morton Bahr.
Local 3176 has conducted a steady stream of mobilization activities, with several rallies and informational picketing at the grand opening of a Sprint store in Claremont,
Fla., on June 11.
Fliers called customers' attention to the quality service provided and thousands of overtime hours worked by CWA members and stated, "Our members don't deserve the 'take it or leave it' attitude of Sprint in contract negotiations."
Members also took the company to task for "attempting to pay for executive bonuses on the backs of employees." The company proposes to cut the rate of pay for working Sundays, eliminate differential payments and meal allowances, reduce the company match to the 401(k) plan, force use of vacation and holidays in place of sick time, cut short-term disability payments by more than half and cut health benefits.
"We're in this for the long haul," said Local 3176 President Bob Campbell. "The company's proposals are all take-aways."
Campbell welcomed about 100 CWA members from the District 3 meeting along with District 3 Vice President Noah Savant, who turned out to picket Sprint-Florida headquarters this spring in Apopka, near Orlando.
"District 3 is strongly committed to supporting our Sprint members in their fight to win a fair contract," Savant said.
Several more Sprint contracts expire this year: Sept. 30, Local 4700 for 37 workers in Indiana; Oct. 31, Local 13000 for 42 workers in Pennsylvania, and Nov. 29, Locals 3680, 3681, 3682 and 3685 for 1,223 workers in Tarboro, N.C.
It joins Local 3672, representing 98 workers in Hickory, N.C., whose contract expired May 31, and Local 3176, with 476 Sprint technicians and clerical workers in the Ocala, Altamonte Springs and Apopka area Florida. Their contract expired March 31.
"All of our locals have become frustrated by the lack of progress in negotiations and are looking for alternatives to get bargaining moving again," said Jimmy Gurganus, CWA vice president for Telecommunications.
If it comes to a strike in any of the locals, it will be authorized by the CWA Executive Board, with the date to be determined by CWA President Morton Bahr.
Local 3176 has conducted a steady stream of mobilization activities, with several rallies and informational picketing at the grand opening of a Sprint store in Claremont,
Fla., on June 11.
Fliers called customers' attention to the quality service provided and thousands of overtime hours worked by CWA members and stated, "Our members don't deserve the 'take it or leave it' attitude of Sprint in contract negotiations."
Members also took the company to task for "attempting to pay for executive bonuses on the backs of employees." The company proposes to cut the rate of pay for working Sundays, eliminate differential payments and meal allowances, reduce the company match to the 401(k) plan, force use of vacation and holidays in place of sick time, cut short-term disability payments by more than half and cut health benefits.
"We're in this for the long haul," said Local 3176 President Bob Campbell. "The company's proposals are all take-aways."
Campbell welcomed about 100 CWA members from the District 3 meeting along with District 3 Vice President Noah Savant, who turned out to picket Sprint-Florida headquarters this spring in Apopka, near Orlando.
"District 3 is strongly committed to supporting our Sprint members in their fight to win a fair contract," Savant said.
Several more Sprint contracts expire this year: Sept. 30, Local 4700 for 37 workers in Indiana; Oct. 31, Local 13000 for 42 workers in Pennsylvania, and Nov. 29, Locals 3680, 3681, 3682 and 3685 for 1,223 workers in Tarboro, N.C.