T-Mobile USA Workers Speak Out in Germany

Ver.di union leaders Lothar Schroeder and Ado Wilhelm meet with T-Mobile USA workers.

Below: The delegation talks with the Left Party's leader, Dr. Gregor Gysi, and Sabine Zimmerman, Chair of the Committee on Labor and Social Affairs.

This week T-Mobile USA workers are in Germany educating political leaders and Deutsche Telekom shareholders about T-Mobile's abusive work practices and campaigns against their right to organize.

On Monday, the delegation traveled to ver.di headquarters to discuss work issues with union leaders Lothar Schroeder and Ado Wilhelm.

"What keeps me motivated is the support from ver.di," said Victoria Singer, a T-Mobile customer service representative, who will be speaking at the annual shareholders meeting later in the week. "They are so invested in our success. Part of me wants to leave, but I stay because of the support of CWA and ver.di."

On Tuesday, the group met with Berlin call center employees – the same workers who were great partners in raising awareness about call center jobs in Charleston, SC.

Then they traveled to the Bundestag, the German parliament, to meet with several political leaders. With each meeting, the group talked about having to clock out for bathroom breaks and the frequent use of threat and humiliation in the workplace.

On Wednesday, workers testified to the Committee on Labor and Social Change before members of all of Germany's political parties.

Want to read more? Activists are keeping a trip diary to share with the TU community. Check it out here.