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Tale of Two Companies' Boosts Wireless Drive
The difference is night and day, and it came across clearly in a video introduced by CWA Vice Presidents Chris Shelton of District 1 and Andy Milburn of District 6 to the applause of 2,000 delegates and supporters at the July AFL-CIO Convention in Chicago.
"A Tale of Two Companies," is part of a broad education effort that contrasts the positive labor relations of Cingular Wireless with the relentless anti-union policies of Verizon Wireless.
CWA has already organized more than 22,000 workers at Cingular Wireless. Those organizing efforts are spreading rapidly and without company interference at many additional locations, due to the recent merger of Cingular and AT&T Wireless.
By contrast, CWA has been fighting for years to help workers organize at Verizon Wireless, which has used every union-busting trick in the book to intimidate workers and remain non-union.
Using humor to urge the delegates to deal only with the union wireless company, Milburn, from Austin, exaggerated his twang in saying, "If I catch you in Texas using a Verizon cell phone, you're gonna be in a heap of trouble."
"Let me interpret for my brother," said Shelton, whose voice is a dead give-away of his New York City locale. "What he said is, if we catch you using a Verizon cell phone, you deserve to get your butts kicked."
Frame by Frame
In the video, Cingular Wireless workers talk openly and with pride about their company.
Says Heather Trainor, a Local 1101 steward at Cingular, "Most of the time, when I speak to management, they just love that we're around. They can call me if they're having a problem with an employee before anybody gets into trouble."
She's backed up by Ken Benoit, a Cingular worker from Local 3406: "The right to fair discipline, the right to a grievance process—those are major wins for any employee."
Both go on to talk about the medical and dental benefits, periodic wage increases and 401(k) plans they have as part of their union contract.
Also at the convention, Holly Sorey, a Cingular worker who five years ago helped organize one of the first units at the company—a call center in Rantoul, Ill.—described how card check and neutrality made organizing an agreeable experience and how she became a unit steward and eventually president of Local 4202, the local that covers Cingular for all of Illinois.
She was one of several workers who spoke in support of the Federation's Resolution 1: "A Plan to Help Workers Win: Uniting Our Power to Build a Stronger Labor Movement."
By contrast, on the video, two Verizon Wireless workers, with their voices and faces disguised, talk about threats of relocations, closings and schedule changes that could at any time eliminate their jobs: "In reality, it means if they don't like you, you're out the door. And, you know, it's all about who you know and who likes you and who's gonna protect you."
Spreading the Word
CWA locals across the country are telling the "Tale of Two Companies" through distribution of a flier at worksites, to family and friends and at public gatherings all over the country. More than two million copies are being distributed.
"The message is clear," said CWA Executive Vice President Larry Cohen. "At CWA, we're prepared to cooperate with employers who respect our members and worker' rights, and we're equally prepared to confront employers who abuse them."
Meanwhile, with the help of CWA's Research Department, organizers are bringing a new awareness of the need for members at the core company to stand up for their brothers and sisters fighting for representation at Verizon Wireless nationwide.
Cure for the 'Blues'
For Cingular "Blue" workers, those who were formerly AT&T Wireless employees, the union's efforts are already bringing a return, with recognition on the way for hundreds of the 20,000 potential members.
Under an extension of CWA's card check and neutrality agreement with Cingular Wireless, Local 3519 in March helped 324 workers organize at the Cingular "Blue" call center in Ridgeland, Miss.
And, with show-of-interest cards signed by a majority of workers at each location, District 1 has filed with the American Arbitration Association for recognition for 10 workers in the last two non-union Cingular retail stores in Rhode Island and for 500 workers in as many as 70 stores in New York State.
Locals 1022, 1023, 1101, 1118, 1122, 1126, 1170, 1298 and 1400 have been involved in a seven-state coordinated campaign, building contacts with Cingular workers in these locations and at a large call center in Paramus, N.J., said Steve Early, administrative assistant to the District 1 vice president.
Extensive campaigns are also underway in CWA Districts 3 and 6, said Ed Sabol, administrative assistant to Cohen and CWA organizing director.
"The 'Tale of Two Companies' won't end until every eligible worker at Cingular and at Verizon Wireless has union representation," Cohen said.
"A Tale of Two Companies," is part of a broad education effort that contrasts the positive labor relations of Cingular Wireless with the relentless anti-union policies of Verizon Wireless.
CWA has already organized more than 22,000 workers at Cingular Wireless. Those organizing efforts are spreading rapidly and without company interference at many additional locations, due to the recent merger of Cingular and AT&T Wireless.
By contrast, CWA has been fighting for years to help workers organize at Verizon Wireless, which has used every union-busting trick in the book to intimidate workers and remain non-union.
Using humor to urge the delegates to deal only with the union wireless company, Milburn, from Austin, exaggerated his twang in saying, "If I catch you in Texas using a Verizon cell phone, you're gonna be in a heap of trouble."
"Let me interpret for my brother," said Shelton, whose voice is a dead give-away of his New York City locale. "What he said is, if we catch you using a Verizon cell phone, you deserve to get your butts kicked."
Frame by Frame
In the video, Cingular Wireless workers talk openly and with pride about their company.
Says Heather Trainor, a Local 1101 steward at Cingular, "Most of the time, when I speak to management, they just love that we're around. They can call me if they're having a problem with an employee before anybody gets into trouble."
She's backed up by Ken Benoit, a Cingular worker from Local 3406: "The right to fair discipline, the right to a grievance process—those are major wins for any employee."
Both go on to talk about the medical and dental benefits, periodic wage increases and 401(k) plans they have as part of their union contract.
Also at the convention, Holly Sorey, a Cingular worker who five years ago helped organize one of the first units at the company—a call center in Rantoul, Ill.—described how card check and neutrality made organizing an agreeable experience and how she became a unit steward and eventually president of Local 4202, the local that covers Cingular for all of Illinois.
She was one of several workers who spoke in support of the Federation's Resolution 1: "A Plan to Help Workers Win: Uniting Our Power to Build a Stronger Labor Movement."
By contrast, on the video, two Verizon Wireless workers, with their voices and faces disguised, talk about threats of relocations, closings and schedule changes that could at any time eliminate their jobs: "In reality, it means if they don't like you, you're out the door. And, you know, it's all about who you know and who likes you and who's gonna protect you."
Spreading the Word
CWA locals across the country are telling the "Tale of Two Companies" through distribution of a flier at worksites, to family and friends and at public gatherings all over the country. More than two million copies are being distributed.
"The message is clear," said CWA Executive Vice President Larry Cohen. "At CWA, we're prepared to cooperate with employers who respect our members and worker' rights, and we're equally prepared to confront employers who abuse them."
Meanwhile, with the help of CWA's Research Department, organizers are bringing a new awareness of the need for members at the core company to stand up for their brothers and sisters fighting for representation at Verizon Wireless nationwide.
Cure for the 'Blues'
For Cingular "Blue" workers, those who were formerly AT&T Wireless employees, the union's efforts are already bringing a return, with recognition on the way for hundreds of the 20,000 potential members.
Under an extension of CWA's card check and neutrality agreement with Cingular Wireless, Local 3519 in March helped 324 workers organize at the Cingular "Blue" call center in Ridgeland, Miss.
And, with show-of-interest cards signed by a majority of workers at each location, District 1 has filed with the American Arbitration Association for recognition for 10 workers in the last two non-union Cingular retail stores in Rhode Island and for 500 workers in as many as 70 stores in New York State.
Locals 1022, 1023, 1101, 1118, 1122, 1126, 1170, 1298 and 1400 have been involved in a seven-state coordinated campaign, building contacts with Cingular workers in these locations and at a large call center in Paramus, N.J., said Steve Early, administrative assistant to the District 1 vice president.
Extensive campaigns are also underway in CWA Districts 3 and 6, said Ed Sabol, administrative assistant to Cohen and CWA organizing director.
"The 'Tale of Two Companies' won't end until every eligible worker at Cingular and at Verizon Wireless has union representation," Cohen said.