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Workers' Rights Board Hears of Comcast Abuse
The first national Workers' Rights Board put the spotlight on the extensive abuses committed by Comcast Communications and Wackenhut Corp. against workers simply trying to exercise their right to form a union.
The national forum, held June 2 in Washington, D.C., was sponsored Jobs with Justice, the national coalition of labor, faith-based, community and student organizations that fights for workers' rights.
Board members heard testimony from Stephen White and Shannon Kirkland, former Comcast workers, on the company's relentless campaign to keep workers from forming a union. The panel also heard from Miriam Moore, Terry Purnell and Corwin Morton, who worked for Wackenhut security and have been fighting for representation by the Service Employees International Union.
White, from Montgomery Co., Md., told the panel how workers were intimidated by management through daily, mandatory meetings and how he was fired because of his continued efforts to get union representation. Kirkland, now a CWA representative in District 4 working with Comcast employees, said, "Comcast acts like a bully, refusing to adhere to the rules or community standards."
Board members at the hearing included radio commentator Jim Hightower; Fred Feinstein, former general counsel for the National Labor Relations Board; Sarah Fox, former NLRB board member; Maude Hurd, national president of ACORN; Edie Rasell, United Church of Christ, and Ron Daniels, Center for Constitutional Rights.
Following the testimony, Hightower stressed that "this hearing isn't just about helping these workers. It's really about what kind of a country we are going to be. Politicians always talk about jobs, but today, we're talking about income and benefits. Unions make supporting a family possible and we've let big business tear that down."
Fox pointed out that "most people have no idea what workers go through to form a union. The frivolous delays, the illegal interference by management and the lack of meaningful penalties," to a great degree, could be prevented by passage of the Employee Free Choice Act, which would support workers' bargaining and organizing rights, she stressed.
A full report on the hearing will be released later this month.
The national forum, held June 2 in Washington, D.C., was sponsored Jobs with Justice, the national coalition of labor, faith-based, community and student organizations that fights for workers' rights.
Board members heard testimony from Stephen White and Shannon Kirkland, former Comcast workers, on the company's relentless campaign to keep workers from forming a union. The panel also heard from Miriam Moore, Terry Purnell and Corwin Morton, who worked for Wackenhut security and have been fighting for representation by the Service Employees International Union.
White, from Montgomery Co., Md., told the panel how workers were intimidated by management through daily, mandatory meetings and how he was fired because of his continued efforts to get union representation. Kirkland, now a CWA representative in District 4 working with Comcast employees, said, "Comcast acts like a bully, refusing to adhere to the rules or community standards."
Board members at the hearing included radio commentator Jim Hightower; Fred Feinstein, former general counsel for the National Labor Relations Board; Sarah Fox, former NLRB board member; Maude Hurd, national president of ACORN; Edie Rasell, United Church of Christ, and Ron Daniels, Center for Constitutional Rights.
Following the testimony, Hightower stressed that "this hearing isn't just about helping these workers. It's really about what kind of a country we are going to be. Politicians always talk about jobs, but today, we're talking about income and benefits. Unions make supporting a family possible and we've let big business tear that down."
Fox pointed out that "most people have no idea what workers go through to form a union. The frivolous delays, the illegal interference by management and the lack of meaningful penalties," to a great degree, could be prevented by passage of the Employee Free Choice Act, which would support workers' bargaining and organizing rights, she stressed.
A full report on the hearing will be released later this month.