In Boost for Efforts to Gain a Union Voice with CWA, GDIT Workers Win Settlement

In a victory for workers at General Dynamics Information Technology, Inc. (GDIT), who are organizing to gain a voice in their workplace with CWA, the company agreed to a settlement that overturns 2017 union election results at its Alexandria, Va., facility that were tainted by GDIT's union busting activities, and requires the company to send a notice to employees pledging not to engage in illegal anti-union activities in the future.

In the notice, GDIT pledges not to lie to workers by telling them voting for union representation is futile because it would take an "act of Congress" to increase their wages (a claim that GDIT has made before); not to threaten employees with the loss of financial benefits; and not to engage in other anti-union intimidation tactics.

The promises in the notice may have wide-reaching implications for GDIT workers in their continued fight for better working conditions. GDIT is required to refrain from the type of union busting addressed in the notice at all of its facilities around the country.

Sabrina Batts-Hopson, a customer service professional at the Alexandria facility said, "We feel vindicated by this settlement. We knew what management at GDIT was doing was wrong, and we didn't believe we got a fair election. We're happy the board found merit to our charges and that GDIT has agreed to stop spreading misinformation to its workers."

Since January, more than 2,000 current and former GDIT call center workers have come forward to call on the Department of Labor (DOL) to investigate violations of prevailing wage law at the company.