Organizing Update

Glitch

In a historic step forward for workers organizing in tech, employees at Glitch, a coding platform tool company, last week won recognition for their union and will join CWA Local 1101. Glitch voluntarily recognized the union after it demonstrated that 90% of the workers indicated their support for joining CWA.

The organizing effort is part of the Campaign to Organize Digital Employees (CODE-CWA) initiative, launched by CWA in January to help workers in the industry build power. By forming a union, Glitch employees, about half of whom work in the New York City headquarters and half of whom work remotely throughout the country, will gain a voice on the job and the ability to collectively bargain for pay equity throughout the company, and protections from unfair discipline and lay-offs.

"We are excited to set the standard for the tech community, and for us at Glitch to join CWA in pushing for ethical, humane, and responsible behavior from tech employers. We are also very excited to support workers everywhere engaged in similar struggles," said Zainab Shah, a Partnerships Manager at Glitch. "The balance of power is a little more in favor of workers today, and I'm proud of us for contributing to the long and deep-rooted tradition of organizing for labor rights in the U.S. and beyond."

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Frontier Communications

Frontier Communications workers on the Navajo Nation in Arizona have voted to join CWA. The bargaining unit will contain 36 technicians who provide telecommunications services on the vast reservation.

Despite being on the brink of bankruptcy, Frontier hired anti-union consultants to come in and campaign against the union. The consultants did ride-alongs, had one-on-one conversations, and told lies about unions. The workers overcame the anti-union campaign by sticking together, talking to each other, and publicly showing their support for the union.

"I have worked for Frontier for years and in the last few years myself and my co-workers feel we have no voice in our future," said Technician Darryl Bitsoi. "We just want a seat at the table with a voice to protect our jobs and our ability to serve our customers. That is why we voted to join CWA."

Workers at Frontier Communications on the Navajo Nation vote to join CWA.

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The Roanoke Times

Journalists at The Roanoke Times marked Lee Enterprises' takeover of Warren Buffett's BH Media Group on Monday with an announcement on Tuesday: They're forming the Timesland News Guild, becoming the first to organize since the purchase was announced in January. More than 75 percent of Roanoke Times newsroom employees – reporters, photographers, graphic artists, copy and online editors, designers, and support staff – signed cards indicating support for the union organizing effort.

"We're taking this step to give our newsrooms a seat at the table with our new owners," said Tonia Moxley, a reporter at The Roanoke Times since 2000.

Union organizers seek to work with local management to strengthen The Roanoke Times, they said in a press statement. "A union can hold company leaders accountable to the high journalistic standards readers deserve, advocate for the restoration of jobs and beats that serve the community, and negotiate for fair pay and employment practices," they wrote.