Partners: Rev. Al Sharpton, National Action Network, Occupy Faith NYC, Members of the New York City Council, Members of the New York State Assembly
When 280 Cablevision technicians in Brooklyn joined together to get a union, the company began an intense campaign of intimidation and harassment. CWA asked for help, and community partners and elected officials responded, standing with the workers.
Rev. Al Sharpton, city elected officials and civil rights activists held a rally outside Madison Square Garden, owned by Cablevision CEO James Dolan, and another march and rally in Brooklyn, to show their support for the Cablevision workers. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio – then in his role as public advocate – requested that Cablevision management hold a public debate on the merits of union representation; the company refused. De Blasio and elected officials also requested a meeting with Dolan, to call on the company to allow the workers to organize without fear of intimidation. They never heard back.
In January 2012, the workers withstood the company pressure and voted to join CWA Local 1109. Nearly a year later, when 22 workers tried to talk with management about the stalled contract negotiations, using the company’s “open door” policy, they were illegally fired and “permanently replaced.”
Cablevision technicians, CWA Local 1109 and a strong coalition of religious leaders, community members and civil rights activists stood together in the workers’ fight for a first contract. The coalition stood together and successfully forced the company to hire back all 22 workers who were illegally fired. Elected officials continued to stand with the Cablevision workers at rallies and events, and virtually all the NYC mayoral candidates joined the workers in their call for a fair contract. From members of the New York City Council to the New York State Assembly, elected officials have joined the fight for a fairness contract at Cablevision.