IBEW & CWA Unite Efforts at Comcast

"Our strategic plan is rooted in common sense, in the proven, battle-tested theory that labor is stronger when we work in solidarity. As Comcast rips off consumers and taxpayers across our nation, they have handed us a golden opportunity to link our struggle for justice and safety on the job with their customer’s right to quality service. Our potential allies number in the millions." -- President Ed Hill, IBEW

Predators are in trouble when their victims unite. On July 14, 2004 will forever mean trouble for Comcast, a leading foe of telecommunications unions and of quality-conscious consumers. On that day, Edwin Hill, President of the IBEW and Morton Bahr, President of the Communications Workers of America (CWA) will host a conference call of organizers across the nation to boost their joint efforts to force Comcast to live by the rules of corporate responsibility. The Comcast campaign, marking an important step into the difficult frontier of cable organizing, targets 50 cities, covering 9 IBEW districts.

Comcast -- Anti-Union and Anti-Consumer

When Comcast acquired AT&T Broadband in 2003, Comcast Chairman and CEO Brian Roberts and his father, the company’s founder, Ralph Roberts, also took over direction of workers in different towns and cities who were members of the either the Communications Workers of America (CWA) or the IBEW.

As owners, they had two choices. They could recognize and respect the worker’s unions and their right to organize. Or they could play hardball and declare war on workers who believe that justice on the job is the cornerstone of balanced labor relations and successful companies. Brian and Ralph Roberts declared war.

They delayed contract negotiations, fired pro-union workers and eventually succeeded in de-certifying 16 out of 22 bargaining units. Currently the IBEW has contracts with Comcast covering 13 bargaining units. In Chicago, IBEW Local 21 has been fighting for 4 years to negotiate a new agreement.

As Comcast increased its market share, the company leveraged city and county governments across the country into one-sided "franchise agreements" that deny the municipalities and their tax-payers of a fair share of profits from the company’s growing array of technological applications. Customer complaints have gone through the roof as Comcast speeds up the pace of work, leaving homeowners and workers in physical danger from ungrounded wires and other violations of safety standards.

Strategic Campaign Aims to Win

There’s an old saying that "repression breeds resistance." Comcast’s hostile acts have ignited worker protests across the country and have been the catalyst for the coordinated, strategic campaign by the CWA, the IBEW and cable consumers of Comcast. The campaign will also target Verizon Wireless, another firm that has resisted unionization with blatantly illegal tactics.

Martha Pultar, Director of the Telecommunications Department and Mary Bouffard, an International Representative, recently assigned to the International office, are leading IBEW efforts in the strategic campaign. The unions have already achieved some impressive milestones:

The unions have called Comcast to task for the company’s refusal to comply with Federal Communications Commission (FCC) guidelines on aking their files available to the public. Union members who visited Comcast’s office to request information discovered the violations. The IBEW’s Martha Pultar and Debbie Goldman from CWA, along with communications lawyer Joe Van Eaton, met with Comcast attorneys, but Comcast was unwilling to admit their guilt and pay damages. The FCC has sent Comcast a notice of inquiry asking for more information.

The unions encouraged members to attend the Comcast Shareholders Meeting on May 26^th. Kevin Beallis, a member of IBEW Local 21, delivered a powerful statement (Click here) to the shareholders, accompanied by 100 members of CWA Local 13000 in red shirts. The unions joined a lively debate and vote on a proposal for a "one-share, one-vote" provision for corporate governance.

CWA and IBEW Participated in the June 2^nd Jobs With Justice first National Workers Rights Board hearing in Washington, D.C. The Board heard testimony from workers at Comcast and Wackenhut Security. The report is available at www.jwj.org.

The CWA won a hard-fought Comcast organizing campaign in Pittsburgh on June 16^th. They credit Senator John J. Kerry, Democratic presidential candidate, for his support. Kerry sent a letter to Comcast CEO Roberts, pledging his support for their organizing efforts. Click here.

Strategic campaigners are showing a hard-hitting slide show on the cable industry at city and county council meetings in areas where Comcast has, or is trying to establish, franchise agreements. Click here.

Links:

• Comcastwatch - www.comcastwatch.com
• IBEW Local 827- www.local827.net