Standing Up for Pittsburgh Area Cable Workers - ILCA

Communications Workers of America District 13 in western Pennsylvania has organized the largest group of cable workers in the country, in a predominantly non-union industry. But when cable operations shifted from AT&T to decidedly anti-union Comcast, union members faced a concerted campaign to get rid of their CWA representation and to prevent any more employees from joining the union. It took over five years for the district to bargain a contract with Comcast. In the meantime, the company used the carrot of parties and prizes for non-union employees, as well as the stick of layoffs and firings, to get try to rid of the union. While CWA lost some units, other stuck to the union, turning back several decertification election attempts. The district and management finally reached an understanding and some contracts were negotiated relatively quickly. However, Comcast has returned to its earlier tactics, stalling 2009 bargaining in Pittsburgh and across the country. Comcast's practices have made it a prime example in arguing for the Employee Free Choice Act to protect workers' rights to organize and bargain. In fact, John Pezzana, a Pittsburgh CWA member working for Comcast, has literally become a 'poster child" as he appeared on a billboard for the legislation.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• CWA
• CWA District 13
• ILCA
• ILCA Media Center'
• labor
• unions
• EFCA
• Employee Free Choice Act
• Labor Education Service
• cable
• Comcast
• Cable workers
• CWA Local 38000

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David lives in Clairton I know this dude