1:34:pm
CWA Delivers 5,000 Letters to PSC
Yesterday, CWA turned in almost 5,000 handwritten letters from Verizon workers to the NYS Public Service Commission at yesterday's regular meeting with 1800 coming from Local 1101. We do believe the PSC has not gotten that many letters on any utility issue in at least several years. More letters are still coming into this office from locals. In addition, AARP, Consumers Union, Center for Working Families, Citizen Action, Common Cause, NYPIRG and the Alliance for Retired Americans joined us in supporting the Attorney General's filing, which calls on the PSC to stop allowing Verizon to reduce workforce and network investments, causing service quality problems.
The PSC, which is feeling the heat, ordered Verizon to respond to the AG's petition within 30 days, and pulled two items off their agenda that probably would have led to more meaningless regulatory wrist slaps on Verizon (presumably they are evaluating their position). Because of the AG's intervention, we have a chance at reversing the PSC's collusion with Verizon to weaken copper network service quality protections.
The consumer and senior groups that we are working with were energized by the successful battle to retain State-level regulatory authority over VoIP telephone service. They are getting increasingly involved in telephone service quality issues, which will help us push Verizon and the PSC. We are also continuing communication with Attorney General Schneiderman.
If you have more letters, give them to your steward.
Opposition to Verizon/Cable Deal Continues
Public opposition to the Verizon Wireless/Big cable deal is heating up. For example, nine Mayors from Upstate NY cities (Buffalo, Syracuse, Albany, Binghamton, Cortland, Utica, Kingston, Elmira and Troy) just expressed their deep concern with the deal, citing its negative effects on economic development and the digital divide. Consumer groups and Verizon Wireless' competitors are also stepping up their opposition. Fighting the deal, which includes a spectrum transfer and marketing agreements, is still an uphill battle.
CWA's fire is targeted at the marketing agreements between VZW and Cable, which weaken Verizon's incentive to invest in FiOS development, not the spectrum deal alone. Our efforts are making these agreements into a focus of concern on the issue. Analysts’ views of the deal's approval seem to be moving from a "this is a done deal" to "hmmm, something is happening here, but the FCC will still likely approve the deal". Both the FCC and the Department of Justice are reviewing the deal, including the joint marketing agreements.
Stay tuned for more mobilization activities on these issues soon.
2013 Mayoral Hopefuls Boost Bronx Cablevision Technicians' Hopes Of Unionizing With CWA
BY Celeste Katz
Mayoral candidate Bill Thompson could be looking to raise his profile with voters by supporting Bronx workers who want to unionize – but he's not alone.
Our Daniel Beekman reports:
Labor-friendly 2013 wannabees John Liu, the city comptroller, and Public Advocate Bill de Blasio are also backing the campaign by Bronx Cablevision technicians to join the Communication Workers of America.
All three candidates will join hundreds of workers at a meeting tonight. Brooklyn Cablevision workers voted to unionize in January after Liu, de Blasio, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn and other pols urged Cablevision CEO James Dolan to refrain from tough tactics.
CWA Files for Election for Cablevision
CWA Local 1101 President Keith Purce announced today that the Organizing Committee officially filed for a representative election for the Cablevision workers in the Bronx. This filing comes four months after the Cablevision technicians in Brooklyn voted overwhelmingly to be represented by CWA Local 1109.
Over 260 technicians will be able to vote in this election when the date of the election is determined by the National Labor Relations Board.
A very recent decision has made it a little more difficult for the technicians. A Federal Judge recently reversed a decision by the NLRB that shortened the amount of time between filing and the election. Management likes a longer time to be able to “convince” the workers that a union is not the way to go, with closed door meetings, special incentives and intimidations.
http://www.legalnewsline.com/news/236153-court-declares-nlrb-speedy-election-rule-invalid
A positive vote for the union will bring the Bronx technicians in solidarity with the Brooklyn technicians setting up a much stronger front when meeting management at the bargaining table.
The Cablevision workers know this is just the start of a long struggle to have a voice and dignity in their workplace. All CWA members are in full support and will do whatever they can to help.
The drive is being led by CWA District One organizers Tim Dubnau and Erin Mahoney, along with CWA Local 1101 organizers Ken Spatta and Mike Basso as well as the brave technicians at Cablevision.
