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2011 UAW/CAW
Union Made Vehicles
Click image to view the June 2011 Newsletter(Adobe Acrobat format)
Chicago Comcast Workers Allege Discrimination in Federal Lawsuit
November 30, 2011 - Several African-American employees working at Comcast Corporation’s Chicago South shop filed a lawsuit early this week against the company, alleging “an ongoing pattern of race discrimination” against current and former employees. The suit also charges that Comcast ordered employees to install defective cable boxes and other bug-infested equipment in homes throughout Chicago’s South Side.
This story could grow into another PR nightmare for Comcast Corporation, a company already subject to ongoing negative public relations news across the country. The lawsuit also seeks class-action status. Case No. 1:11-cv-08471 was filed Monday in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois Eastern Division.
The workers at this Comcast shop have created a website ComcastDiscrimination.com seeking customers who received service over the last six years. Separately, Comcast has also been charged with numerous unfair labor practices at this same Chicago South location during the same time frame as the alleged incidents above.
City of Chicago Workers, Residents and Alderman Fight Back Against Job Cuts
November 2, 2011 – As of this morning, a majority of Chicago Alderman are calling for changes in Mayor Emmanuel’s 2012 city budget. Outlined in a letter the Alderman sent to the Mayor, are items that if enacted, would negatively affect residents, city employees, and endanger public safety. The concerns specifically speak to the $10 million dollars in proposed cuts in police and fire dispatchers, and others, in the Office of Emergency Management and Communications.
This ongoing story has received extensive media coverage over the last couple of days. Discussion over the budget is certain to be intense during today’s Chicago City Council meeting.
The coalitions of Alderman that are standing up against the extensive cuts are to be commended. The Mayor has indicated he is willing to change his budget if cuts can be made up in another way. We encourage all members to continue contacting their Chicago Alderman sharing personal concerns about the proposed cuts. To get specific contact information for your Alderman, click here. Stay tuned.
City of Chicago OEMC-911 Center Cuts Put Police Fire & Public at Risk
October 27, 2011 – Chicago’s OEMC employees annually handle more than 5 million emergency calls to the City’s 9-1-1 Center. Their jobs involve making crucial decisions, often in life or death situations, while also maintaining a calm and comforting presence for callers and first responders. They are deeply committed to keeping all residents safe across the City, despite the stressful circumstances they face in their jobs every day.
City of Chicago Office of Emergency Management
Yet the Mayor’s 2012 budget calls for new layoffs and the elimination of existing vacancies. In a recent Chicago Sun-times Analysis, City Hall reporter Fran Spielman wrote that “Management … is saying the wait time for a 911 call will go from one-to-three seconds to ten-to-fifteen seconds, possibly more. This is very disturbing,” said an OEMC employee, who asked to remain anonymous.
IBEW Local Union 21 Representatives have joined together with other IBEW local unions and attended the City of Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communications Budget Hearing on Monday, October 24, 2011. Ongoing meetings with Chicago Alderman and other allies will continue so decision makers clearly understand that if they agree to cut OEMC jobs, they will be held responsible for compromising the safety of public employees and the residents of the City Of Chicago.
We ask all members to stay tuned to this developing story. An injury to one is an injury to all. Solidarity!
2009 AT&T Bargaining & Mobilization News
I.B.E.W. Local Union 21
1307 Butterfield Rd., Suite 422
Downers Grove, Illinois 60515
(630) 960-4466
(630) 960-9607 fax
