Comcast News and Bargaining Updates

Bargaining was to be resumed this week on Tuesday May 1st 2007, but Comcast canceled due to an illness...

Bargaining did resume on Thursday May 3rd, Comcast was previously asked to provide information on the company standards to support their view on individual’s numbers and discipline. The company did not bring this information and even questioned why we would need it, so it seems they would like to discipline our members for not meeting their numbers, yet don’t want to share how they get or compile the numbers. It is outrageous!!!

Comcast finally responded to the unions economic proposal that were given on April 17, 2007 - the first day of bargaining

Comcast rejected the union’s progressive proposals on Vacation, Flex days and Holiday’s. They also went so far as to say they would never agree to wage increases that would bring us up to the non- represented areas.

Hot off the presses!
Last month, workers from the Cortland facility filed a complaint against Comcast for violating the company’s own Code of Ethics … to date still no response.

This week IBEW Local 21 filed a new complaint with the City of Chicago’s Cable Commission because of Comcast’s violation of the Chicago Cable Ordinance, Comcast’s Cable franchise agreement, Comcast’s EEO/AA plan, and a well as a 2002 City Council resolution on the transfer of the franchise agreement to Comcast.

This violation exploits that Comcast discriminates by refusing to pay its Cortland facility workers fairly and equitably in comparison with its workers at other Chicago locations. This is in direct violation with the City of Chicago franchise agreement as well as Comcast’s own policy.

Local 21 has charged that Comcast has discriminated against its Cortland technical craft workers either because they are minorities or because they are represented by a labor organization or both. Either way it is discrimination and will not be tolerated.

Local 21 requested the City Chicago to hold hearings on this complaint so please stay tuned to the Local 21 Newswire hotline and watch the union bulletin boards for more information about this issue.

The next date for bargaining is set for Thursday May 10, 2007.

In other news for workers at Comcast:
IBEW Local 21 joined other unions, social organizations along with other workers from around the world at the Haymarket Square Memorial for a peaceful rally for May Day which is celebrated on May 1st each year in Chicago and around the world. Union brothers from the Cortland facility even participated by speaking to the hundreds of people about the anti-union Comcast.

Reminder!
Please know what you are signing and the consequences of signing anything this company puts in front of you. You may be signing away your rights!!! PLESASE ASK QUESTIONS!

Brothers and Sisters this news update asks for all of the represented workers at Comcast to get involved with our cause; this is all of our fight! When we stick together as ONE STRONG UNIT we will move mountains but it will take effort on all our parts. Have a say in our Union. Find out from your stewards on how to get involved, pay attention to your union board, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY SPEAK UP, IF IT DOESN’T SOUND RIGHT ASK!

SOLIDARITY!