Comcast News and Bargaining Updates

This is Monday May 14, 2007 update.

Bargaining resumed for the Cortland facility on Friday May 11th. Comcast has posted record setting profits and their CEO was paid over 26 million dollars, yet they rejected the unions’ fair proposal on wages … and proposed their own. What was it? A measly 1.85%. This is unacceptable.

Comcast said the union’s proposal on wages was not comparing apples to apples but apples to oranges. The company said this because the union contends all employees should be treated the same in wages weather they are union or non-union. The company claims there is a different structure and they are not the same. The union knows better and we are doing the same work. Give us a break!

Bargaining then resumed on May 14th with the company seeking an answer to their ridiculous wage offer. The union told the company they were prepared to respond but wanted to get some other issues out of the way; after much dialog the union and the company agreed to new progressive language on our bulletin boards, and discharge, discipline, and suspension language. In the course of negotiations it was flushed out from the company that they don’t want your voices heard in the work place by limiting the amount of stewards we can have in our shop. This issue is still being reviewed.

Back to the wages - the union has proposed that all workers would fall under the Comcast CommTech program with the same wage benefits as non-union. The union of course requested the information and is reserving its right to review the CommTech program. The bargaining team feels this will end the company’s stance, on their apples to apples argument.

Brothers and Sisters - this goes out to all of us. It is imperative that we all get involved with this fight. Let your voice be heard! Workers that live in the City of Chicago - the time is now for you to get to know your alderman in your ward. The union will be contacting all workers who live in Chicago. The union will be providing you an information packet which contains the complaint filed by IBEW local 21 with the cable commissioner. This complaint shows Comcast lied to the City when it submitted in writing the following: 1) Comcast will maintain a fair and equitable compensation program through out the organization; and 2) Comcast will maintain a compensation level consistent with the local geographical area, the industry and the skill involved.

This information packet will contain the Code of Ethics complaint filed by members of the bargaining unit. This information will help educate, and shed some light on this low-life employer and our continued struggles. We need to furnish this information to your alderman and demand them to hold immediate hearings on the complaint. We all can see these lies as well as the injustices at Comcast and it’s time to hold this low road predatory union-busting company accountable. You are the constituents of your community, meaning your alderman wants to hear from you. You must get involved. You hold control of your future. Together with all of us doing this small task we will hold Comcast to a higher standard in our community, but we must speak up.

Brothers and Sisters please utilize your union bulletin board daily, your bargaining committee and pay attention for upcoming events. Together we stand strong.
Solidarity!