Comcast News and Bargaining Updates

Bargaining resumed this week for the Cortland shop, with no movement by the company on their wage proposal. Comcast is still proposing only a 2.25% wage increase, and only a 50 cent increase in the starting pay rates. Just as bad, the company is standing on their proposal for only a one-year agreement.

Local 21’s wage proposal is for all bargaining unit members to fall under the Comcast Comm Tech program with the same wage rates as those paid in the non-represented shops. Our union team is proposing a three-year collective bargaining agreement.

Let’s not forget that Comcast continues paying union-busting lawyers from the notorious law firm Seyfarth and Shaw to head up the company bargaining team, and Comcast pay them well. Seyfarth and Shaw has over 700 management lawyers working for Comcast, and other clients. This is a firm nationally known for specializing in keeping unions out of companies when their workers want to organize, and helping companies get rid of unions where they are already formed. You tell me how good faith bargaining can occur with antagonist’s like this heading up the company bargaining team.

Let’s continue talking about the wage proposal. Comcast has, and is, clearly showing prejudice towards bargaining unit members and your legal right to belong to a union. When companies like Comcast intentionally discriminate against employees, for any reason, they join the low-road employers club. Just don’t look for this local union to roll out the red carpet.

Here’s where we are at, but first, it is important to note that for several months, Local 21 has lawfully and rightfully requested in writing, the following information from Comcast, information relevant to these negotiations and information that Comcast must legally furnish as part of the collective bargaining process. Local 21 requested the full information concerning the Comm Tech wages and wage system utilized by Comcast for its technical employees. Since May 16, 2007, about two weeks before the contract expired, Comcast has failed and refused to furnish Local 21 with the information requested.

As a result, our union filed a complaint with the Regional Director of the National Labor Relations Board in Chicago, charging that Comcast has been engaging in unfair labor practices and bargaining in bad faith.

After investigating our unions complaint against Comcast, on August 3, 2007, the National Labor Relations Board agreed, serving the company with written notice that Comcast has been failing and refusing to bargain collectively and in good faith with IBEW Local 21 in violation of Sections 8(a)(1) and 8(a)(5) of the National Labor Relations Act.

Comcast was also notified on August 3rd that the company must answer to the National Labor Relations Board’s complaint by August 17, 2007, and that a hearing will be conducted in Chicago, IL before an administrative law judge of the National Labor Relations Board at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, October 1, 2007, and on consecutive days thereafter until the hearing is concluded. The hearing is open to the general public and will be held at the National Labor Relations Board Region 13 office, located in the Rookery Building at 209 South LaSalle Street, Suite 900 in Chicago, IL. Mark that date on your calendar.

This is not to be confused with the separate complaint Local 21 filed against Comcast on May 2, 2007 with the Chicago Cable Commission. That complaint alleges that Comcast’s unequal pay system violates Chicago’s Cable Ordinance, Comcast’s 2007 Affirmative Action Plan required under the Ordinance, and the City Council’s 2002 Cable Franchise Resolution approving Comcast’s application to control a cable franchise.

Based on the commitment by IBEW Local 21 to expose the real Comcast, along with your active involvement educating a growing number of Chicago Alderman, on July 19, 2007, the Chicago City Council passed a resolution calling for hearings into questions arising from Comcast’s alleged system of pay inequality at its Chicago facilities. The hearing will be conducted by the Committee on License and Consumer Protection.

Brothers and Sisters – it is critical that we continue the pressure to force Comcast to bargain in good faith and reward the hard-working members of this union. We can do this together, by getting involved if you’re not, and staying involved if you are. Let your voice be heard! With our assistance, workers living in the City of Chicago must talk to their Alderman, sharing the truth about Comcast. Collectively, we will hold Comcast to a higher standard in our communities, but only by fighting the fight and exposing the truth. If you have not yet spoken to your Alderman, contact Business Representative Jerry Rankins at 630.222.9100. Bargaining continues on August 20, 2007.

Merrillville News
Local 21 has filed several grievances over a number of issues, including the company’s use of discipline for not completing unreasonable workloads and bringing work back. Comcast has closed the Griffith payment Center, creating a surplus of one CSSR, who is now assigned to work at the Merrillville location.

West Area News
Here’s an update on the recent vacation arbitration award that ordered Comcast to make whole payments to all affected bargaining unit members as the settlement in that major win. After meetings with Comcast managers, our union has reached agreement on all payment amounts and those payments should be soon at hand. For more information, contact Area Steward Kevin Beallis at 630.399.6512 or Business Rep. Jerry Rankins at 630.222.9100.

Make sure to utilize your union bulletin board daily, members in Cortland, talk your bargaining committee to stay informed, pay attention for upcoming events, and to all bargaining units, always stand strong, and stand together.

Solidarity!