Vermont AT&T wireless phone store workers unite in CWA Local 1400
After a short campaign, eighty-one AT&T Mobility phone store workers in eleven Vermont stores have formed a new union with CWA Local 1400.
During the months of July and August, a majority of the workers signed representation cards seeking membership in Local 1400. Their majority was certified by the American Arbitration Association on September 21 against a list provided by AT&T management.
The entire process took place without any management interference, following an agreement between AT&T and CWA allowing employees to freely form unions using a majority sign up process.
"With the union contract, we'll have a stronger voice in our work life," said Michael Trudo, a Sales Support Rep. who lives in South Burlington.
"As an employee of 5 years, I'm looking forward to gaining more respect on the job and for the seniority of longer-term employees," said Josh Sausville, a Retail Sales Consultant from Burlington.
The former Unicel workers will be dovetailed into an existing contract that already covers AT&T wireless phone workers in Maine and New Hampshire. "Our local union encompasses all aspects of the telecom industry, both wireless and landlines," said Darlene Stone, a Local 1400 organizer who assisted the workers in their campaign for representation. "With these new members, we are all stronger together."
More than 40,000 AT&T Mobility wireless workers have gained a voice in their jobs through the 700,000-member Communications Workers of America.
"Contrast the simplicity and ease that AT&T Mobility workers formed a union with the intense management interference that Verizon Wireless workers have experienced," said CWA staffer Ralph Montefusco, who also assisted the campaign. "Vermonters should seriously consider bringing their cell phone business to AT&T."
The AT&T workers victory takes place amid the national political debate about enacting the Employee Free Choice Act. If enacted, workers at all companies could organize like those at AT&T simply by demonstrating majority support on union authorization cards.
Another 85 AT&T employees who work in Maine and New Hampshire are already united in Local 1400. CWA Local 1400 also represents more than 1,500 telecom workers throughout New England at Verizon and FairPoint.
Comments
vermont
I cant believe that a small place like Vermont can have a booming industry like this. Here's a little trivia for you people – ever wondered what the smallest state capital is? The smallest state capital is Montpelier, Vermont. It has an area of 10 square miles and a population of just over 8,000. The nearest national capital in size is St. George's, capital of Grenada, with a population of about 7,700. The largest state capital, by comparison is Phoenix, Arizona, which has a population of about over 5 million. The town was settled in the late 18th century, and incorporated as a city in 1895, though it previously had been an unincorporated township for over 100 years. (It means a town is there, but doesn't have the right paperwork.) However, the smallest state capital is a full service town – in a region perhaps worth payday loans to go see.
Vermont
On AT&T official site I found this information: Vermonters are keenly aware of the value and importance of having access to high speed voice and data networks within the state and the news of AT&T's introduction of 3G capabilities to their network is welcome, indeed," said Thomas E. Murray, Executive Director of the Vermont Telecommunications Authority. "The VTA values the investments of partners like AT&T in Vermont as the VTA works toward fulfilling its mission to make broadband and wireless coverage available across the state.
This year’s 3G expansion is the first part of an ongoing network upgrade in Vermont. Additional coverage enhancements, including early first quarter 3G expansions in Barre, Montpelier and Northfield are already planned for 2010.
It's also about unitedcashloans I've red not long ago.