Key issues for Cingular call center workers in Bothell, Wash., include addressing the pace and volume of call processing and having access to the better health care plan that unionized Cingular workers enjoy.
"The difference we'd have to pay for the non-union health care plan actually covers most of the cost of our union dues," said Carolyn Frisk, a customer care representative. "And, if you have more than one person on your plan, it more than covers the cost of our dues."
The Bothell call center is a Business Markets Group location, where more than 900 workers signed cards to join thousands of other former AT&T Wireless workers in CWA. They will be represented by WashTech/CWA Local 37083 in Seattle.
Local President Marcus Courtney, Vice President Todd Tollefson and Staff Organizers Karen Estevenin, Craig Gamble and Dan Gillespie worked tirelessly with a committee of workers to sign up their colleagues in cafeterias and break rooms and in leafleting outside the call center.
Other local organizers from around District 7 -- including Jeanne Carpenter and Michelle Garza from Local 7901 in Portland and Gerald Haskell from Local 7704 in Salt Lake City --helped in a blitz of more than 300 home visits over the weekend of the campaign.
In Delaware, assisted by District 13 Organizing Coordinator Pam Tronsor and Local 13101 Executive Vice President Frank Santore, State Police civilian employees at nine locations across the state built their union.
They learned about the benefits of a union contract from state 911 workers already represented by the local. The Delaware State Troopers, who have their own association, allowed the civilian employees to use their hall for meetings. Local 13101 Division Vice President Bob Hairgrove set up a website for the workers, where he posted meeting notices and their mission statement.
Others who worked on the campaign include Local 13101 President Bud Speakman, Division Vice Presidents Jim Hummel and Bob Hairgrove, and CWA Representative Jim Byrne.
When mail-in ballots were counted, the workers had voted 69-11 to join CWA, with one ballot voided.
Locals are continuing their outreach to about 13,500 additional workers who became eligible for recognition under this card-check and neutrality agreement on July 1, following the merger of the two companies.
The American Arbitration Association certified majorities at three call centers in California - more than 600 in Anaheim Hills, 260 in Cerritos and 720 in Sacramento, District 9 Vice President Tony Bixler announced. Also on Oct. 13, the AAA certified a majority of 84 workers spread over 14 retail sales locations in Nevada, Bixler said.
Local organizers helped Cingular workers build strong organizing committees at all locations. Local 9510 organizer Kenny Williams took the lead in Anaheim. Local 9400's Jeff Finley and Marjorie Terflinger worked with Cingular employees in Cerritos. And Local 9421 organizer Cherri Henzie oversaw efforts in Sacramento.
One-on-one contact, store meetings and persistence were key to efforts in Nevada, headed by Local 9413 Executive Vice President Liz Sorenson with help from organizers Jim Pierce and Mimi Pearl.
Southern California Area Director Mark Bixler, CWA Representative Laura Reynolds and District 9 Organizing Coordinator John Dugan assisted efforts in both states, with Virginia Rodriguez-Jones, administrative assistant to Bixler, aiding in the California drive.
In Illinois, Local 4202 won recognition for 191 retail sales associates through a campaign that spanned the state. The AAA certified the unit on Sept. 30.
Local 4202 President Holly Sorey and executive board members Tracy Colquitt, Kathy Einstein, Lisa Lutey, Mike Stafford, Kitria Smith, Richie Stewart and Deanna Warren assisted the workers, reported Susan Baxter-Flemming, administrative assistant to District 4 Vice President Seth Rosen.
Long-time CWA-represented workers at Cingular -- Smith, Stewart and Warren -- talked one on one with the retail sales associates, working with Local 4202 Organizer Maureen Ehlert.
Officers and staff from IUE-CWA Local 84800 helped sales associates in Rockford, Ill., to build support.
On Oct. 5, based on a 70-percent majority signing cards, the AAA certified recognition for a statewide unit of 57 Cingular technicians in Pennsylvania. They will be represented by Local 13000.
Local 13000 Organizer Harry Arnold said the workers' drive for union representation was one of the fastest moving campaigns he had ever worked on, lasting less than two months from beginning to end.
Forty-four retail sales workers in Maine won certification on Oct. 11. Local 1400 organizer Shela McGillicuddy led the campaign, helping the workers build strong committees in almost all of the stores.
In Maryland, 23 network technicians statewide chose representation by Local 2107. Local organizer Lynette Snell assisted the workers during their campaign.
The changes do not alter, nor misrepresent the point we want to get across -- that our bargained plan is better, less expensive and protected against changes than the company plans.
I also attached the revised handout on our Cingular Wireless website at http://www.cwa-union.org/cingular so workers will be able to access the updated figures.
Here are the sections updated & the changes:
Under "Monthly Premiums" for Cingular Edge Plus & Edge: The premium costs for the Edge and Edge Plus plans are now slightly higher than we stated earlier. The new figures are effective for Jan. 1, 2006.
Under the "Dental" and "Vision" sections for Cingular Edge and Edge Plus: The monthly contributions for the Cingular plans -- Dental and Vision -- are now slightly higher and reflect costs effective on Jan. 1, 2006.
Under the Prescriptions for the National CWA Bargained Plan: the maximum mail order (90-day supply) cost for CWA represented workers are $50, $70, and $90, for generic, formulary and brand -- not $15, $30 and $45 as we had originally misstated.
ALSO.....
The new health care piece we discussed doing that included the third and most expensive Cingular plan for unrepresenteds -- UHC/EPO -- can not yet be completed because we do not have all of the figures on the UHC/EPO plan...They were not even included in the Cingular Total Rewards booklet covering new medical benefits for unrepresented employees in Jan. 2006.
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