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Cingular Wireless Workers in Illinois Choose CWA: Victory is Largest Single Wireless Group to Say Un
Washington, D.C. - An organizing campaign by workers at Cingular Wireless in Illinois has resulted in the largest single wireless group to date - nearly 1,200 workers - choosing union representation and the Communications Workers of America.
Key issues in the campaign were workers' concerns about the future of their jobs in light of the recent merger of the wireless operations of SBC Communications and BellSouth Corp., and fair treatment, said CWA District 4 Vice President Jeff Rechenbach. The new unit includes retail sales workers, customer service representatives and technicians.
The organizing campaign among the nearly 1,200 workers demonstrated overwhelming support for CWA and the union was certified Oct. 26 by the American Arbitration Association. The campaign was conducted under the "card check" recognition and neutrality agreement CWA had negotiated with SBC - with the company agreeing to recognize CWA when a majority of workers indicate they want union representation.
"We want to move fast and move quickly to bargaining," said Rechenbach. "With the support of CWA Local 4202, the Cingular workers are completing bargaining surveys and building a mobilization proram to prepare for negotiations, and will soon elect a bargaining team." Leading the drive was CWA Local 4202 and its president, Maureen Ehlart, along with CWA representative Celia Cody.
Cingular, the nation's second-largest wireless carrier, was finalized in October, the result of a merger between SBC and BellSouth wireless companies, with SBC owning 60 percent and BellSouth 40 percent of the venture.
Key issues in the campaign were workers' concerns about the future of their jobs in light of the recent merger of the wireless operations of SBC Communications and BellSouth Corp., and fair treatment, said CWA District 4 Vice President Jeff Rechenbach. The new unit includes retail sales workers, customer service representatives and technicians.
The organizing campaign among the nearly 1,200 workers demonstrated overwhelming support for CWA and the union was certified Oct. 26 by the American Arbitration Association. The campaign was conducted under the "card check" recognition and neutrality agreement CWA had negotiated with SBC - with the company agreeing to recognize CWA when a majority of workers indicate they want union representation.
"We want to move fast and move quickly to bargaining," said Rechenbach. "With the support of CWA Local 4202, the Cingular workers are completing bargaining surveys and building a mobilization proram to prepare for negotiations, and will soon elect a bargaining team." Leading the drive was CWA Local 4202 and its president, Maureen Ehlart, along with CWA representative Celia Cody.
Cingular, the nation's second-largest wireless carrier, was finalized in October, the result of a merger between SBC and BellSouth wireless companies, with SBC owning 60 percent and BellSouth 40 percent of the venture.
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