When protestors first took to the streets of New York City in the fall of 2011 with chants and signs of We Are the 99% no one was sure what would happen next. Indeed, after the initial passion died down, many seemed ready to dismiss the whole episode as a fluke. But, for a few brave workers in Cablevision garages throughout New York, this was just the beginning.
Technicians for Cablevision, tired of consistently poor working conditions and pay, decided to do what workers have been doing for centuries, join together and form a union. Unfortunately, despite working for a company with hundreds of millions in profit, essentially zero federal income taxes and exorbitant executive pay, management had zero interest in treating workers fairly.
But the workers knew that this was their chance, and that one wouldn’t likely come again. So, against all odds, on January 26th, 2012 Brooklyn Cablevision technicians voted for representation with CWA.
Management still had zero interest in treating their workers fairly though, so instead of entering into contract negotiations in good faith, they stalled negotiations in the hopes of decertifying the unit before having to agree to anything.
Again, the company wasn’t prepared for workers actually standing up for themselves. The Brooklyn technicians tackled this new challenge head on and rallied their community and the entire city to their cause. Religious leaders, New York City Council members and countless community groups took up the call of “We are the union, one day longer, one day stronger.”
Cablevision even went so far as to fire 22 Brooklyn workers when they asked speak with senior management about the stalled contract negotiations. But again, the workers leveraged their ties to their community and by building incredible outside pressure forced management to rehire every single technician.
Although their fight for a fair contract continues, it is unmistakably clear that Cablevision technicians are more united than ever. They will keep fighting, one day longer, one day stronger.
Learn more at www.thecablevision99.org.