IBEW Organizes 700 Comcast Workers Who Saw Pay Slashed While Profits Soared

[Omaha Steve]

X post in Labor

http://wepartypatriots.com/wp/2014/07/08/ibew-organizes-700-comcast-workers-who-saw-pay-slashed-while-profits-soared/

With their work conditions eroding, Comcast direct sales reps in Florida turned to the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) to help them organize. Comcast was making record profits while slashing pay by nearly 30 percent, so it’s easy to understand why 700 technicians would band together nationwide to fight for better pay through collective bargaining.

Sales representative Debbie Hernandez spoke with IBEW bloggers about the 2012 salary restructuring which triggered the initial outrage among workers. “They increased our sales goals, lowered our commission and lowered our salary – all in one day,” she said.

Communication between co-workers was difficult. Thanks to the IBEW, though, coordinating organizational efforts was simplified:

Because they’re always in the field talking with customers, some reps had never even spoken to each other,” [Fifth District Lead Organizer Kathy Smith] said. “But once the organizing campaign got off the ground, it was another story.”

FULL story at link.

[Demeter]

1. Good for them! And for us all!

They have enough in numbers and value to make their lives better.

Too many of the make-work, useless jobs we are taking out of necessity can't say the same.

Can you imagine the greeters at the local market, organizing? The market would just discontinue the practice.

[Rod Beauvex]

2. .

I thought Wal Mart did discontinue them.

[Demeter]

3. I don't know...don't shop Walmart

but our local grocery super store (rw owned) still does.

[ctsnowman]

4. No doubt

some will claim that any demand for higher wages will be passed on to the consumer, never mind the fact that the corps profits are soaring and our bills NEVER go down.