Cross-Atlantic union ties could impact T-Mobile USA (1st ever cross Atlantic partners)

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.rcrnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080404/FREE/693197541/1005


Cross-Atlantic union ties could impact T-Mobile USA

By Jeffrey Silva
Story posted: April 4, 2008 - 2:07 pm EDT

The Communications Workers of America said it joined forces with Germany’s largest union, potentially giving organized labor more leverage to secure unionization of T-Mobile USA Inc.’s wireless workers.

“This is an aspect of organizing that hasn’t been done before — it’s a huge breakthrough,” said CWA President Larry Cohen. “This new union sends a message to T-Mobile management in the U.S. that workers at Deutsche Telekom and at other T-Mobile operations who have bargaining rights will fight hard to protect them and to support their U.S. counterparts who also want the right to collective bargaining.”

T-Mobile USA is the American subsidiary of Germany’s Deutsche Telekon AG, one of the largest telecom companies in the world.

CWA said T-Mobile USA has vigorously opposed workers’ efforts to seek collective bargaining rights, noting that some workers at the No. 4 mobile-phone operator have expressed interest in organizing.

CWA said the partnership with ver.di — dubbed T-Union — is the first collaboration of its kind. The new, transatlantic union has created a Web site at t-mobileunion.org, where, according to CWA, wireless workers can safely exchange information and experiences about workplace issues. In addition, a text messaging system has been set up exclusively for U.S. members, with T-Mobile USA employees now able to text TUNION to get a message about the campaign.


FULL story at link.