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Communications Workers of America took a stand against SBC Communications, Friday, April 30.
The gathering began outside the SBC shareholders meeting that was being held at the Hyatt on Capital. The CWA was protesting SBC because they were going to charge retirees with health premiums.
In exchange for the CWA rally not protesting the shareholders meeting, retirees will not have to pay premiums for the duration of the contract.
The boisterous crowd, some five hundred strong, moved from the Hyatt to another hotel ballroom to celebrate its triumph over SBC. However, this was only one victory in a marred and difficult bargaining war that waged following the expiration of the old contract until recently, when tentative agreements were made. Layoffs, employment in growing sections of SBC for union workers, raises, health care, moving overseas factions of SBC back to the U.S., and other CWA concerns were brought to the bargaining table. Jerry Springer, the final speaker at the CWA protest said it best, “Unions are the ones who fought to make jobs what they are today in America.”
The CWA is continuing to fight for the job security its workers deserve through solidarity, “one union, one voice.”
The gathering began outside the SBC shareholders meeting that was being held at the Hyatt on Capital. The CWA was protesting SBC because they were going to charge retirees with health premiums.
In exchange for the CWA rally not protesting the shareholders meeting, retirees will not have to pay premiums for the duration of the contract.
The boisterous crowd, some five hundred strong, moved from the Hyatt to another hotel ballroom to celebrate its triumph over SBC. However, this was only one victory in a marred and difficult bargaining war that waged following the expiration of the old contract until recently, when tentative agreements were made. Layoffs, employment in growing sections of SBC for union workers, raises, health care, moving overseas factions of SBC back to the U.S., and other CWA concerns were brought to the bargaining table. Jerry Springer, the final speaker at the CWA protest said it best, “Unions are the ones who fought to make jobs what they are today in America.”
The CWA is continuing to fight for the job security its workers deserve through solidarity, “one union, one voice.”