News

Wireless workers in the United States from AT&T Mobility, Verizon Wireless and T-Mobile are uniting. Workers from all over the country met in Orlando to discuss plans for improving job security and pay, ending unrealistic and unhealthy sales goals, and curbing offshoring and outsourcing of their stores, call centres and technical work. Workers announced that they were forming a new network, Wireless Workers United, to protect their jobs and provide quality customer service.
 
The new network, launched by UNI affiliate CWA, released a statement of Principles founded on:

• Fair Wages, Commissions, and Benefits
• Respect for Employees as People and as Workers
• Support, Training, and Communication with Management
• Honesty and Integrity in Customer Relations.

Head of UNI ICTS, Alke Boessiger, who attended the meeting said, “This is a huge step in the right direction for ICTS workers in the United States. Uniting workers across 3 of the biggest companies in the Telecoms industry in the US shows that we are on the right path to improve workers’ lives at a sector-wide level.”
 
“This new network has the full support of UNI ICTS and we look forward to working closely with them over the next few years.”
 
Participants at the meeting took to the streets in support of AT&T Mobility workers across the Southeast who are currently fighting for a fair contract. Workers rallied together in front of an AT&T Mobility store in downtown Orlando as well as a Verizon Wireless store.
 
"It was only by firmly standing together that our Mobility co-workers won a precedent-setting contract for wireless and retail jobs with first-time job security protections and better, more stable pay," said Nilda Meadows, an AT&T wireless worker from South Carolina. "Now, we're heading to the bargaining table to win for our families and communities. We are standing strong to make sure the industry operates with integrity and protects and preserves good jobs for our communities."