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The meeting on Saturday 16 Februarry is being organised by the Communications Workers of America (CWA). CWA President Larry Cohen says the international labour movement will be out in force led by the General Secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), Sharan Burrow and a delegation from UNI Global Union.

Cohen said, “Sharan Burrow and the global union movement are committed to supporting US workers and their collective bargaining and organizing rights today, much as we all supported workers in global south nations over the past 50 years. The rights of working women and men in the US now rank near the bottom for all global democracies.

In the U.S., T-Mobile workers face threats to their jobs and fear and intimidation on the job every day while workers at the same company in Germany have bargaining rights and a strong voice. T-Mobile USA workers also want a union voice and we are partnering with ver.di, Germany's largest union, to provide that voice. It's time that Deutsche Telekom ended its support for its U.S.subsidiary's constant attack on freedom of association here. Deutsche Telekom can follow the example of AT&T, its onetime merger partner, in practicing tolerance and neutrality. “

Burrow said, “We are focusing global attention on the attack on bargaining rights. Deutsche Telekom operates under a double standard, respecting bargaining rights and respect for workers in Germany but allowing intimidation and job loss for workers at T mobile in the U.S.



Workers in the US should have the same rights as workers in Germany in the same company. The right to have a union, to collectively bargain for fair wages and conditions, grievance procedures and a works council so workers have a voice in the workplace.”

UNI Global Union General Secretary Philip Jennings said, “Deutsche Telekom can change behaviour and must do so. We expect better. UNI fully backs the stand being taken by the CWA and is working with the ITUC to bring to bear international pressure and justice.”

Background:

T-Mobile is planning to merge with MetroPCS, the fifth largest U.S. wireless carrier. Both companies have a history of outsourcing and offshoring jobs. T-Mobile closed seven call centres in June 2012, and the Department of Labor found that a significant number of those 3,300 jobs were sent to the Philippines and Central America. MetroPCS outsources and offshores all its customer service and billing work. T-Mobile workers are concerned that a merger of these two companies could mean additional lost jobs. Unfortunately, T-Mobile workers have little opportunity to express those concerns to the company. Management insists on hiring union avoidance lawyers to maintain a “union-free” environment. T-Mobile workers are joining TU, a joint effort by CWA and the German services union ver.di.