News

Over 500 Deutsche Telekom workers from the ver.di union today descended on the global annual meeting of shareholders of the company today in Cologne, protesting against the harassment of US workers in workplaces of its subsidiary T-Mobile USA.

The workers are sending a clear message to the owners of T-Mobile and asking them to afford its American employees the same rights enjoyed by its German workforce.

In Germany, Deutsche Telecom recognizes the union and has a collective agreement with workers whereas its American subsidiary, T-Mobile USA, behaves very differently. Local T-Mobile management harasses workers who try to join the union, and has implemented a company-wide strategy of refusing to recognize organising and collective bargaining rights. A recent company memo to the US workers bans them from displaying union leaflets or even suggesting to co-workers that they should join the union.

Deutsche Telekom employs more than 250,000 workers worldwide; 38,000 of these work for T-Mobile USA. The American workers are treated as second-class citizens by the company.

T-Mobile USA management has even conducted surveillance of its own employees in their company car park as they try to talk to union representatives.

Sharan Burrow, General Secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation, said that it was shocking that American workers could be treated this way and denied the same respect as the German employees.

“German customers of Deutsche Telekom would be looking for a better attitude from this company. It is not good enough that they allow harassment and intimidation of American workers who just want the choice to belong to a union,” Ms Burrow said.

“Deutsche Telekom should change its behaviour in the United States as soon as possible. Its global standing is at stake and it should use this chance to improve its reputation,” said ver.di’s Ado Wilhelm.



Philip Jennings, General Secretary of UNI Global Union, which brings together unions in the telecoms sector, said "Responsible employers don't act this way. We expect better from one of the world's leading telecom companies with solid industrial relations in its home country."



President of the Communications Workers America, Larry Cohen, said “T-Mobile workers must be allowed to choose a union, without interference. We thank German workers for standing up for our rights.”

On March 20, Deutsche Telekom agreed to sell T-Mobile USA to AT&T, which respects workers’ rights to union representation and collective bargaining. Examination of the deal by US competition regulators is expected take more than 12 months. “T-Mobile employees should not have to wait in hope for over a year for their union rights. Deutsche Telekom should do the right thing by its US workforce now,” said Ms Burrow.