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T-Mobile USA: DGB supports ver.di and CWA in global union campaign



The German Trade Union Federation (DGB) will support the United Services Union (ver.di) and the U.S. trade union CWA (Communications Workers of America) in its campaign to support union rights. "We will jointly fight so that T-Mobile USA will respect core labor standards, particularly since the parent company Deutsche Telekom AG belongs in significant parts to the German taxpayer.” said DGB Chairman Michael Sommer.



"Employees at T-Mobile U.S. still face reprisals including termination if they confess to be pro-union,” said Larry Cohen, President of the CWA. This unacceptable situation must be changed. “Unless it is ensured that employees of T-Mobile can confess to be pro-union without restriction, we will fight against this illegal practice”, stressed ver.di expert Ado Wilhelm.



The background of the campaign is the ten year long dispute over union rights at T-Mobile USA. Most recently, the human rights organization Human Rights Watch (HRW) made violations by T-Mobile USA among others internationally public. You can find the report here - http://www.hrw.org/



Ver.di, CWA und their joint union TU criticize the continuing anti-union activities by T-Mobile managers. The aim of the protests by Verdi, CWA and TU is that management of T-Mobile USA behaves completely “neutral” in the future regarding union activities of employees.

L-R: Ado Wilhelm (ver.di), Michael Sommer (DGB), Larry Cohen (CWA)