AT&T Broadband Workers Vote for CWA in Gallup, NM
"We demand respect and a voice in our workplace"
Workers' union representation victory at AT&T Broadband in Gallup, New Mexico, was confirmed on April 27, following a ballot count by the American Arbitration Association.
The vote was overwhelming, with 8 of the 10 employees casting "Yes" votes for CWA representation. The workers are technicians. The ballot count for the April 11 election had been delayed because of a disagreement between CWA and AT&T over the bargaining unit. CWA's position on the issue was upheld in a hearing with a "third party neutral" last week.
The five workers who made up the employees' organizing ran a campaign based on issues that resonated among the Broadband employees.
A key element of their campaign was a "Mission Statement" that they published which identified themselves and listed their reasons for seeking self representation through CWA. They included a binding contract with management, a pension and a 401(k) plan, a grievance procedure that includes binding arbitration by an independent third party.
"Most importantly," the workers' Mission Statement said, "we demand respect and a united voice in our workplace for all employees."
