CWA Intervenes in Adelphia Bankruptcy Proceedings to Safeguard Employees' Wages, Benefits and Rights
The Communications Workers of America (CWA) has intervened in Adelphia's bankruptcy proceedings to safeguard the rights of its union-represented employees at the company.
On June 28, a lawyer for CWA will represent Adelphia workers' interests at a finance committee meeting of other parties to Adelphia's bankruptcy proceedings. These include banks, television and cable-TV networks, and corporations who have millions, or billions, of dollars at stake. These include the Bank of New York ($5 billion), the Bank of Montreal ($1.3 billion), Citibank ($1 billion), Wachovia ($831 million), J. P. Morgan Chase ($617 million), Motorola ($49 million), Home Box Office ($34 million), and Turner Network Television ($13.8 million).
CWA raised special concern that employees' wages, benefits and other negotiated conditions of employment are followed by the company. The union represents more than 500 workers at the company, but it said it also wanted to speak on behalf of the unrepresented employees so they will have some voice in their company's future.
Labor unions are viewed as "creditors" under the bankruptcy code because of their role in enforcing obligations under collective bargaining agreements covering affected employees. Even under Chapter 11 reorganization proceedings, management may not cut workers' wages and benefits, or change working conditions without negotiating with CWA. The federal court which has final say over the bankruptcy proceeding would have to rule that the workers' contract would prevent the company from carrying out a successful reorganization.
CWA represents more than 700,000 workers, the majority of whom are employed at telecommunications and high-technology corporations.
