Comcast Tech Talks About the Company's Efforts to Deny Workers Their Right to a Union
Why Won’t Comcast Respect Our Decision?
by
Mike Griffin, Fulfillment Unit, Spokane
I am writing regarding the decert effort Comcast is pushing here in Spokane and to let you all know how low this company is willing to go. Let me explain how the decert was established. There were only about 7 anti union techs out of 55. Like a lot of cable outfits we have a high turn over. The company hired new techs to fill the vacancies and had them ride along with all the anti-union techs. Some of these techs have no experience and are not our best trainers. The anti union techs worked on the new guys while they rode along and got them to sign the decert petition. They told them this would be a secret and no one would know. They did this with the company’s blessing.
The company has told the new guys that the union supporters could become violent and that they fear violence in the workplace. I have talked to the newer employees and they reluctantly confirm what we suspected. I am a member of our Local union and an elected bargaining committee member. I have seen the company lie and try to create hatred and mistrust among my co-workers. Non union employees in other departments have told senior Comcast management that they have a serious problem with our system management They said they would look into the matter but have instead decided to support local management and run a decert campaign.
May 9th is the date we will be voting to keep our union. I would very much like other union cable systems to know what we are enduring. I have seen friendships torn apart by the campaign local management is running. We had hoped that management would respect our decision when we chose to be union. Instead they have tried to fill our heads with empty promises and feel good speeches about how good it would be without our union. Comcast has been a great disappointment to the fulfillment unit here in Spokane.
I hope other units who choose to organize can learn from this. If anyone needs to know the tactics the company will use I would be glad to help.
We are sticking together so that we can maintain a real voice in the workplace. After we choose the union a second time, we are hopeful that Comcast will finally respect our decision and bargain in good faith.
