Organize Now to Protect Wages and Benefits!
Adelphia is in big trouble. In a year, the company's stock has plummeted from $48 a share (June 2001) to an all-time low of 69 cents (as of June 4, 2002) and the stock has been "delisted" from the NASDAQ stock index. The company has accumulated more than $2.5 billion in Enron-like debt and it is forced to repurchase $1.4 billion in bonds in order to get cash that it desperately needs. In addition, Adelphia's founding family, the Rigas, are out as owners, and its Board of Directors is under investigation by the Securities & Exchange Commission.
The company's Board is likely to take one or more of the following steps to help stabilize its future:- Cutting wages and benefits
- Selling properties
- Filing for bankruptcy
What If Adelphia Cuts Wages to Pay Back Debts?
With Adelphia's board searching for ways to find the funds to pay back billions in debt, our wages and benefits or production quotas may become a target. Forming a union now would make good sense for the company's unrepresented employees because Adelphia would have to bargain with the workers if they wanted to cut wages or change benefits and working conditions.
Adelphia management cannot change working conditions where its workers already have negotiated CWA contracts (see list). Where its employees are currently in the midst of contract negotiations, management, by law, cannot change any conditions of our employment during bargaining. Whatever we currently have in terms of wages, benefits, and working conditions is maintained until an agreement is reached in negotiations -- and until the contract is approved by us, the workers.
With our company in such a precarious shape, union representation offers critical protections to workers.
What If Adelphia Sells My Property or the Whole System?
Several Adelphia properties are on now on the sales block.
If our company sells a number of properties where employees have not organized a union (some analysts have mentioned Charter or Cox as likely bidders), the cable workers at those properties would end up working under the rules, wages, and benefits at the purchaser.
However, if we formed a union before our property was sold to a new owner, wages, benefits, and conditions of our employment would be frozen at current levels until the property is transferred. When the new company takes control, management's promised wages and benefits would mark the starting point for negotiations. We would begin negotiations from that point. Our ultimate pay, benefits, and working conditions would be ratified in an agreement was negotiated, and approved, by us.
With union representation, we would also be able to use CWA's expertise in telecommunications policy to participate in the franchise transfer process and work to tie down some commitments by the company.
Properties on the market:- Southern California
- Virginia
- Florida
- Georgia
- North and South Carolina
What If Adelphia Goes Bankrupt?
Adelphia may try to reorganize under Chapter 11 of the bankruptcy laws.
If Adelphia declares bankruptcy, banks and suppliers make claims to the judge who supervises the bankruptcy, reorganization proceedings, and future of the company. Adelphia workers who are represented by a union would have their claims represented by the union's attorneys.
In these uncertain times at our company, we need a voice at the table and the protections and rights union representation provides. By organizing our own union, we would have a seat at the table when the deals are made to chart Adelphia's future.
Forming a union now makes sense. With union representation, management can't just cut our wages and benefits and change working conditions or production quotas. They would be required to negotiate with the employees.
With a union, we would have a seat at the table during bankruptcy proceedings. Without a union, no one will represent us and be our voice.
With a union, we will be able to negotiate over the wages, benefits and work rules of the new company if Adelphia decides to sell the property where we work.
