Guest post by Kate Doehring, Campaign Coordinator, Communications Workers of America
In a Staten Island call center, 292 workers approached the union, Communications Workers of America (CWA), because they were overworked and underpaid. At this call center, workers handle all of the customer support for E-Z Pass users in New York State. (If you call the 1-800 number, you will speak to someone at the Staten Island call center.) They had no real affordable health care option and no 401(k) pension plan. They were worried their pay structure would change from a consistent hourly rate to a per call piece-work scheme.
After a laborious and brave campaign, workers voted to join CWA Local 1102 in late May of last year. Their employer, Affiliated Computer Services (ACS), is a large outsourcing company employing over 65,000 workers (more than half abroad). ACS ran an extensive union-busting campaign including everything from one-on-one meetings to intimidate workers to litigating at every angle they could.
ACS immediately appealed the election results but they were eventually certified by the regional Nation Labor Relations Board (NLRB) on August 6, 2009. Now, ACS has appealed the regional decision to the Washington DC NLRB. ACS continues to litigate the union election to prolong actually being forced to settle a contract with CWA, even though legally they are required to do so now.
The hard working New Yorkers want affordable health care. They want a small pension for their future. They want to be able to believe in and live the American dream — have a family and send their children to college. These workers deserve what they so bravely fought for, putting their jobs and well being on the line for a union to help them bargain collectively for a better life.
Please visit our website, www.notsofastezpass.org, to learn even more about the campaign, meet some of the workers for E-Z Pass, and most important TAKE ACTION and send an email to the NYS Authorities who contract with ACS to run E-Z Pass for New Yorkers.