by James Parks, Aug 25, 2008

More than 500 workers at AT&T Mobility in Boardman, Ohio, and municipal workers in Stillwater, Okla., are now union members after choosing the Communications Workers of America (CWA) through a majority sign-up. 

Some 262 city workers in Stillwater had to twice file cards showing majority support for joining CWA Local 6012. The first time was in April, when more than 65 percent of the workers signed cards seeking representation. They should have been granted recognition, according to the state’s collective bargaining law for municipal employees. But the city managers, who oppose the workers’ desire for a union, claimed that many of the signature cards were too old.  

The workers remained steadfast and in just a day quickly signed new cards and filed again with a 55 percent majority, finally gaining recognition on Aug. 14. 

Also in Boardman, 250 customer service representatives at a newly purchased AT&T Mobility call center won recognition for CWA Local 4320 through a majority sign-up. They will be represented by Local 4320.

AT&T purchased the call center from Dobson Communications Inc. When the employees learned that Dobson’s policies and practices of harsh discipline, hard-to-meet sales goals, arbitrary scheduling and unequal pay treatment would continue, the workers sought a union. In addition, another 60 retail sales and technical employees will be part of the local union.     

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