8/7/2019 Cambridge proposes language to strengthen Comcast workers' rights

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Comcast Workers UnitedNews from IBEW Local 2322 http://www.ibew2322.com February 2, 2011

Cambridge proposes language to strengthen

workers' rights in future cable license with

Comcast

Cambridge, MA -- The Cambridge City Council unanimously passed a resolution on January 31supporting strong workers' rights language in the city's next cable TV agreement with Comcast.

The resolution urges Comcast to, "comply with the National Labor Relations Act and all

applicable state and federal wage and hour laws." The city's previous ten-year contract for cableand internet services expired on December 29, 2010.

The resolution also urged the city's Cable TV, Telecommunications and Public Utilities

Committee to include language in the renegotiated agreement with Comcast to, "encourage ahealthy relationship with its employees by respecting their right to organize and to bargain

collectively with their employer, and to engage in other protected, concerted activities to

improve their wages and working conditions."

The resolution was proposed by Councillors Marjorie Decker, Lelund Cheung and Timothy

Toomey. "It's the minimum we can ask," said Councillor Cheung. "I know Comcast can afford it because they charge all of us too much." Cheung said the order addressed, "another aspect of the

tyranny of Comcast that reigns in this city."

Cambridge resident and Verizon technician Glenn Dansker spoke forcefully in favor of the

resolution. "I have worked for Verizon for 26 years and have always been grateful for thesupport I've received from my union, IBEW Local 2222. This language will encourage Comcast

to respect their employees' right to organize; to allow their employees to bargain collectively,and to respect worker's rights."

"As a Comcast subscriber and Cambridge citizen, I am happy that the City Council adopted this policy. As Comcast workers fight for their rights, it is incumbent on cities and towns that

contract with Comcast to encourage its management to negotiate fairly with workers by adopting

similar policies. We need to use our strength as consumers to pressure Comcast to live up to both the letter and the spirit of the law," said Kara Smith, who is on the staff of the Cambridge-

 based Unitarian Universalist Service Committee.

"We don't want anyone in our community to live in fear," said Jennifer Doe, an organizer with

Jobs with Justice, a community-labor coalition that has been supporting Comcast workers who

are seeking to form unions at about 20 garages in Massachusetts. "This resolution will really give

Comcast workers a boost!"

Comcast techs in the Fall River and Fairhaven garages are leading an initiative to begin talks

with management about their wages and working conditions. However, despite having provedthat a strong majority want to collectively bargain for improvements, Comcast management is

still refusing to discuss these issues with its employees.

8/7/2019 Cambridge proposes language to strengthen Comcast workers' rights

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To learn more about Comcast workers struggle for justice, visit their "Virtual Bulletin Board" 

where letters of support and other items of interest regarding the union are posted at:

http://comcastunion.blogspot.com. A copy of the Cambridge City Council resolution will be

 posted on the site as soon as it is available. Watch a YouTube video showing support for theresolution at the City Council hearing is at this link: http://youtu.be/r-Dyno55fsE