Walkout signals Comcast workers' displeasure
LABOR | One-day demonstration stems from union vs. non-union disagreement
November 16, 2007
BY FRANCINE KNOWLES fknowles@suntimes.com
A continuing labor dispute involving workers at Comcast's West Cortland Street facility who've accused the cable provider of discriminating against minority employees, escalated into a one-day walkout Thursday.
Nearly 80 workers who provide video, high-speed data and telephony services to roughly 500 customers daily staged the walkout because of a lack of progress in contract talks, said International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 21 business representative Jerry Rankins.
A Comcast spokeswoman said there was no customer impact and that about 40 workers walked out.
IBEW Local 21 represents the mostly African-American cable installers, service repair and line maintenance workers at the Cortland facility.
The union, which has accused the company of violating labor laws, is seeking pay and benefit parity with non-union workers.
Rankins contends workers make $3 to $5 an hour less than their non-union counterparts.
"We want to let Comcast know that we're dead serious about getting what's fair," he said. "These workers are asking to be treated as any other worker that performs the same job."
The union's contract expired May 31.
Earlier this year, the union filed a complaint with the Chicago Cable Commission accusing Comcast of violating the city's cable ordinance, which bars pay discrimination. The union also alleged the company is violating its cable franchise agreement and the City Council's 2002 resolution authorizing the transfer of the cable television franchise to Comcast.
Comcast has denied the allegations and accused the union of taking the action in an attempt to influence collective bargaining.
Late Thursday, Comcast issued this statement: "We continue to bargain with the union in good faith -- and met with them again today -- in the hopes of reaching an agreement that is fair to both Comcast and our employees. Comcast emphatically denies that the employees at Cortland Avenue have been treated differently because they are predominately African American."
The Chicago City Council earlier this year adopted a resolution calling for Comcast to appear at a hearing on the matter and produce documents and other records showing the classifications, rates of pay and pay ranges for all employees at each of its Chicago facilities.
The union has sought a hearing before the cable commission, but one has not been scheduled, said Rankins, who rallied with workers outside City Hall.
Contract talks between the union and Comcast are set to continue Tuesday.
A National Labor Relations Board hearing will take place Nov. 29, Rankins said.
LABOR | One-day demonstration stems from union vs. non-union disagreement
November 16, 2007
BY FRANCINE KNOWLES fknowles@suntimes.com
A continuing labor dispute involving workers at Comcast's West Cortland Street facility who've accused the cable provider of discriminating against minority employees, escalated into a one-day walkout Thursday.
Nearly 80 workers who provide video, high-speed data and telephony services to roughly 500 customers daily staged the walkout because of a lack of progress in contract talks, said International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 21 business representative Jerry Rankins.
A Comcast spokeswoman said there was no customer impact and that about 40 workers walked out.
IBEW Local 21 represents the mostly African-American cable installers, service repair and line maintenance workers at the Cortland facility.
The union, which has accused the company of violating labor laws, is seeking pay and benefit parity with non-union workers.
Rankins contends workers make $3 to $5 an hour less than their non-union counterparts.
"We want to let Comcast know that we're dead serious about getting what's fair," he said. "These workers are asking to be treated as any other worker that performs the same job."
The union's contract expired May 31.
Earlier this year, the union filed a complaint with the Chicago Cable Commission accusing Comcast of violating the city's cable ordinance, which bars pay discrimination. The union also alleged the company is violating its cable franchise agreement and the City Council's 2002 resolution authorizing the transfer of the cable television franchise to Comcast.
Comcast has denied the allegations and accused the union of taking the action in an attempt to influence collective bargaining.
Late Thursday, Comcast issued this statement: "We continue to bargain with the union in good faith -- and met with them again today -- in the hopes of reaching an agreement that is fair to both Comcast and our employees. Comcast emphatically denies that the employees at Cortland Avenue have been treated differently because they are predominately African American."
The Chicago City Council earlier this year adopted a resolution calling for Comcast to appear at a hearing on the matter and produce documents and other records showing the classifications, rates of pay and pay ranges for all employees at each of its Chicago facilities.
The union has sought a hearing before the cable commission, but one has not been scheduled, said Rankins, who rallied with workers outside City Hall.
Contract talks between the union and Comcast are set to continue Tuesday.
A National Labor Relations Board hearing will take place Nov. 29, Rankins said.
i work for comcast
