Business & Tech

CWA Local 13000 Pickets Consolidated Communications Over Contract Talks

Contract expired at midnight Friday.

Union picketers outside in Gibsonia on Monday morning held up signs that read "a fair contract," "fighting for the middle class," "no contracting" and "It's All About Good Jobs."

Communications Workers of America's contract with Consolidated expired at midnight Friday, said Vic Shaffer, unit president of CWA Local 13000.

"We're not on strike. We're an informational picket," said Shaffer, as he stood among the picketers in front of Consolidated's building at 4008 Gibsonia Road in Richland Township.

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A Consolidated Communications spokesperson verified that the contract expired Friday and that union-represented employees are presently working without an agreement, but under the terms of the latest contract.  

“While it is compelling to provide clarity to some of the statements that have been made by union leadership, we feel it is best not to discuss publically the issues being negotiated,” Director of Corporate Communications Laura ZuHone wrote in an email. “We remain committed and focused on our top priority, which is taking care of our customers.”

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Union members started picketing before and after work last Monday, Shaffer said.

"We're working under the old contract and we'll continue to work under the old contract as long as the company will allow," he said.

Shaffer said the union is protesting Consolidated's proposal to freeze pensions and double health-care costs.

In the last three years, almost 50 positions have been lost as a result of Consolidated buying North Pittsburgh Telephone Co., said Shaffer. He said about 50 union members are employed at the Gibsonia location.

Technical and customer-service jobs are being shipped to Illinois and Texas, he continued.

"For the union, these are the kinds of jobs that have left here," Shaffer said. He also said more contractors are being used instead of hiring employees.

CWA is the largest telecommunications union in the world, representing more than 700,000 men and women in private and public sector jobs in telecommunications, broadcasting, cable TV, journalism, publishing, manufacturing, airlines, customer service, government service, health care, education and other fields, according to its website.

Among the major employers of CWA members are AT&T, Verizon and other telecom companies. 

"Consolidated Communications is a family of companies providing advanced communications services to both residential and business customers in Illinois, Texas and Pennsylvania," according to its website. It offers a wide range of services, including local and long distance telephone, digital phone, high-speed Internet access and digital TV.


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