"WE EXPECT BETTER" T-MOBILE WORKERS TELL GERMAN GOV'T

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)Hundreds of communications workers were joined by local and global allies as they rallied outside the German Embassy in downtown DC last Friday. Circling the sidewalk in front of the embassy for over an hour and chanting “Union busting is disgusting!” the workers demanded that the German government – which holds a 30% stake in T-Mobile’s owner, Deutsche Telekom – take action to support their organizing efforts and to stop DT’s “union busting” efforts in the United States. “We’re here to ask the German government to tell DT to do the right thing,” said CWA’s Tony Daily. “While DT treats its workers in Germany with respect, here in America they have pulled out all the stops to thwart T-Mobile workers from joining a union. Workers report being subjected to intimidation, threats of being fired for trying to participate in union activities and forced to participate in close-door meetings. The company has even called in lawyers who specialize in ‘union avoidance techniques’ to help squash the workers attempt to organize. It’s a classic case of union busting. We expect better.” CWA Local 2108 President Les Evans told Union City. “This is about respect,” saying that communications workers across the country are united in telling the German government to “treat workers in the U.S. like you do in Germany.” Metro Washington Council President Jos Williams led a delegation to embassy representatives, delivering a letter demanding that the German government take action. “We are prepared to stay here as long as it takes,” Williams said. “Germany, do the right thing (or) we’ll drag you kicking and screaming until you do; we’re not backing down!” Click here to read more about the We Expect Better Campaign.
– report/photo by Adam Wright