unWired Broadband Workers Fight to Join CWA

A group of workers at California broadband provider unWired voted overwhelmingly to join CWA Local 9333 last week despite the company’s intense anti-union campaign. After workers announced their union in April, the company embarked on a campaign of intimidation, which included holding captive audience meetings in direct violation of California S.B. 399, which took effect on January 1. Management also fired multiple workers in an effort to silence organizing.

The workers, including tower climbers, installation technicians, safety technicians, field construction assistants, and more, cited numerous instances of inadequate safety equipment and protocols, unjust firings, and blatant favoritism as their reasons for seeking to join CWA. They rallied support from local elected officials and community members in preparation for the union election.

CWA District 9 Vice President Frank Arce is focused on growing CWA’s telecom membership, and locals have responded by training new organizers and increasing their outreach to workers in the industry.

 
CWA District 9 Vice President Frank Arce (pictured front row, in red) celebrates with workers at unWired who won their union election to join CWA Local 9333.

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This post originally appeared on cwa-union.org.