Organizing Updates

AT&T In Home Experts

AT&T IHX workers Tim Johnson (left) and Greg Perkins (right) celebrate their union victory in Hoover, Ala.

AT&T In Home Experts (IHX) across Alabama have formed a union with CWA. IHX workers from hubs in Huntsville, Birmingham, and Mobile have joined together to make In Home Expert a union position in Alabama. The new CWA members join IHX workers across the country in a movement to organize the profession and bring respect and dignity to the job. The 74 workers join a wave of organizing across the South as more workers choose union representation for respect and better working conditions on the job.

AT&T has agreed to respect the right of IHX workers in Alabama and across the country to make their own choice about whether or not to join a union. The company voluntarily recognized the union after a majority of eligible employees signed union authorization cards. Read more here.

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Grindr

Last Friday, CWA, on behalf of the workers of Grindr United-CWA, filed an Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) charge with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) against Grindr, the company behind the largest LGBTQIA+ dating app. The ULP was filed in response to Grindr management’s decision to announce a retaliatory Return-To-Office (RTO) policy that would impact U.S.-based workers who recently announced the formation of their union. This decision threatens the livelihoods of dozens of workers who do not live near their assigned team’s office. Additionally, the RTO announcement undermines the ongoing efforts of workers to form a union.

Grindr management has a legal obligation, under the National Labor Relations Act, to not significantly change the working conditions of Grindr United-CWA workers until after workers win their union election and are able to directly negotiate their labor conditions at the bargaining table. Instead of recognizing the workers’ union and addressing their concerns, Grindr has hired notorious union-buster Littler Mendelson, a firm behind many ongoing illegal anti-worker campaigns at Starbucks, Apple, and more. The workers are mobilizing to fight back against these retaliatory acts and are committed to forming a union at Grindr.

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ProPublica

Last Thursday, the employees of ProPublica won voluntary recognition of their union, the ProPublica Guild, part of the NewsGuild of New York (TNG-CWA Local 31003). The workers announced the formation of their union in June. The union, which secured support from 97% of eligible staff members, is wall-to-wall, covering editorial, business, and operations departments at the largest nonprofit newsroom in the country. Their victory comes as a slew of newsrooms have organized and, increasingly, won major material gains for members. Read more here.

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Accenture (Google)

Last Thursday, the Alphabet Workers Union-CWA filed an Unfair Labor Practice charge against Google and Accenture for their retaliatory layoffs against Google Help workers, who had announced their desire to form a union in early June. When the Google Help workers employed by Accenture, a Google contractor, filed for a union election with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), over 70% of the eligible 119 workers had signed union authorization cards in favor of joining CWA. Google and Accenture announced layoffs impacting over 80 Google Help workers subcontracted through Accenture on July 6, 2023. Google claimed that the decision to lay off workers was made well in advance of the announced union effort, but was unable to present documented evidence to support this point.

Workers have listed both Google and Accenture as joint employers due to the direct role both companies play in shaping working conditions and completed their hearing with the NLRB regarding the issue of joint employers last week. The union is composed of writers and graphic designers who create internal and external Google content, including materials for Google Help support pages. Workers will continue to organize and hope to hold their union election as soon as possible to ensure they can bring both Google and Accenture to the bargaining table. Read more here.

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Rove Pest Control

Last week, customer service workers at the call center for Rove Pest Control announced the formation of their union after a majority of the workers signed union authorization cards in favor of joining CWA Local 7250. The workers held a rally and delivered a letter demanding the company voluntarily recognize the union. They have also filed an election petition with the National Labor Relations Board and are ready to go to an election if necessary. At the rally, the workers were joined by a delegation of members from the CWA Local 7250 Organizing Committee, other union members, local AFL-CIO representatives, and community allies. The customer service workers at Rove Pest Control serve customers in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Massachusetts, and Arizona. They deserve dignity, respect, a living wage, real health care benefits, clear job duties, paid vacation, bereavement, and sick time. They are committed to keep fighting for what they deserve.

Last week, customer service workers at the call center for Rove Pest Control held a rally to announce the formation of their union and deliver a letter demanding voluntary recognition from the company. 

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This post originally appeared on cwa-union.org.