Spectrum Cable Strikers At Two Year Mark Keep On Keeping On & Are Even Looking Into Forming A Workers' Cooperative To Take Over The Cable Franchise with Troy Walcott, Local 3 IBEW Shop Steward and striking Spectrum Technician and Ray Reyes, striking Spectrum technician
Some 1,800 workers represented by International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, (IBEW), Local 3 struck Charter Spectrum Communications (Spectrum) , the company which bought out Time Warner Cable in May 2016. They struck in response to employer proposed cuts to healthcare and pension benefits in the wake of the buy-out. To add insult to injury, as the resolve of the workers not to capitulate hits its two-year mark, Spectrum seeks the decertification of the union " to remove the union as the sole bargaining agent for the unit. If successful, the bargaining unit would no longer be in a union.
Meanwhile on the political front the strikers have suffered another blow. While Spectrums license to operate the cable franchise with the state and the city is up for renewal in 2020, despite Governor Cuomo and Mayor de Blasio having proclaimed their support of the strike and having argued against its renewal, a recent ruling by the N.Y.S. Public Service Commission may still pave the way for the renewal. This latest affront seriously weakens the strikers political pressure point to force the cable behemoth to negotiate a fair contract.
Nevertheless despite the toll the strike has taken on these intrepid workers keep on keeping on, and have even, with the support of their union been exploring the creation of a workers cooperative to actually take over the cable franchise. The workers say a co-op would improve broadband service across the city, offer reduced cost, expand access, create good jobs, and ensure net neutrality in New York and the Mayor seems to be listening.
produced by Ken Nash and Mimi Rosenberg
please notify us if you plan to broadcast this program - knash@igc.org
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