CWA Utica Cable Technicians Win Contract with Time Warner!

Congratulations to our Brothers and Sisters of CWA Local 1126 in Utica who have won a contract with Time Warner after nearly two years of struggle!

On January 24, 2008, members of Broome-Tioga Federation of Labor, joined by CWA members from around the region, Citizen Action members, Local Binghamton City Council members, and Broome County Legislators, gathered over 100 strong in front of the Federal Building in Binghamton to rally in support of CWA local 1126 workers fight to get a contract with Time-Warner.

CWA’s Pete Sikora credits the support and actions of Councils and union members around the region for helping to win the campaign. He says there is “no doubt” that the public actions and support helped Local 1126 win the contract battle, and extends thanks to all who participated. See below: (January Rally)

CWA Stages Rally
in Binghamton, against Time Warner Cable
1/24/2008
Binghamton Mayor Matt Ryan
speaking at the Rally

See more Rally Pictures here

Local Binghamton City Council members, Broome County Legislators, Union leaders, members, and Citizen Action members gathered over 100 strong in front of the Federal Building in Binghamton at a rally/press conference for the workers of CWA local 1126. CWA is protesting Time-Warner’s repeated refusal to negotiate a fair contract and its denial of pension and 401k benefits to the 35 union workers, while providing both for its non-unionized workforce.

Among our elected officials attending the rally in support of CWA were: City of Binghamton Mayor Matt Ryan, Mark Whalen (IAFF), Chair of the Broome County Legislature, Legislators John Hutchings (LIUNA) and Suzann Buchta, City Council members Lea Webb, Sean Massey (UUP), and Ed Collins, as well as Oneonta Common Council member Mike Lynch(NEA).

The union leaders present included Mary Whitmore (CSEA), President of the Broome-Tioga Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, Mary Twitchell, (PEF) President of Tri-County Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO, Broome-Tioga Federation Officers Burt Whitman (PEF), Lee Conrad (Alliance@IBM/CWA), and Fritz Clark, President CWA local 1111. Members from the Plumbers and Pipefitters, Teamsters, CSEA, PEF, SEIU, NYSUT, CWA and Alliance@IBM CWA Local 1701 were out in support. Community supporters from Citizen Action were present in good numbers as well. The Southern Tier can be proud of a strong show of labor-community support for solidarity, union strength, and workers’ rights!

See more photos at link. Thanks to Wanda Mead Campbell (CSEA retiree/Citizen Action volunteer and “Clean Money, Clean Elections Chair/YMCA Board) for photos.

For additions/corrections to this report, please
e-mail bonnie@cnylabor.org