Once again, T-Mobile Forced to Follow the Law

In October 2011, CWA filed an Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) charge with the National Labor Relations Board, Region 34 against T-Mobile, when managers wouldn't allow workers to have union related taglines in their emails, while allowing other kinds of taglines. 

Personalized taglines are quite common among T-Mobile workers and vary from all sorts of slogans, bible verses and quotes. After the technicians in CT won the union in July this year, some workers changed their email taglines into "Proud member of CWA Local 1298." Management promptly and illegally asked them to remove the union related tagline, while allowing other workers to keep theirs. As this discriminates against union members, CWA filed charges against T-Mobile.

This week, the NLRB settled CWA’s charge against T-Mobile before the case went to trial. As part of the settlement, T-Mobile is required again (Remember? This is not the first time this year) to email all employees a notice about the settlement in addition to posting the notice in the workplace.

photo: afsart

The Notice to employees reads as follows:

----------------------------------------

FEDERAL LAW GIVES YOU THE RIGHT TO:

  • “Form, join or assist a union;
  • Choose a representative to bargain with us on your behalf;
  • Act together with other employees for your benefit and protection;
  • Choose not to engage in any of these protected activities.”

WE WILL NOT do anything that interferes with these rights.

WE WILL NOT enforce in a discriminatory manner any rule regarding the use of non-business taglines in email, such as taglines that demonstrate support for the CWA, Local 1298 or any other union.

WE WILL NOT in any similar way interfere with your rights described above.

----------------------------------------

This is just another example where the Federal Government has forced T-Mobile to post notices stating that they itl follow the law. According to CWA District 1 Organizing Coordinator Tim Dubnau, "T-Mobile should follow the law, because it's the right thing to do - not because the Federal Government forces them to. We expect better!"

We heard through the grapevine that other settlements are to be expected soon, so stay tuned!