After voting to form a union
seven and a half years ago, Comcast technicians at the Fairhaven, Massachusetts, garage finally have a first contract. Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 2322’s new two-year contract was ratified by 79 percent of the eligible membership on February 3.
In addition to significant wage and benefit improvements, new on-call benefits, and fairer distribution of overtime, the agreement improves job security by preventing layoffs if Comcast employs any contractors at the facility. If members are faced with dangerous working conditions, they now have the right to suspend work operations until a supervisor investigates and any hazards cleared.
Taking on the notoriously anti-union Comcast is no small feat. Comcast is the largest cable TV company and home Internet service provider in the U.S., and the nation s third-largest home telephone service provider. Globally, it’s the second-largest broadcasting and cable television company behind only AT&T.