More than 1,700 workers at Spectrum (a division of Charter Cable) in New York City have been on strike since March, and are still fighting tooth and nail to secure a fair contract in the face of an increasingly hostile and dishonest employer. The workers, who are members of IBEW Local 3, report that the employer has refused to provide the tools, resources and support they need to do their jobs properly, and overtly targets union members that stand up for their customers. The company is also pushing for drastic cuts to the workers’ health care, and elimination of the pension benefits they’re earned and deserve.
To demonstrate solidarity with the striking Spectrum workers, two teams of IBEW 1245 Organizing Stewards took action locally to help spread the word about Spectrum’s bad behavior.
NV Energy retirees passed out leaflets outside of Spectrum in Reno
In Reno, Nevada, a group of Local 1245 retirees and supporters passed out informational leaflets to Spectrum customers and employees outside of Spectrum/Charter’s main office in Reno. The NV Energy retirees, including Tom “T” Bird, Kathy Preston and Rita Weisshaar, braved the pouring rain in order to show their support for their Local 3 brothers and sisters, just as the Local 3 members did for them when they were fighting to preserve their retiree medical back in 2010. T Bird even donned a Local 3 cap, which he was given during a rally against NV Energy in New York City seven years ago.
Organizing Stewards handbilled at a Spectrum payment center in Modesto
A second team, comprised of Kristen Rasmussen, Mark Goodwin and Cynthia Lopez, handbilled outside of a Spectrum payment center in Modesto, CA. Rasmussen reports that the majority of the people they spoke to were “outraged” when they learned that Spectrum’s CEO earns more than $47,000 per hour, and none of the customers had heard anything about the strike prior to receiving the leaflet.
Learn more about the strike and sign the union’s petition at //spectrumstrike2017.com/.