THE FIGHT FOR A LIVING WAGE

Over a year ago employees at the Staten Island call center approached CWA to help them form a union. The EZ-Pass workers were tired of poverty wages, disrespect, management favoritism, and lack of benefits. According to a national workplace survey website, Jobvent.com, ACS employees report that they are “treated with disrespect and disregard” and describe company executives as “reactionary” and “abysmal”.

ACS IS COMPLETELY ANTI-UNION

ACS launched a vicious anti-union campaign based on threats, fear, and intimidation to stop the union campaign. ACS spied on union supporters, held dozens of forced meetings, and even illegally fired a union supporter. President and CEO Lynn Blodgett even flew in to the Staten Island call center and held a mandatory meeting to pressure ACS employees to vote against CWA. However, despite their efforts to break the union, the strong rank and file organizing committee was able to win representation by CWA. On May 28, 2009 an election was held where workers at the call center voted 144 to 126 in favor of joining CWA.

As a delay tactic, ACS litigated the election results even though they had no backing for their claims. On August 7, 2009 the National Labor Relations Board overruled ACS’s objections and certified the election results.

ABC: THE CALL SPEED-UP-SCHEME

On the same day that the workers voted to join CWA, the company imposed a new pay structure called “Activity Based Compensation” or ABC.

This new system essentially pays employees by how many calls they complete per hour- compensating them a maximum of $.83 for each call. Based on the trends experienced at other call centers, it is clear to us that this system will lead to worse working conditions, lower pay for most workers, and will also damage customer service quality. The system creates standards which are simply unattainable by most hardworking employees. The ABC pay scheme also rewards employees for quickly ending customer calls, putting service quality in jeopardy.

CWA FIGHTS BACK

During the summer months over 14 elected officials wrote to ACS and the New York State Thruway Authority to complain about ACS’s hostility toward its employees and its lack of concern about customer service for E-ZPass users. Thousands of New Yorkers have complained to the agencies that contract with ACS in New York State as well.

To date, ACS refuses to come to the bargaining table to negotiate a fair contract even though Region 29 of the National Labor Relations Board certified C WA as the legal bargaining agent for the workers. ACS’ refusal to recognize the worker’s union and negotiate fairly is an illustration of the utter disregard and lack of respect it has for the employees.

ACS workers have already begun informational picketing at the call center, carrying signs saying “Just Practicing.” A complaint has also been issued by the National Labor Relations Board against ACS and subcontractor PRWT for illegally terminating an employee for expressing support for the union.