Spectrum Strike
Spectrum Strike | |||
---|---|---|---|
Date | March 28, 2017 – April 18, 2022 | ||
Location | United States of America | ||
Goals | Maintenance of union healthcare plans and pensions | ||
Parties | |||
|
The Spectrum Strike was a
Background
In 2016,
As part of Charter's acquisition, Charter Communications hoped to take control of Spectrum workers'
Course of the strike
On May 23, 2017,
In 2019, IBEW Local 3 filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) against Spectrum, claiming unfair labor practices, and objecting to Spectrum's effort to de-certify the union.[1][4] In March 2020, the NLRB granted IBEW Local 3 the right to review Spectrum's effort to de-certify the union, finding that the union raised "a serious and substantial issue" about Spectrum's efforts.[7]
Covid-19 pandemic
A number of striking workers have also been negatively impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, which has deprived many of alternative forms of income, and has exacerbated their healthcare needs.[1] As of April 2021, Gizmodo reported that 1,200 of the original 1,800 striking workers remained on strike.[2]
Formation of People's Choice
Organizers with the
In April 2021,
One of the founders of People's Choice has said of the business that "this is not a charity, this is a sustainable social enterprise", and another striking worker estimated that a few dozen workers are already employed by the firm, which he claimed already covered "most of the Bronx".[2] One of the founders of the firm said that he often explains to customers that People's Choice is "a bunch of strikers that work for Spectrum" in order to avoid complex terminology associated with the firm's structure.[6]
A PBS Newshour reporter asked one of the strike's organizers in October 2021 if he made plans to resume work at Spectrum, but, due to the development of People's Choice, he remained ambiguous.[6]
Reactions
Despite the voiced support from a number New York City officeholders, some of the union members remain skeptical of such action,[1][3] with one saying "even after the vote, the cable company is going to lawyer up and just going to fight the city for years without a franchise agreement. So they don’t really give a shit".[1]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u Khafagy, Amir (2020-05-28). "The Longest Strike In U.S. History Is Fighting To Survive Coronavirus". talkpoverty.org. Retrieved 2021-10-23.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Kimball, Whitney (2021-04-14). "Revenge: Spectrum Workers on Strike Build Their Own ISP". Gizmodo. Retrieved 2021-10-23.
- ^ a b c d e Bode, Karl (2021-04-15). "Striking Telecom Workers Are Building a Community-Owned ISP". Vice News. Retrieved 2021-10-23.
- ^ a b c d e f g Brodkin, Jon (2021-04-15). "Striking Charter workers build ISP where "profits are returned to users"". Ars Technica. Retrieved 2021-10-23.
- ^ a b c d e f g Nolan, Hamilton (2020-02-13). "The Longest Strike in America Needs a Political Savior". In These Times. Retrieved 2021-10-23.
- ^ a b c d e f g Fong, Laura (2021-10-23). "A cooperative effort to bridge the digital divide with low-cost WiFi". PBS NewsHour. Retrieved 2021-10-23.
- ^ Wallender, Andrew (2020-03-19). "Striking Spectrum Workers Granted Review of Decertification (1)". Bloomberg Law. Retrieved 2021-10-23.