AMERICAN LABOUR:

T-MOBILE OR T-REX ?:

The following story and petition is from the Jobs With Justice Coalition.

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T-Mobile's double standard:‏
If T-Mobile USA workers want to be treated fairly, they should consider moving to Germany.

T-Mobile's parent company, Deutsche Telekom (DT), has a long history of cooperating with labor unions in Germany. But when it came to the United States and started T-Mobile, the telecom giant abandoned its labor-friendly practices and became just another union-busting company.

American Rights at Work has released a new report http://www.unionvoice.org/ct/1p_xDw71OQS-/ about DT's double standard, detailing T-Mobile's anti-union activities and urging fairer treatment of its workers.

Help make sure this report has the biggest possible impact. Take a moment to sign our petition to DT CEO René Obermann and tell him to respect the rights of all his workers: http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/tmobilefairness/wukd7sd4f7db5nn7?

When DT first entered the U.S. market, CWA supported the move because the company had a long track record of positive labor relations. After all, DT brags about their commitment to freedom of association and collective bargaining. But soon enough it became clear that the strong labor-management partnership wouldn't translate from Germany to the United States.

T-Mobile USA immediately began a tough anti-union campaign, getting itself into trouble with the NLRB. It hired notorious union-busting firms to help stop organizing drives. It distributed memos and manuals that instructed managers on how to stop organizing efforts. And it distributed fliers pressuring and intimidating workers against joining a union.

Here's what one T-Mobile worker who was interviewed for ARAW's report had to say:

I work on the retail side of T-Mobile, and it has been slowly getting worse by the day here. I am turning to the union because we feel like we have no other option here. We are basically left to fear for our jobs on a daily basis, or just quit. I would really appreciate if you kept my name anonymous for fear of total repercussion from our Divisional Director. In the past, reps tried to contact a union and then were fired for silly reasons, and this is what will happen to me.

Tell Deutsche Telekom CEO René Obermann to do what's right and treat T-Mobile USA workers with respect: http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/tmobilefairness/wukd7sd4f7db5nn7?

We can't let DT get away with this unfair double standard. All workers -- whether in Germany or in the United States -- should be able to exercise their right to organize. Thanks for your support.

In solidarity,

Jobs with Justice

Sign this petition via the web at:http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/tmobilefairness/wukd7sd4f7db5nn7?

We encourage you to take action by January 9, 2010

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THE PETITION:

Please go to the link above to sign the following petition to T-Mobile management

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Treat T-Mobile Workers With Respect

Petition:

Deutsche Telekom has had a strong track record of cooperating with labor unions in Germany. So when DT came to the United States and started T-Mobile USA, the labor movement was supportive of its entrance into the market and hopeful for a positive relationship with your company.

Since then, however, DT has betrayed its reputation as a strong labor partner by engaging in harsh anti-union behavior. DT has hired notorious "union-avoidance" firms, distributed memos to managers instructing them on how to stop organizing drives, and intimidated employees against joining a union. This is extremely disappointing, since your company's labor-friendly practices in Germany could have set a leading example here in the United States. Instead, you created an unfair double standard, denying T-Mobile USA workers their right to organize. Not only did this get DT in trouble with the National Labor Relations Board, it violated your company's Social Charter, which states you are "in favor of cooperating with legitimate democratic employee representation in an open and trusting manner."

I strongly urge you to do what's right and treat your workers with the respect they deserve. Cease the heavy-handed anti-union tactics and bring DT's positive labor relations from Germany to the U.S. By doing so, you'll return to your company's core values and become a leading example of good corporate citizenship in the United States.