AT&T Store Shooting Puts Spotlight on Retail Workers’ Safety

CWA Local 1126 member who was shot while working at an AT&T Wireless store in central New York will be honored at the CWA convention, along with the off-duty police officer who killed the gunman before he could hurt anyone else.

The shooting and the events leading to it are a textbook argument for more retail store security and worker training.

The victim, Seth Turk, is out of the hospital but has a long road to full recovery. He was one of four CWA members and six workers total named on a “hit list” carried by gunman Abraham Dickan, 79, a meddlesome, almost daily visitor to the New York Mills store. A month earlier, Dickan brandished a gun to another CWA member there. AT&T sent him a letter banning him from the store, but no changes were made in security.

On May 27, after the county seized the weapon and revoked his carry permit in response to the earlier incident, Dickan returned, pulled a .357 caliber revolver and shot Turk in the stomach. Nearby in a short line of customers, off-duty Police Officer Donald Moore swiftly pulled his gun and fatally shot Dickan. No one else was injured.

In spite of his grave injury, Turk, 37, managed to call 911 and calmly provide details. “He was even able to tell them about Officer Moore having a weapon so they didn’t come in thinking he was possibly the assailant,” Local 1126 Vice President Jason White said. “The police said it was a textbook 911 call.”

White praised AT&T for its efforts since the shooting, which include re-opening the store at a new site with multiple video cameras, panic buttons and, for now, a constant police presence. But he is concerned about long-term safety for his members and all CWA retail workers nationwide. “We definitely need to establish a protocol, jointly with the company, that workers can follow if they ever feel threatened by a customer,” he said.

CWA Supports Expansion of Broadband Availability

“A Good Step Forward For Reaching FCC Broadband Goals”

Washington, D.C. – Communications Workers of America President Larry Cohen today supported President Obama’s signing of a presidential memorandum seeking to make available more wireless spectrum available for commercial use:

“Increased spectrum is a good step forward towards reaching the FCC broadband goals. Wireless internet is critical, particularly in rural areas, if we are ever to close the global broadband gap. However, we still need the right mix of public incentives to encourage wired build out as reflected in the FCC’s National Broadband Plan. Revenue from spectrum auctions could be used to support 1 gigabit to anchor institutions such as hospitals, schools and libraries. It could also help bring to reality an implementation plan to reach the 2015 goals of 50 megabits downstream and 20 megabits upstream – still a dream for most of this country.”

CWAers Ratify AT&T Mobility Contract in D3

CWAers from Local 3403 in Baton Rouge, LA, above, and Local 3122 in Miami, below, wear red and mobilize for a quality contract.

CWA members at AT&T Mobility in District 3 ratified a new four-year agreement by a 68 percent “yes” vote. The agreement covers about 11,200 workers in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.

The settlement provides for a 10 percent wage increase over the contract term plus a $500 bonus on ratification. Three new job titles will provide upgrades for some 800 call center workers, and the wireless technician I title has been upgraded to wireless technician II.

Improvements for selection of vacation and other days off were negotiated for retail and call center workers; severance pay was increased, and the grievance procedure was expanded.

From Lafayette and Baton Rouge, La., to Ashland, Ky., and throughout the state of Florida, CWAers leafleted outside call centers and retail stores, held solidarity “stand-ups” at their desks, and made lots of mobilization videos that revved up members.

Check out the District 3 mobilization.

Workers Join CWA In Record Time And At Record Pace

Just a few weeks after 309 workers at AT&T Mobility in Indiana won CWA representation, more than two-thirds have signed up as members and nearly half have joined CWA-COPE.

“Mobility workers are excited to be part of CWA and understand the importance of supporting and participating in political action,” said CWA Local 4900 President Tim Strong. After attending the local’s first new member orientation, 232 joined CWA, and 154 signed up for COPE.

Strong said the workers, 19 network techs and 290 customer service reps, are looking forward to pay and benefit increases under CWA’s “Orange” contract at AT&T Mobility.

“Having worked for Centennial Wireless, which was non-union before being bought by AT&T last year, Mobility workers looked forward to having a voice in the workplace. It was their key issue,” Strong said.

CWA District 4 is working to bring CWA representation to several hundred retail workers in Indiana who also worked for Centennial.