Date: Fri, 02 Oct 1992 16:29:09 -0500
From: Phillip.Dampier@f228.n260.z1.fidonet.org (Phillip Dampier)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Port Authority Workers Vote CWA Representation
Reply-To: phil@rochgte.fidonet.org
Organization: TELECOM Digest
X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu
X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu
X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 12, Issue 755, Message 3 of 12

PORT AUTHORITY WORKERS VOTE CWA REGISTRATION
Communications Workers of America

NEW YORK -- Nearly 1,000 clerical and technical employees of the Port
Authority of New York and New Jersey have voted to join the
Communications Workers of America in one of the largest labor
organizing battles of the year.

"This is a significant victory," CWA Vice President Jan Pierce said,
"We are looking forward to building a strong union at the Port
Authority."

Final results of the September 25th election were released today,
following a count of challenged ballots, showing a vote of 422 to 355
in favor of CWA representation.

According to Anne Janks, assigned by CWA Local 1032 to the organizing
project last October, the union expects the Port Authority Employment
Relations panel to certify the results on Tuesday, October 6.

"We're very proud of our members in CWA Local 1032 to the organizing
project last October, who are determined and dedicated to making life
better for working people," said CWA President Morton Bahr.  "We
congratulate them, and our new members, on their victory."

The organizing drive began last October, after some Port Authority
workers expressed interest in union representation.

"They were concerned about lack of raises, fair promotion standards,
restrictions on the use of sick time, out of title work without
compensation and possible loss of health benefits," Janks said.

"Dozens of courageous workers in the female-dominated clerical and
technical staffs get the credit for this victory," Janks said.  "They
kept the campaign alive, by talking up the union, handbilling,
answering questions, and conducting workplace meetings."

The newly-represented workers are assigned to such diverse locations
throughout the greater New York City area as the World Trade Center;
the Port Authority Bus Terminal at 42nd Street and Eighth Avenue; the
Newark, LaGuardia, and JFK airports; the Lincoln and Holland tunnels;
George Washington bridge; two office complexes in Jersey City; and
several other small locations. Their wages range from $15,000 to
$35,000, with titles running from "junior clerk" to "supervising
office assistant."

The Port Authority is a quasi-public "stand alone" agency that was
created to facilitate economic development throughout the greater New
York City area, and is supported through rents, fees, and tolls.

CWA filed a petition for the election on June 21, 1991 with the Port
Authority Employment Relations panel, composed of appointed
representatives of both states.

Blue collar workers and police at the Port Authority already enjoy
union representation but another 2,500 Port Authority workers --
administrative and professional employees -- are still unrepresented,
Janks added.

In five years, Local 1032 has grown from 3,760 to 5,813 workers,
exclusive of the Port Authority win.  "We made a year-long commitment
to this project," President Pete Cerenzo noted. "Without that kind of
commitment, this kind of project wouldn't be possible."