Administrative Director for District 4 of the Communication Workers of America, Frank Mathews, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to talk about the largest federal call center strike in America. Mathews also discussed the pro-labor success during state elections in his district and his growing concern with Congress.
The largest Federal call center strike is currently underway. Over 700 workers at the Maximus call center, a government-contracted employer that handles all the calls for the Affordable Care Act, walked out at multiple centers across the country. Workers are fighting for a better wages and better healthcare. Their current healthcare plan is worse than the options they discuss with callers daily, Mathews said.
Mathews then spoke about the successful state elections for labor in Indiana, Ohio and Michigan – three of the five states covered by Mathews. In Indiana, one of the big wins was the Mayor of Indianapolis, Joe Hogsett, becoming the first third-term mayor in nearly four decades, Mathews said. In Ohio, there were more than 40 races featuring members of unions, and 27 of those members won their races. The show of solidarity by the labor movement at election time was incredible to witness, and Mathews discussed what this could mean for elections in 2024.
There is a lot of uncertainty around the current situation in Congress. Many in the labor movement are keeping a close eye on the games being played in trying to get the funding continuances approved to prevent a government shutdown, Mathews said. He hopes the pressure from the American people will help push Congress to come to agreements on the continuances at the very least.
To hear more on Mathews’ conversation with Flash, please press play above.