In this episode of the America’s Work Force Union Podcast, Nick Weiner, Organizing Director for the Communications Workers of America (CWA), and Amer Dababneh, Senior Premier Banker at Wells Fargo in Pennsylvania, discussed their organizing efforts across multiple Wells Fargo branches.
The campaign to unionize Wells Fargo branches began after years of widespread scandals and mounting frustrations among workers, who felt pressured by the company’s high-stakes sales culture. Weiner explained that while many countries boast strong unions for bank workers, fewer than 1 percent of U.S. bank employees are unionized. To improve this, the CWA has helped workers organize 29 Wells Fargo branches across 15 states through the Committee for Better Banks initiative. Although this represents a fraction of Wells Fargo’s 4,000 locations, Weiner said the momentum is building as more employees recognize the need for collective power to address workplace issues and secure fairer working conditions.
Organizing at Wells Fargo has been anything but easy. Dababneh shares a personal account of management's pushback and intimidation tactics to discourage union activity. After distributing flyers and connecting with colleagues about unionizing, he described how upper management launched anti-union campaigns — from one-on-one meetings sowing doubt, to rescinding workplace accommodations as a pressure tactic. He said that thanks to the CWA and a quick legal response, they were able to fight back against these unfair labor practices.
Securing a first contract remains an uphill battle despite victories in forming initial union chapters. Dababneh explained that Wells Fargo has negotiated on a branch-by-branch basis rather than company-wide, dragging out the bargaining process and testing workers’ spirits. Nevertheless, he and fellow organizers continue to mobilize, encouraging their colleagues to stay committed and reminding them that meaningful policy changes — such as adjustments to workplace flexibility and working conditions — directly result from their bargaining table demands, even if leadership rebrands them as company initiatives.
To learn more about the future of union organizing in the banking industry, listen to the complete episode of the America’s Work Force Union Podcast.