This edition of Labor 131, presented by the National Labor Office, features Debbie Goldman, former Research Director for the Communication Workers of America, who joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the history of unionization in the telecom industry. She explored the impact of AT&T's breakup, the challenges faced during deregulation and the current state of union representation in the sector.
Goldman detailed the telecom industry's transformation from a highly unionized sector to one with significantly reduced union density. She explained that in 1980, AT&T employed one million workers, 600,000 of whom were represented by unions. The breakup of AT&T and subsequent deregulation led to increased competition from non-union companies, putting pressure on unionized workforces. Goldman said this shift resulted in job losses, wage cuts and declining union representation across the industry.
The conversation touched on the political context surrounding labor rights and its impact on workers' ability to organize. Goldman highlighted how changes in public policy, combined with weak labor laws, made it increasingly difficult for unions to organize in new and expanding areas of the telecom industry. She cited examples of how AT&T's expansion into wireless services initially led to successful unionization efforts. Still, recent developments, such as joint ventures with private equity firms, have created new challenges for maintaining union representation.
Goldman emphasized the ongoing struggle for worker rights in the face of profit-driven decision-making. She discussed AT&T's recent agreement to acquire Lumen's fiber business, potentially leaving workers without union representation in the new entity. Despite these challenges, Goldman stressed that CWA and workers continue to fight for their rights, leveraging support from pro-worker legislators and officials in some states to protect jobs and maintain union contracts.
For more insights on the history of unionization in the telecom industry, listen to the full episode.