Wells Fargo Workers United become first Wells Fargo branch to unionize

Frank Mathews, Administrative Director for District 4 of the Communication Workers of America, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss workers unionizing at Wells Fargo. Mathews also talked about how employers could improve their work environments instead of wasting money on anti-union campaigns and proposed bills in Michigan and Indiana to eliminate tax breaks for outsourcing call center jobs.

Workers at Albuquerque Wells Fargo have recently voted to join the CWA and form the Wells Fargo Workers’ United Union. Mathews talked about the strong anti-union efforts performed by Wells Fargo during the organizing efforts. Now that the members at the Albuquerque branch have organized, Wells Fargo is running a nationwide anti-union campaign to prevent more branches from unionizing. Mathews discussed the plan for this campaign and how Wells Fargo can turn their campaign expenses into tax breaks.

Mathews then talked about what would happen if employers used the money from anti-union efforts and instead gave it to their workers. According to Mathews, the millions spent on anti-union campaigns could be used to hire more workers, improve benefits and give workers a living wage. Instead, the money goes to the executive boards, where several hundred million dollars are given in raises to the corporate officers each year. Mathews said this money could give workers peace of mind and allow them to provide for their families. Despite the good it could do, he believes that the companies choose greed over improving workers' lives, forcing workers to seek protection from unions.

Michigan and Indiana have call center bills on the State Senate’s floor. These proposed bills would protect jobs in the state, and if employers choose to outsource call center jobs overseas, they will not be allowed to seek state or federal tax breaks. Employers can use tax breaks to only pay taxes on up to half of their yearly profits. The bills could save taxpayers at least $77 billion yearly and should keep good union call center jobs stateside.

Hear more from Mathews by listening to the show above.