Judge Kills T-Mobile Fake Union Designed to Hamper Real Ones T-Mobile has had its wrist slapped by a National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) administrative law judge for its attempts to keep T-Mobile employees from unionizing. Last year we noted how T-Mobile had created what was effectively a fake union -- in hopes of preventing employees from creating a real one. The group, dubbed T-Voice, composed of employee “representatives” from each call center, selected every six months by the company. T-Mobile told employees this group was their "voice" at the company, the implication being that its existence meant that forming a real union was unnecessary.

"This copycat organization was 'chartered' to be the 'voice' of employees and address their 'pain points,'" said the CWA. "Yet management has funded this organization, handpicked T-Voice representatives, and selected the issues that would get resolved." And now, T-Mobile has now been ordered by a Judge to shut T-Voice down. A National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) administrative law judge has ruled that T-Mobile "engaged in certain unfair labor practices" and needs to "cease and desist" unless it wanted to find itself in violation of the 1935 National Labor Relations Act -- crafted -- in part -- to prevent precisely this kind of behavior. "If T-Mobile wants to address its workers’ concerns and ideas, we have democratically-elected representatives ready and willing to meet with management to discuss how we can improve our workplace," the CWA said in a statement applauding the ruling. T-Mobile CEO John Legere quickly took to Twitter to call the Judge's decision "ludicrous," promising to appeal the ruling. »twitter.com/JohnLegere/s ··· 30507523









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Most recommended from 28 comments



Anond74d6

@digitalocean.com 14 recommendations Anond74d6 Anon No problem with T-voice(not an employee though) At least John Legere is willing to consider and perhaps adopt customers ideas and suggestions.



AT&T ceo seems to be against customer initiated ideas. And it's doubtful Verizon ceo would consider and adopt customers's ideas and suggestion too.

kdwycha

join:2003-01-30

Ruskin, FL 12 recommendations kdwycha Member Sham This Faux Union TMO had would accomplish nothing for employees or customers.



From an employee standpoint it would not accomplish better wages, fair scheduling without split days off or health care at an affordable price. That would hit TMOs bottom line. It may accomplish a pool or ping pong table in the break room or an extra ice machine.



From a customer standpoint or process improvement this would be a no go as well. Anything that would remedy service failures or customer service breakdowns costs money as well.



Good win for TMO workers.

mackey

Premium Member

join:2007-08-20 0.9 2.0

9 recommendations mackey Premium Member Seems to me AFAIK this T-Voice program does not prevent the employees from forming a union if they wanted. The only reason the unions don't like it is because it takes care of enough of the problems that the employees don't feel the remaining issues are worth giving up part of their pay check for. rody_44

Premium Member

join:2004-02-20

Quakertown, PA 3 edits 3 recommendations rody_44 Premium Member I dont get why a judge is in this I mean its not like if the employees wanted to they still couldnt start a real union. Both can coexist. As such seems to me like a judge with over reach working for the union. i worked for a union company that had the same type of thing. Its actually a good thing a company is willing to listen to employees union or not. The company i worked for was represented by the Teamsters. They didnt have any problem with it. It was actually very productive and addressed a wide range of issues.



My sons a member of the ICEW. They all voted to support Trump and the union supported hillary. Someone is paying back a favor as this ruling makes no sense at all. EddieRingle

join:2015-01-20

Cabot, AR ARRIS SB6190

Asus RT-AC5300

2 recommendations EddieRingle Member Devil's Advocate Punish T-Mobile when they're actually interfering in employee's ability to unionize, sure, but I don't see why they had to force this internal effort to close. Sounds like CWA could have ulterior motives here as well (i.e., increased membership and member dues revenue).



I'll also point out that the CWA was in favor of AT&T's buy-out of T-Mobile.

buddahbless

join:2005-03-21

Premium 2 recommendations buddahbless Member Tread lightly CWA with your unions.... Some seem to forget that T-mobile parent company is Deutsche Telekcom (DT) which is not a US based company. Unlike ATT, Verizon and Sprint who all are based in the US with headquarters here but have thousands of call center jobs overseas, Tmobile has a greater advantage and (DT knows it) to moving there current US call center jobs offshore, reduce the store staff to half and hire only contracted technicians and keep it that way with no return. So before the CWA get all giddy and starts patting themselves on the back about the workers want and need a union, I suggest you tread lightly.