T-Mobile social media support workers also known as "T-Force" are trying to form a union. This is in concern to T-Mobile's layoffs and pay cuts. What added fuel to the fire is the lack of response from the people in charge, according to The Verge.
There has been a slew of complaints from the working class, regarding how they are treated by the big companies they work for. Social media has been an effective tool in spreading the statements of the said workers. It appears that T-Mobile might be facing the same predicament.
The Issue Concerning the Workers
The workers had announced the creation of the union via Twitter, calling it "T-Force Social Care Alliance," along with hashtags like #unionize, #starbucksworkersunited, and #solidairty. The letter stated that they had tried to work with the leaders to resolve the issues at hand, but they were just brushed off.
The workers were not troubled without cause. T-Mobile has laid off around 5,000 employees back in 2021, and they still continue to do so this 2022. Those that were affected by the workforce reduction included the T-Force, engineering, retail, and other customer care departments.
The social media specialists stated that thousands of dollars would be deducted from their yearly salary, since T-Mobile removed their monthly bonuses, replacing them with "micro-raises" and annual bonuses. However, T-Mobile has not been clear about what these bonuses entail.
This is on top of the fact that the workers were subjected to rising housing prices, gas price hikes, and inflation.
#tmobile #tforce #unionize #starbucksworkersunited #solidarity pic.twitter.com/s4qDQTHt4A
— TSCA (@tscaunion) October 12, 2022
A statement from Tyler Roquemore was sent via email to The Verge. Roquemore expressed that T-Mobile was no longer prioritizing the best interest of its front-line workers. He also added that the union's purpose was to protect them against further layoffs and pay cuts.
Furthermore, TSCA's unofficial spokesperson also stated that they were ready for retaliation, pertaining to the lack of action from leadership in resolving the matter. Prior to this, he mentioned that he wanted T-Mobile to recognize the TSCA as a legitimate worker's union.
The Process
To make the union legitimate, they would have to formally file for a union election, and then bargain with management. This will not be easy considering that T-Mobile has been known to be indifferent to their workers.
There was even an instance when T-Mobile caught the attention of the National Labor Relations Board, back in 2017. The telecommunication company was ordered by the US Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit to rescind its illegal policies.
T-Mobiles was cited for 12 illegal workplace rules, such as barring workers from speaking about their wages with coworkers, and coercing workers to sign a form saying that they would comply with illegal policies under threat of firing, according to the CWA press release.
Despite that, Roquemore insisted that they could get through it, saying that they were used to long, drawn-out processes because of their day-to-day jobs. He also mentioned that their team had digital media experts, and that they would utilize various methods of technology to communicate and organize.
