FYI: latest update on our great T-Mobile campaign - XXL Happy Labor Day edition!

[Omaha Steve]

In the 1977 hit single, the singer John Paul Young croons:

Love is in the air
Everywhere I look around
Love is in the air
Every sight and every sound

Could this be the new theme music for T-Mobile USA?

The Real T-Mobile reports that executives from Bellevue (corporate headquarters) and Bonn (headquarters for parent company Deutsche Telekom) are showing up at workplaces to listen to employee concerns, to show their "concern" for employee welfare, and to promise real improvements in work life.

Employees tell us that management is suddenly "making nice" with employees - improving cell phone privileges, for instance, and letting tech workers have new trucks.

Interestingly, T-Mobile management would not let CWA participate in these captive audience meetings. Brian Brueckman, Vice President for Customer Service, recently visited the Allentown call center. Click here and here for two reports on how CWA Vice President Ed Mooney, union activists, and local elected officials tried to meet Mr. Brueckman to help deliver a better message to the Allentown workplace. Click here for the video.

We thank U.S. Senator Bob Casey for his statement supporting T-Mobile workers' right to organize.

I encourage you to continue visiting us at www.LoweringTheBarForUs.org and to become a fan of our Facebook page. Follow us on twitter@realtmobile. By the way, over 6,200 people now like our Facebook page!

The Campaign for Respect at T-Mobile seems to have caused management to crack down on those using new media. A couple of weeks ago, the company implemented a new Social Networking Policy, targeting postings or conversations on web sites, Facebook, and Twitter. Employees can no longer make anonymous comments about anything at the company. These are not business secrets we are talking about, folks. Employees are muzzled from disclosing any "non-public" information, which includes the terms and conditions of work. Click here to get the full story, including a copy of this censorship policy.

Our T-Mobile customer care author, John L, has written a great argument on why unions matter. The union belongs at T-Mobile, he writes to some skeptical co-workers, because the union will bring respect. "We helped build T-Mobile," he writes, "our jobs are worth protecting and improving."

John wrote another post in which he explains that the performance metrics used by management in evaluation of call center workers frequently hurt customers. For instance, the quicker a customer service rep fields a call, the better will be his/her "performance." Yet, these fast turnaround calls result in more call backs by frustrated customers which hurts "performance." Conversely, the longer the call, the lower the "performance" but presumably the better the service, so fewer call backs and better "performance." Got that?

The Real T-Mobile has come across evidence that management might be violating the Family and Medical Leave Act. Managers force employees to use FMLA instead of filing for disability. One employee was fired while on FMLA-approved time off. Another worker had her FMLA approved time off count against her performance measures and was consequently fired. Click here for the details.

CWA is concerned about all stakeholders at T-Mobile USA. We have looked hard at current business activity, and we question the business model. The company is losing customers, and it is missing out on data revenue. Mistakes have been made in the rollout of its enhanced 3G network. And the uncertainty surrounding management in Bellevue is stunning. We explore these issues in an Investor Alert #3.

Our criticisms of the business model have resonated within the German media as well as in the U.S. The German financial newspaper Handelsblatt recently ran a lengthy article on the Deutsche Telekom investment in the U.S.-- questioning management from a number of perspectives. Click here for our post.

Finally, the Real T-Mobile reports on a Deutsche Telekom scandal that is brewing in faraway Montenegro and Macedonia. It seems that certain managers were unethical in their attempt to influence public policy! Certain payments to certain people appear to be "irregular." This is a company that trumpets its Corporate Social Responsibility. Let's see … violation of labor norms in use, apparent bribery in the Balkans. The Deutsch Telekom reputation is taking a serious hit.

That's it for now. Visit us at the website and on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter. Labor Day is coming up for our brothers and sisters in the United States. Let's honor the working men and women who contribute so vitally to our social and economic life. Keep love in the air… but at least enjoy the last weekend of your summer!

In solidarity,

Hae-Lin

A project of Communications Workers of America, AFL-CIO, CLC.
501 Third Street, NW Washington, DC 20001
www.loweringthebarforus.org