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Last May, 292 workers at the Staten Island E-Z Pass Customer Service Center voted to form a union and join CWA. The workers are employed by Xerox after its February, 2010 acquisition of Affiliated Computer Services for $6 billion. For nearly a year Xerox/ACS has illegally refused to bargain with the union. While Xerox/ACS boasts of positive labor relations, the National Labor Relations Board, Region 29 has accused the company of illegally coercing and interrogating its workers, as well as failing to bargain. CWA held a protest at the Xerox shareholder’s meeting prior to the approval of the ACS acquisition in February. The union originally supported Xerox’s purchase of ACS because of Xerox’s reputation as a good company. Since Xerox took control of ACS, labor laws have continued to be broken, workers have been fired for supporting the union, pay has been unilaterally lowered, and intimidation of individual workers for supporting the union has continued. Tim Dubnau, the Organizing Director for CWA District 1, asked Xerox CEO Ursula Burns, on behalf of shareholders: “This dispute is bad for workers, shareholders, and customers. CWA’s seeks a fair contract for our members that also protects E-ZPass customers. We are ready to bargain. My question is 3 fold: 1. is Xerox tolerating law-breaking at its new division? 2. is this reputational risk worth taking? and 3. is upper management prepared to be distracted a lot more as this dispute escalates, or will Xerox move towards a quick resolution by bargaining in good faith to solve the dispute?” The MTA, Thruway Authority and Port Authority of New York and New Jersey hold a $202.5 contract with Xerox/ACS to administer E-Z Pass for NYS. The New York State Senate recently held a hearing on labor practices and customer service quality at E-ZPass. By breaking the law, Xerox/ACS is endangering its status as a responsible contractor for New York State. If NYS declared Xerox/ACS an irresponsible contractor, the company could be barred from new state contracts. For more information, visit www.NOTSOFASTEZPASS.org © Copyright by ConnecticutPlus.com. Some articles and pictures posted on our website, as indicated by their bylines, were submitted as press releases and do not necessarily reflect the position and opinion of ConnecticutPlus.com, Canaiden LLC or any of its associated entities. Articles may have been edited for brevity and grammar. CURRENT HEADLINES: Top of Page
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