TCGPlayer (eBay)

A supermajority of workers at TCGPlayer’s authentication center in New York announced that they are forming the TCG Union/CWA and have filed for a union representation election with the National Labor Relations Board. TCGPlayer is the number one online marketplace for collectible trading cards and was acquired by eBay in November 2022. TCGPlayer workers are the first group of eBay workers to file for a union representation election with CWA.

The current unit includes close to 300 non-supervisory workers, including Generalists and Specialists across the Sorting, Pulling, Receiving, Shipping, Operations, Research and Development, Inventory, Comics, Quality, and Training departments. The workers are proud to be part of and stand in solidarity with the growing movement of workers among similar companies such as United Paizo Workers, Bellevue Mox Organized Workers, and Noble Knight Games United in organizing for dignity and respect on the job.

Workers at TCGPlayer (eBay) held a rally to announce the formation of their union, TCG Union/CWA.

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Reveal from the Center for Investigative Reporting

Workers at the public radio show and podcast Reveal, co-produced by the Center for Investigative Reporting, won voluntary recognition after a super majority of them signed cards in support of forming a union with the NewsGuild-CWA. In their mission statement, the workers said, “We want a seat at the table where decisions that impact staff in every department and level are made. We want to work alongside our leadership and board to establish policies that center diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. We want to build a culture that recognizes we have lives and families outside of Reveal and create a space where our colleagues can see themselves working for years to come. We want our individual accomplishments to be rewarded fairly. Above all, we want to be treated with dignity and respect.”

NBC

NewsGuild-CWA members at NBC are fighting back after the company abruptly and illegally laid off several union journalists without providing any advance notice or rationale. Management is also attempting to remove msnbc.com staffers from the union, informing them that they are no longer “part of the Guild” without engaging in negotiations with the union. In response, the union filed an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board and held an all-hands union meeting. “This clear violation of the law is yet another brazen example of NBC attempting to strip its workers of their right to organize and bargain together,” said the union in a statement. The workers plan to take further collective action against management’s illegal actions to demand justice and respect for their laid off coworkers and to swiftly reach an agreement on a first contract with the company.

United Campus Workers-CWA Virginia Members Fight for Affordable Child Care

Members of United Campus Workers-Virginia (CWA Local 2265) held their second annual Lobby Day at the Capitol in Richmond last week. The union activists met with over 20 state legislators and held a rally on the Capitol grounds, highlighting their Childcare for All campaign and calling on legislators to support legislation that will improve the working conditions of public higher education workers in Virginia and help the institutions better serve all Virginians. The members believe that child care is a labor issue at its core and through their campaign they are fighting to make affordable child care accessible to all working families.

Members of United Campus Workers-Virginia (CWA Local 2265) held their second annual Lobby Day at the Capitol in Richmond.

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CWA New Mexico State Workers Fight to Preserve Telework

State workers in New Mexico, members of CWA Local 7076, are fighting back against the state’s unfair plan to remove telework for all employees after state officials suddenly repealed the telework policy on November 29 and instructed employees to return on January 3. The union and state officials have negotiated a delay until February, but the workers argue that is still not enough time. State employees are overworked and underpaid, while still providing essential services to the people of New Mexico. In addition, there are record vacancy rates across state agencies. The blanket cancellation of telework takes away one of the few perks that make working for the state a viable choice for so many employees. Last week, the workers held a rally to demand reinstatement of the telework policy for the good of the state. During the rally, the workers expressed their concerns, ranging from lack of adequate office space to personal issues such as childcare. They also argued that telework saves the state money and benefits state residents. The workers have also launched a public petition and are committed to continue to fight to preserve telework for state employees.

State workers in New Mexico, members of CWA Local 7076, held a rally last week to demand reinstatement of the telework policy for the good of the state.

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CWA District 1 Activists Hold Runaway Inequality Training

CWA District 1 activists participated in a Runaway Inequality training, held in person for the first time since the pandemic, in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. The activists learned about how the economic system has been stacked against workers, and what workers can do to take it back.

Workers at Maximus, a multi-billion dollar corporation and the largest federal call center contractor, held a demonstration outside the company’s Louisiana and Mississippi offices to protest Maximus’s decision to cut some of the workforce handling calls for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This is the latest action taken by workers at Maximus, who have been organizing with CWA for a union and fighting to improve their working conditions.

“Maximus cannot possibly claim that it treats its employees with respect and sensitivity when, as a billion-dollar corporation, it’s failing to provide enough notice of their termination or sufficient severance pay for workers to take care of their families,” said CWA Organizer Tiandra Robinson. “Shame on Maximus for pulling the rug out from under hundreds of people who are already struggling to make ends meet.” This decision comes as workers wrapped up a record-breaking open enrollment period earlier this month. The workers are continuing to fight against the unjust layoffs and to organize to form a union. Click here to donate to the workers’ solidarity fund.

Check out this video of workers protesting the unjust layoffs.

New CWA styles and winter gear are now available in the CWA Store. Check out hats, fitted styles, and items from additional CWA sectors. All products are Union decorated. www.cwastore.org.