The Battle for Unionism

I will remember the last TNG convention for an event that symbolized how important a union is to some workers.

Sunday evening, I as sat in an outdoor cafe with people from Akron, Cleveland and Toronto comparing bargaining horror stories, Ernest Garcia approached our table and asked to join us. He began telling a story of his struggle to gain union representation at his company, Telemundo. He described a five-year struggle to get NABET-CWA to represent the 84 workers at KVEA-TV in Los Angeles, Ca.

The workers had faced company threats of plant closure and employee discharge; they had survived acts of hiring discrimination, layoffs, discipline and job transfers designed to defeat the organizing movement. And finally, after their successful certification fight, he described Telemundo’s repeated legal tactics to avoid bargaining with the new union.

In a last minute decision to fly to the convention, Garcia had spent the last 24 hours without sleep, so he could speak to the delegates and gain support for his struggle.

At first, I attributed his emotion-filled behavior to jet lag. However, the next day, when we were able to get him the opportunity to speak to the convention, his plea to the delegation was as heart-wrenching as the night before. I was convinced of his sincere desire to establish a union to represent his fellow workers. Later he told me he had even delayed his retirement until he was sure the fight is won.

Imagine a person wanting so dearly something that we all take for granted!

-Sina Williams