Working Assets, Sprint, AT&T

[sokol@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (Wojtek Sokolowski)]

Attached is the response of a WOrking Assets Long Distance representative to
the conerns re. WALD's stance on labor issues voiced by subscribers to this
list.

wojtek sokolowski



>Return-path: <mary%wald@xxxxxxxxxxx>
>Date: Mon, 15 Apr 1996 18:35 -0400 (EDT)
>From: Mary Buffington <mary@xxxxxxxx>
>Subject: RE: Delivery problems with your mail
>Sender: mary@xxxxxxxx
>To: Wojtek Sokolowski <sokol@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>Cc: Bruce Carlisle <bc%wald@xxxxxxxxxxx>
>
>
>
>Dear Mr. Sokolowski,
>
>Thank you so much for forwarding the comments from the Progressive=
 Economics=20
>list to us. I appreciate the opportunity to add to the discussion.
>
>The primary concern among the comments you sent me is the company's=
 position=20
>on labor issues in light of our contract with Sprint and lack of contract=
=20
>with AT&T.   I will address that, and then if anyone else has additional=20
>comments, I'd be happy to answer other questions as well.
>
>We support Communication Workers of America=C9s (CWA) efforts to organize=
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>Sprint. Working Assets has been a member of Friends of Sprint Workers, a=20
>support group to urge unionization of Sprint employees, for years.
>
>We believe that each group of employees at Working Assets may choose to be=
=20
>represented by a union of their choice, or none at all if they prefer. This=
=20
>is a fundamental right which we believe should be available in all=20
>companies.  Our call center staff is currently represented by the CWA.
>
>On the question of why not AT&T:
>
>AT&T  *is* the only unionized long distance carrier.   However, AT&T has=20
>refused to do business with Working Assets.  Plus, AT&T has its own record=
=20
>of problems:  nuclear weapons contracts, charges of labor discrimination...=
=20
>charges of anti-union activity.  AT&T also caved in to pressure by the=20
>Religious Right and dropped funding of a teenage birth education project=
 run=20
>by Planned Parenthood.
>
>The sad truth is, no large vendor of long distance services is completely=
=20
>clean.
>
>Our primary goal is provide a more socially responsible alternative. We=20
>believe that Working Assets Long Distance is just such an alternative. =
 Like=20
>the Big Three phone companies, Working Assets Long Distance offers=20
>top-quality sound and service, competitive rates and volume discounts. But=
=20
>unlike the Big Three, we donate a percentage of your long distance charges=
=20
>to groups working for peace, human rights, economic justice and the=20
>environment -- at no extra cost.   Plus, we empower our customers by giving=
=20
>them a  chance to speak out on vital issues with our monthly political=20
>actions.
>
>Finally, I=C9m proud to say that we=C9ve been quite vocal on labor issues. =
 In=20
>addition to our participation in Friends of Sprint Workers and our=20
>communications and protests to Sprint over other labor issues, we have=20
>repeatedly funded groups working on labor issues -- groups like Jobs With=
=20
>Justice, Nine to Five, and the Farm Labor Organizing Committee.  We have=20
>also worked on labor issues in our monthly alerts.
>
>I hope that helps people's concerns.
>
>Oh and btw, to the person who complained about being billed by Pacific=
 Bell:=20
> the program is set up so that you are put on Pac Bell billing by request=
=20
>only.   (Pac Bell billing is something some people have requested, so we=20
>started this pilot program)  If you would like to have us take a look at=20
>your account and see what we can do to get you back on Working Assets=20
>billing, please feel free to email me.
>
>Sincerely,
>
>Mary Buffington
>Online Manager & WebHead
>mbuff@xxxxxxxx
>Working Assets
>http://www.wald.com
>
>
>"Democracy isn't something you have, it's something you do=CB"
> -- Frances Moore Lappe'
>
wojtek sokolowski=20
johns hopkins university
baltimore, md 21218
sokol@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx