CWA: Comcast Forced Workers Out

The Communications Workers of America is targeting Comcast Corp. again.

The union claimed that 54 MSO employees in the Pittsburgh areawere forced to accept layoffs or face future job losses with no severance support, and it filed charges with the National Labor Relations Board accusing Comcast of engaging in bad faith and surface bargaining over the job-cut issue.

“Since bargaining over the issue began Aug. 17, CWA has been fighting to save jobs,” the union said in a prepared statement.

“Comcast, however, has only attempted to intimidate workers by telling them the existing severance package would expire Oct. 5, and that layoffs after that date would include no severance benefits,” CWA added. “This means that families would have no financial support to help weather this period of joblessness.”

CWA added that the job cuts are mainly affecting longer term, experienced workers who repair system outages. The union represents about 500 Comcast Pittsburgh-area employees.