The Communications Workers of America sent a request to the U.S. Department of Labor that it grant trade adjustment assistance benefits to T-Mobile USA customer service agents slated to lose their jobs in June.
The CWA noted in a press release that 3,300 employees are set to lose their jobs, while T-Mobile USA noted that 1,900 jobs would be lost when it closes seven call centers that employ a total of 3,300 employees. T-Mobile USA noted the call centers to be “concentrated” were located in Allentown, Pa.; Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; Frisco and Brownsville, Texas; Lenexa, Kan.; Thornton, Colo.; and Redmond, Ore.
If granted TAA benefits, the CWA claimed it would make employees eligible for enhanced unemployment benefits, tuition assistance for job retraining programs and tax credits for family health insurance.
“The purpose of the TAA program is that workers should not bear the cost of corporate decisions to close U.S. facilities and send that work overseas,” said CWA chief of staff Ron Collins, in a statement. “Instead of developing a business model based on quality customer service that customers clearly want, T-Mobile USA is following a low-road strategy that is harming U.S. workers.”
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