Letter: IBEW 'Disappointed' It No Longer Represents Charter Communications Members After Nearly 10-Year 'Battle'

Members and families react after IBEW disclaimed interest in further representation of Charter Communications' employees in the New York metro area.

Image Credit: Joel Maldonado via Facebook

Following last week’s quiet end to a more than five-year long strike against Charter Communications in the New York metro area, IBEW Local 3’s Assistant Business Manager Lance Van Arsdale sent a letter stating the union is “disappointed that we are no longer representing the employees of Charter.”

Last week, after not having a contract since 2013 and having been on strike since 2017, IBEW Local 3 disclaimed interest in representing the approximately 1800 Charter Communications/Spectrum Cable workers in the New York City area.

The IBEW’s letter, which was dated April 27th and posted to Twitter, states that, although the union is disappointed “we are proud that we fought as long and hard as we did and we brought Charter to the table to resolve all outstanding issues.

Read the full letter below:

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Dear member,

Local Union No. 3, IBEW and Charter Communications have ended the battle that has gone on for nearly 10 years. A Settlement Agreement has been reached that resolves all the issues between Local 3 and Charter including:

• All matters before the NLRB

• Local 3 will no longer represent Charter employees in the NYC area

• All litigation between the parties relating to the strike

• Charter will pay an agreed-upon amount of withdrawal liability to the Pension Fund

We are disappointed that we are no longer representing the employees of Charter. However, we are proud that we fought as long and hard as we did and we brought Charter to the table to resolve all outstanding issues.

ET members that have temporary “M” Division cards and that are working in the “M” Division will be transferred permanently. The procedure to transfer is as follows:

1. Make sure your dues are paid at least 3 months in advance

2. Member must write a transfer request to:

   Local Union No. 3, IBEW

   158-11 HVA Jr. Avenue

   Flushing, NY 11365

   ATTN: Lance Van Arsdale, Asst. Bus. Mgr.

   Room 402, Maint. Dept.

3. An application will then be sent out with a self-addressed envelope provided.

Fraternally yours,

Lance Van Arsdale

Assistant Business Manager

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Angry African @AngryAfricanBK

This is the fruits of our labor, after being on strike for just over 5 years. Surely this isn't par for the course @AFLCIO...? Disappointed isn't a strong enough word...

On Twitter, the reactions by members and other interested parties has been critical of the IBEW.

Angry African @AngryAfricanBK

@AFLCIO 5 years and a month sacrificed on strike and this is what we get for holding the line. If this isn't a kick in the nuzzies with steel toe boots, I don't know what is... 🤦🏿‍♂️🤦🏿‍♂️🤦🏿‍♂️ @JoyAnnReid @soledadobrien @SenSanders @AOC @chrislhayes

Chris Fasulo @fasulo_chris

I am still in shock that after 5 years on #SpectrumStrike there doesn’t seem to be any compensation for the families who have suffered this long. We need to be made whole financially. Corp Greed needs to pay. @IBEWLocalUnion3 @mrtyg1 @RMVanArsdale @NLRBGC @NLRBMcFerran

David Sao @SAOCOFILMS

All cases settled between Spectrum and L3 in less than several days, did this happen because Spectrum needed to settle the strike before obtaining NYC broadband contracts. Why didn't the members vote on this decision? #settlement @NYCMayorsOffice @NLRB @NYCMayor @NewYorkStateAG

David Sao @SAOCOFILMS

On March 28, 2017 all members of Local 3 were given orders to walk out on strike, 5 years later these members never in their heart thought that @IBEW Local 3 was the real slim shady, the union received a settlement leaving all 1800 members in bankruptcy disgraceful and shameful.

Nawid Moshref @KabuleeAsli

@Lfelizleon @roblijah This Strike was based on assumption that Spectrum doesn’t want bad reputation since it recently had acquired Time Warner Cable, Spectrum can’t do its work without Local3 members and union rep fully relied on politicians to do the job. In short there was no plan except to strike

Supportive Wife @MVazque35072498

And the Sad part is @Local3 suggested we strike yet they went behind our backs and settled the strike without saying a word to the strikers. We all deserve a response from them but I dont think that will ever happen. @rosannascotto https://t.co/EbiXQ3mZW9

Nawid Moshref @KabuleeAsli

@Lfelizleon @roblijah This Strike was based on assumption that Spectrum doesn’t want bad reputation since it recently had acquired Time Warner Cable, Spectrum can’t do its work without Local3 members and union rep fully relied on politicians to do the job. In short there was no plan except to strike

Gregory A. Butler @GREGORYABUTLER

@Lfelizleon Honestly? Local 3 lost that strike a LONG time ago the dad of a friend of mine lost his job because of that strike - and he wasn't the only one

Related: IBEW's Five-Year Strike In New York City Is Over As Union Walks Away