by James Parks, Jan 29, 2007

A year ago, Comcast fired a worker in Oakland, Calif., for exposing the company’s anti-union tactics. Will Goodo says he was fired soon after testifying before the Oakland City Council about the cable company’s anti-worker actions (see video).

Goodo is not represented by a union, but he is backing the efforts of his former co-workers at Comcast to join the Communications Workers of America (CWA). The Employee Free Choice Act, supported by a bipartisan coalition in Congress, would level the playing field for workers and employers and help rebuild America’s middle class and restore the freedom of workers such as Goodo to choose a union.

The company asserts Goodo was fired after a customer complaint—but there’s evidence the customer in question never actually complained about him at all. That customer subsequently denied in writing ever having made a complaint.

A National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) regional director found Comcast “apparently lied,” “gave a false explanation for” and “fabricated” its reasons for investigating Goodo. But the director also decided Goodo was not fired for union activity. CWA Local 9415 is appealing that ruling.

The CWA website quotes Father Jack O’Malley from Pittsburgh, a leader of the Religious Leaders for Justice at Comcast,  who says the company has to face the fact that the workers want and deserve a union.

“We’re not going away,” Father O’Malley says on the CWA website, adding:

Workers have a moral right to not feel intimidation at the workplace.

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