CWA members win protections for call center jobs in Colorado

Colorado Governor Jared Polis signed the “monitoring Colorado call center job losses act,” HB19-1306, into law. The bill will require the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment to keep a list of Colorado call center jobs, including those which have been replaced by overseas call centers, and require the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment to issue an annual report to state lawmakers on those call center job losses.

"I've seen first-hand how companies harm working families in Colorado by laying off call center jobs and moving operations overseas. Corporations shouldn't be able to pit call center workers across the world against each other in a global race to the bottom," said Sandra Parker-Murray, Customer Service Coordinator and member of CWA Local 7777 in Denver.

Additionally, the Alabama Senate voted 32-0 to pass SB110, which contains strong notification requirements for companies that offshore 30 percent or more call volume at an Alabama call center, required repayment of unearned taxpayer dollars received to create call center jobs, and a five-year restriction on state benefits for employers who act in bad faith. The bill is awaiting the governor’s signature.

CWA members continue to make progress in other states. Bills to protect call center jobs were also passed by the state assemblies in Nevada and California.

Links:

CWA members win protections for call center jobs in Colorado and Alabama (CWA, May 30, 2019)