Communications Workers of America District 13 in western Pennsylvania had organized the largest group of cable workers in the United States.  But the number of members dropped in the wake of the merger between AT&T and Comcast.  

CWA had negotiated a neutrality policy with AT&T, which allowed the Pittsburgh-area locals to organize workers without facing concerted opposition form the company.  All that changed when the decidedly anti-union Comcast took over cable operations. The corporation used both the carrot and the stick to keep more workers from joining CWA and to persuade others to support decertification elections to get rid of union representation in existing units.  

Though CWA lost some workplaces, workers in major operations saw through the company smokescreen of  anti-union tactics and propaganda and stuck with the union.  The CWA District finally managed to reach an  understanding with management and got to the point of approving some contracts in record time. 

Comcast ,however, appears to have reverted to its old ways. It is once again dragging out bargaining over a Pittsburgh contract, as it has in other parts of the country.  Comcast tactics of intimidation and stonewalling have made it a prime example of why workers need the legal changes contained in the Employee Free Choice Act.  

In fact, CWA Local 13000, Unit 116 member John Pezzana has literally become a "poster child" on a billboard supporting the legislation.