Resources
Busting Union Busting: Facts vs Fiction at Maximus
As our campaign continues to gain momentum, Maximus has been back up to its dirty tricks by spreading more misinformation. As we continue to build power at worksites across the country, we want to make sure you succeed so we’ve outlined what you can expect from Maximus and how to spot union busting when you see it. According to unionbustingplaybook.com, union-busting is any action by management to prevent employees from exercising their right to organize. We’ll also separate fact from fiction and make sure you have the most accurate information about our campaign, what’s at stake, and how we win the pay, benefits, and dignity we deserve.
WHAT MAXIMUS SAYS | THE TRUTH |
| "Striking workers are actors paid by CWA and non-employees” | The only way we can strike is if we choose to strike! Workers on strike sign a strike pledge dedicating their time to standing in solidarity with their coworkers. (In our biggest strike, more than 700 of our coworkers walked off the job on strike - none of them were paid actors!) Because of Maximus’ low pay, many workers felt empowered to strike but were hesitant to join due to their concern for missing out on the wages they would need to afford bills, groceries, and medication. In 2020*, with the support of CWA, we decided to start a solidarity fund where community supporters and other allies could donate to make sure every striking worker had their wages covered for time missed from work. |
| ”The people responsible for leaving union phone calls or text messages are telemarketers” | Because of fear of retaliation, discussing union matters in the call center seems nearly impossible. (Despite the company claiming they allow open dialogue about working conditions.) We had to get creative when it came to reaching our coworkers about our organizing efforts and even more so for our coworkers who are remote. We’ve grown our worker support exponentially through phone calls and peer-to-peer texting. Many of the callers are workers like you volunteering to tell you everything you need to know about how we’re getting the benefits we deserve at Maximus. |
”We believe you are best served by working directly with management - not a third party like a union - to address your concerns.”
| First, there is no "third party"-- we, the workers, are the union. Second, right now, management has all of the control over our working conditions – they can choose whether or not they want to listen to us. However, by forming a union we will have the legal right to negotiate with management for better wages, health insurance, and other working conditions. Collective bargaining is the most effective way to get the changes we deserve. Bargaining collectively is the only way to effectively negotiate “big issues” such as health insurance, living wage for all, and fair working conditions. Our managers and supervisors have very little influence over our raises or working conditions. Higher-level executives like the CEO are the real decision-makers. If we want to improve staffing and working conditions at our locations, we need to come together so we can bargain collectively. We need a union! |
| ”Be careful what you sign. You could accidentally sign a union authorization card and be forced to pay union dues.” | We would never ask you to sign anything that isn’t clear in its intentions. If we are asking you to sign up as a member, then that will be clearly spelled out. Everything we circulate is reviewed by our legal team. Unless you have become a direct join member, you will not be asked to pay union dues until we negotiate a collective bargaining agreement and vote to approve that agreement. When we have a union contract we are satisfied with, and only after we vote “yes” for that contract, do dues kick in. |
| ”Organizing could lead to a contract re-bid resulting in more site closures.” | It is illegal to shut down operations simply to avoid unionization and it doesn’t make economic sense for Maximus. In our line of work, changing federal contractors is not new. Many of us have worked for four different contractors in the same building. They come, take over the contract, and basically put a new sign on the door. Maximus is eligible to keep being CMS' contractor for 1-800-Medicare and Marketplace if they agree to the Labor Harmony provision that the Department of Health and Human Services requires. However, it seems Maximus would rather keep up their anti-union campaign and put their $6.6 billion dollar contract at risk. |
| ”We care about you.” | Poor wages, poor health benefits that leave workers in medical debt, low opportunities for career advancement, and inhumane bathroom break policies are all a result of Maximus’ greed and their lack of empathy for their employees. This doesn’t align with the principles of a company that values its workers. |
Still have additional questions about fact vs fiction at Maximus? Reach out to an organizer at CallCenterWorkers@cwa-union.org or 202-434-1129.
The Kalmanovitz Initiative for Labor and the Working Poor at Georgetown University conducted a study of the call center now operated by Maximus in Hattiesburg that found that better working conditions at the call center would benefit both call center employees and the broader community. According to the study, higher pay at the call center would spur growth in the Hattiesburg region by injecting an average of $9.7 million into the local economy annually, create 189 new jobs in the region, and reduce racial and gender income disparities in the region.
CWA represents over 65,000 customer service professionals. When employees form a union, they can improve not only their wages, but their working conditions also. Learn about some of the improved working conditions that CWA members have won at call centers, such as fair monitoring and metrics, flexible scheduling, and work/family programs.
Promoting Good Working Conditions for Customer Service Workers
Read the letter from Members of Congress to Health and Human Services and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
Check out this inspiring video made by one of our coworkers in Hattiesburg, MS. Take a look and share it with your coworkers to inspire them to get involved!