Second Unit at unWired Broadband Wins Union Recognition Following Battle With Company

Workers at unWired Broadband first joined a union in 2025 to improve workplace safety, address unjust firings, and secure a voice on the job.

(FRESNO, Calif.) - Despite continued anti-union pushback from the company, unWired Broadband fiber technicians in California's Central Valley voted overwhelmingly in favor of joining the Communications Workers of America (CWA) in a July election overseen by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).

The election comes one year after unWired installation and service technicians voted to join CWA in June 2025. Throughout the organizing campaign, unWired installation and service technicians endured anti-union captive-audience meetings, and several members of the organizing committee were illegally fired. In July 2026, CWA reached a $75,000 settlement with unWired Broadband resolving several unfair labor practice charges filed with the NLRB. The workers have demonstrated their commitment to a union and holding the company accountable for unlawful behavior.

"We are proud to have stood together and won our union," said Chris Cooke, an unWired Broadband fiber technician and CWA Local 9408 member. "As fiber technicians we know that we are critical to unWired's success. We look forward to having a seat at the table to continue to improve the connectivity of the Central Valley while ensuring democracy and dignity on the job."

"I support the right of fiber splicers at unWired Broadband to exercise one of the most fundamental freedoms in our democracy: the choice of whether to be represented by a union," said California State Senator Anna M. Caballero (D-Merced). "Even under pressure, they have remained united. Every worker deserves the opportunity to make this decision free from fear, intimidation, or retaliation, and I am proud of their courage and the respect they have shown one another throughout this process. Their determination reflects the best of the Central Valley, and I remain in full solidarity with them."

"We are proud to welcome unWired Broadband's second bargaining unit to the CWA family," said Jason Orozco, President of CWA Local 9408. "These workers endured an aggressive campaign by unWired to thwart their right to organize, but today they prevailed. CWA stands ready to bargain with unWired on behalf of both bargaining units so that unWired's technicians can continue to connect residents of California's Central Valley to high-quality internet."

"Congratulations to the second bargaining unit at unWired Broadband for winning their union election, despite fierce resistance from the company," said Assemblymember Liz Ortega, Chair of the California Assembly Committee on Labor and Employment. "I am inspired by these workers' strength and bravery in exercising their right to organize. I stand with them and call on unWired to come to the table to bargain for a fair contract."

unWired Broadband is a Fresno, California-headquartered internet service provider focused on serving the Central Valley of California. unWired is a portfolio company of O2 Investment Partners, a Bloomfield Hills, Michigan-based private equity firm.

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About CWA: The Communications Workers of America represents working people in telecommunications, customer service, media, airlines, health care, public service and education, manufacturing, tech, and other fields.

cwa-union.org @cwaunion