CWA National Women's Conference 2005

Wrap Up!

The CWA National Women's Conference was held in Seattle Washington April 14 - 17, 2005 . Participants were welcomed to Seattle by Malachy Sreenan, Executive Vice President of Local 7800 and District 7 Vice President Annie Hill. Prior to hearing from Pres. Bahr, Jean Godden, a member of the Seattle City Council member and TNG-CWA Local 37082. Jean told us how proud she was to have been there and to be a TNG-CWA member, and how skills acquired as Union activists helped in her political career.

President Bahr, gave a historical perspective of women in our union and the changes that have been made over the years, he also took questions from the floor. Secretary/Treasurer Easterling spoke on the need for women to getting more involved in the legislative process as the attacks on the current social security system will disparately negatively impact women as they rely more heavily on Social Security than their male counterparts. Secretary/Treasurer Easterling also took questions from the floor. Thursday evening, Zeek Green, a member of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 23, brought spoken word about the movement and social justice issues in his own unique way.

Friday morning Zach Hudgins, District 11 Washington State Rep., and former Wash-Tech member, in need of caffeine after a late night vote, told of his experience with Wash-Tech and how he used techniques of door knocking (anyone familiar with that?) in his campaign. He ran his campaign on a small budget and with help from a lot of friends and advised participants to run for office. There is a real need for good people at all levels of government.

Executive Vice President Cohen followed Zach, telling us about the need to fully engage members and the need for real collective bargaining rights in our country. Currently the penalty on an employer for refusing to bargain a first contract is practically non-existent. This creates a climate where even after we win an election, without the ability to get a first contract, we are open to a decertification. EVP Cohen also took questions from the floor.

Participants heard success tips from Linda Foley, President TNG-CWA and Verlene Jones, Union Cities Organizer of the King County Labor Council. Each had a unique story to tell about how they handled situations in a way that helped. This was a lively session with plenty of questions from the floor.

The addition of Zach Hudgins and Jean Godden to the conference was quite timely as one of the workshops offered was, “How to Run for Political Office,” presented by Rita Voorhies, CWA District 6 Northern Area Director. After hearing from Zach and Jean and attending the workshop, two sisters vowed to take up the challenge and run for office! Kudos to Christian Dube, CWA 7800 Legislative Committee Chair for his help in securing Zach and Jean for the conference, as well as Congressman Jim McDermott District 7.

Other workshops offered were, “Getting Your Story Heard – Media Relations ,” conducted by Candice Johnson, CWA Assistant Director Communications Department and Janelle Hartmann, CWA Writer/Editor Communications Department, “CWA History Structure & CWA Convention,” conducted by Hetty Scofield, CWA Representative Mobilization Coordinator; “Making the Legislative and Political Process Work ( for you and your members),” conducted by Alfonso Pollard, CWA Representative Legislation, “Parliamentary Procedure,” conducted by Pat Shea, Headquarters Counsel CWA Legal Department Washington, D.C., “Public Speaking,” conducted by Barbara Byrd, Senior Instructor, Labor Education and Research Center - Portland, Oregan, “Domestic Violence – Including Men as Allies,” conducted by Ken Owens, CWA Local 9509 Vice President; and Organizing – Rolando Figuero, CWA District 7 Organizing Coordinator and Karole Gorman CWA Local 37083 Local Organizer.

Sunday morning participants entered a room with 5 microphones on the floor – for the mock convention. The convention was opened with the presentation of colors by Brownie Troop 2006 of Service Unit 10. Thanks to Porsche Phelps, CWA local 7800 activist and Troop leader. The Pledge of Allegiance was lead by Jan Rich, National Women's Committee District 4. Shonita Roy, CWA headquarters technical assistant and support for the Women's program, sang a terrific rendition of the National Anthem.

Four college students who came together to form the Northwest Corner Quartet, inspired participants with acapella songs from the movement and asked us each to think of the sunshine in our lives as they sang an updated very jazzy version of the old standard “You Are My Sunshine.”

Congressman Jim McDermott spoke of the ineptitude of the current leadership in Washington, the rush to Social Security Reform when there is no real crisis at hand and to the cheers of participants, signed on to the Social Security Pledge – vowing to maintain a real system of security and shun the privatization scheme offered by the administration

Working on the on the platform for the mock convention were Irene Baltazar, Local 9588 who served as timekeeper. Answering the phones connected to the microphones were Theresa Hayes Local 84798, Elizabeth Felicione, Local 1103, Jane Powell, Local 1040 and Patricia Owens Local 4621. Larraine Darrington, Administrative Assistant to District 9 Vice President, assisted the platform committee along with Pat Shea, CWA Legal Department who served as parliamentarian.

The first order of business before the mock convention, once Temporary Chair Susie McAllister, National Women's Committee District 7, passed the Chair to Dina Beaumont Executive Assistant to the President was a report from the Resolutions Committee. Dina called on Rosa Bernal, National Women's Committee District 9, for purpose of presenting Resolution 05-01: Dina Beaumont – A Role Model for CWA Women a report from committee which was a resolution recognizing Dina for her years of service and leadership to all CWA members and making her Chair Emeritus of this and all future mock conventions to be held at the CWA Women's Conferences. Participants lined up at the “for” microphone in support of the resolution.

The mock convention continued with various resolutions, including one the most controversial one that would require locals to merge – using the SEIU model – with sanctions imposed for failure to merge. This was defeated after a lively discussion. Taking off on Rep. McDermott's signing of the Social Security Pledge a resolution calling on participants to take the Social Security Pledges in their packets home and get local state and federal legislatures to sign passed with strong support. Learn more about the Social Security issue at http://www.cwa-legislative.org/fact-sheets/page.jsp?itemID=27101090. Participants really had the opportunity to use their skills at the microphones and behind the scenes, drafting resolutions and arguments for and against the various resolutions.

The next CWA National Women's Conference will be held in 2007 – location to be determined, but if the wishes of the participants come true it will be held in New Orleans . Thanks to those who were able to participate in the conference and all those who helped in the success of the conference.