Sep 14, 2023 - CODE-CWA Member Brings Worker Voice to Senate AI Forum

Monday, September 11, was the 22nd anniversary of the attacks on 9/11. We remember those who were tragically taken away from us, including our CWA, NABET-CWA, and AFA-CWA heroes who were working in the Twin Towers for the Port Authority of NY/NJ, on top of the twin towers servicing TV transmitters, on the job at the Pentagon, and in the skies on the flights that crashed that day. We honor the CWA telecom workers, nurses, 911 operators, traffic enforcement agents and supervisors, public sector members, broadcast engineers and news crews, journalists and media workers, volunteers, and all of those who played a crucial role in responding to this tragic event and rebuilding our country.

Members of AFA-CWA served in honor guards at remembrance services at the Pentagon, at the National 9/11 Memorial in New York City, and at the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, Pa.

Every year, we are reminded that the impact of this tragic day is still being felt by those who contracted severe illnesses as a result of the 9/11 attacks and the work they have done in the years since. CWA encourages all eligible members to take full advantage of the programs that are available for 9/11 survivors and responders as soon as possible. Information about these available programs can be found here.

Unfortunately, the World Trade Center Health Program, which provides health care and medical monitoring for 9/11 responders and survivors, is facing an impending budget shortfall and could stop accepting new members or enact other service cuts in the future unless Congress acts. A coalition of concerned activists, including responders, survivors, and their families are mobilizing to put pressure on Congress to pass the bipartisan 9/11 Responder and Survivor Health Funding and Correction Act to ensure that our heroes receive the care they need and deserve, now and into the future. On Monday, a group of unions, including CWA, wrote to congressional leaders, encouraging them to address the shortfall. Click here to find out more and take action.

AFA-CWA International President Sara Nelson and CWA Secretary-Treasurer Ameenah Salaam joined Flight Attendants from AFA-CWA and the Association of Professional Flight Attendants for 9/11 Remembrance Services at the Pentagon, where Nelson read a poem written by an American Airlines passenger service agent in 2001 for the Boston Crew Memorial.

CODE-CWA member Ed Stackhouse joined AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler in the U.S. Capitol to answer questions by reporters after the AI Insight Forum.

CWAers from across our union are actively engaged in shaping government policy on artificial intelligence (AI) and challenging corporate misuses of AI.

This week, Ed Stackhouse, a Google rater and member of the Alphabet Workers Union-CWA (AWU-CWA Local 9009) traveled to Washington, D.C., to share his experiences working to train, test, and evaluate Google’s search and AI platforms. AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler brought Stackhouse’s insights about the impact of Google’s working conditions on the quality and reliability of AI-generated search results to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s AI Insight Forum, which included senators, tech CEOs, and labor leaders. Watch Stackhouse speak from the event.

While tech titans and corporate executives paint a rosy picture of the future of artificial intelligence in the workplace, CWAers are speaking out as the real experts on the right and wrong ways to use AI tools to get the job done.

We are the workers who are both building AI platforms and being managed by AI algorithms. We are the end users who know the difference between a software program that enhances worker productivity and creativity and one that threatens our privacy, job security, and quality of worklife with zero accountability.

That’s why CWA’s Executive Board has established a Committee on Artificial Intelligence. This group of members from across our union is studying the impact of AI technology in our workplaces and will draft principles and recommendations on how to address the challenges that AI presents through both bargaining strategy and public policy.

Our Health and Safety department has been following up with employers about their voluntary blood lead testing programs after recent news reports that highlighted concerns around lead in telecommunications. Initial reports from two of the major employers indicate that very few members have chosen to undergo blood lead level (BLL) testing.

We strongly encourage all members engaged in telecommunications work involving lead to participate in your employer’s voluntary blood lead testing program. Your health matters, and these tests are a crucial step in protecting you from the potential risks associated with lead exposure. Employees meeting their employer’s eligibility criteria should follow their employer’s policy for requesting and obtaining this test. These voluntary programs should be conducted on company time with no loss in pay or impact on performance metrics. Please be assured that the healthcare provider conducting your blood lead test must follow a specific protocol for blood lead testing and the laboratory that analyzes your blood sample for lead must also follow a specific protocol. Your blood is only being tested for lead and your employer plays no role in the medical conduct of the blood lead test.

Early detection and monitoring of lead levels in your blood can give you valuable information about your health status, while employers can better assess the effectiveness of their lead management programs and implement necessary safeguards.

A blood lead test provides you with information about your recent exposures to lead, typically within the past month. Promptly getting a blood lead test as soon as possible after an exposure is crucial because lead does not remain in the bloodstream. From the blood, some of the lead will be excreted from the body in urine while some may accumulate in and cause damage to various organs such as the kidneys, liver, lungs, brain, spleen, muscles, heart, bones, and teeth.

If a blood lead test reveals the presence of lead in your blood and you have been working with or near lead within the past month, this means that you have been exposed to lead. Once armed with this knowledge, it becomes essential to determine the source(s) of exposure and ensure you have the necessary safeguards and information to avoid further exposure. Your employer bears the responsibility of providing lead-related training and ensuring the availability of personal protective equipment and protocols to prevent exposure.

In the event that you have been working with or around lead within the past month and your blood lead test shows no detectable lead, that’s a good thing because it indicates an absence of work-related exposure during that period. It is advisable to continue following safety practices to maintain your well-being.

Lead is toxic and can have serious health consequences, including neurological and reproductive issues. While a blood lead test cannot predict the development of a specific lead-related illness, the presence of lead in your blood signals an elevated risk of adverse health outcomes. It is important to note that a blood lead test does NOT provide information regarding past exposures or the presence of lead from previous exposures that may have accumulated in your bones or organs.

We urge you to schedule your blood lead test today – it's a proactive step toward a safer and healthier future for you and your family. You can learn more about testing for and preventing exposure to lead in telecommunications here.

MissionWired

Workers at MissionWired, one of the largest and most prominent digital direct marketing firms in progressive politics, won voluntary recognition for their union this week after an independent mediator confirmed that a majority of workers had signed cards authorizing union representation. The union, MissionWired United-CWA, includes digital, tech, creative, editorial, and operational workers that believe in building a more sustainable, transparent, and equitable workplace.

Siemens

Members of IUE-CWA Local 84765 who work at Siemens are mobilizing for a fair contract. They refused to participate in a company-sponsored Labor Day cookout and instead took their scheduled lunches and returned to work thirty minutes later after the company offered to extend their lunch period. Management has proposed replacing their current health care plan with an unaffordable, high-deductible plan. They told the company: we don't want hot dogs and hamburgers – we want affordable healthcare!

Missouri 911 Dispatchers

Missouri 911 dispatchers belonging to CWA Local 6360 are celebrating their new ability to receive recognition as first responders following the passage of Senate Bill 24. Prior to the bill’s enactment, 911 dispatchers were designated as clerical workers. This meant dispatchers lacked access to benefits, such as mental health care services and retirement at age 55, available to workers categorized as first responders. This change is critical, as 911 dispatchers experience a great mental toll as they help people navigate personal crises from afar.

Local 6360 represents 911 dispatchers in Jackson County, Independence, and Blue Springs. While SB 24 does not confer automatic recognition as first responders, local governments in both Jackson County and Independence have taken action to ensure that 911 dispatchers are properly recognized. Blue Springs is not far behind, as their city council is poised to pass the requisite resolution later in September.

This change in recognition coincides with the recent success of Local 6360 in bargaining for a three-year agreement for Independence, Mo., dispatchers. The contract, which received a unanimous vote of approval, includes wage increases, retirement benefit upgrades, and the addition of a retention wage to annual pay increases.

Local 6360 President Tom Gebken recently interviewed dispatcher Zach Cobb on the Heartland Labor Forum radio show about what it is like to be a dispatcher and the benefits of being in a union. You can check out this fascinating and informative interview here. Zack’s segment starts at the 12-minute mark.

###

Reversing Runaway Inequality

CWA members from across District 9 gathered in Sacramento, Calif., last week to participate in a Runaway Inequality training to learn about the increasing wealth gap and systemic inequality, how the economy is rigged against workers, and how we can put a stop to it.

Union members and their families find easy ways to save on auto and home insurance. Get competitive quotes from multiple carriers through Farmers Insurance Choice℠. Click here for details.