News

In one of the mostly profoundly cynical, yet revealing, comments by a corporate robber baron, railroad tycoon Jay Gould, looking to break a strike in 1896, proclaimed: "I can hire one half of the working class to kill the other half."

Supported by nationwide mobilization, Local 6171 kicked off bargaining with CenturyTel in quest of improvements in wages, health care, pensions and job security.

Whether volunteering as drivers at campaign stops, helping shape the Democratic platform or serving as delegates, alternates or committee members at next week's convention in Boston, CWAers are an indispensable part of the Kerry-Edwards campaign for the White House.

With August expiration dates approaching, members and their bargaining teams are focused on mobilization and negotiation in their efforts to acquire contracts at BellSouth and Verizon Southwest.

At a Capitol Hill news conference July 20, CWA and fellow unions representing half a million media workers joined members of Congress to call for full public hearings as the Federal Communications Commission reconsiders its rules on media ownership.