News

The number of CWAers signing on to the Million Member Mobilization for the Employee Free Choice Act is increasing steadily – reaching 26,802 as of Aug. 11 – as local unions have linked the importance of the legislation to the election of pro-worker candidates and critical issues like health care.

CWA members at Qwest Communications voted overwhelmingly to give CWA leaders authorization to call a strike if they deem it necessary to reach a fair settlement, with 93 percent of participating members voting for authorization. The vote "demonstrates members' solid support for their bargaining team and their strong determination to achieve a fair settlement with Qwest," said District 7 Vice President Louise Caddell.

After years of lobbying New York State lawmakers, NABET-CWA celebrated the passage and signing last week of the Broadcast Employees Freedom to Work Act, lifting restrictions on broadcast workers' flexibility to find new jobs when they leave an employer.

CWA members at AT&T are looking ahead to contract negotiations in early 2009 and training is underway around the country to help put together an action plan for successful negotiations next year.

So much for the big business canard that American corporations pay some of the highest taxes in the world. A report this week from the government itself shows that two-thirds of all U.S. businesses paid no federal income taxes between 1998 and 2005. A slightly higher percentage of foreign corporations doing business here paid no taxes either.