News

CWA has launched an advertising blitz in New Jersey to counter proposals from a handful of state legislators who are trying to renege on their commitment to ensure a secure retirement and health care for state workers.

Under the leadership of District 3 Vice President Noah Savant and with assistance of Booker Lester, Administrative Director to the Vice President, the CWA Occupational Safety and Health Department conducted the CWA District 3 Occupational Safety and Health Retreat, May 17, 2008. Forty-six (46) local union safety and health activists representing 22 local unions participated in the Retreat held at the Jacksonville Crowne Plaza Riverfront in Jacksonville, Florida. Also, immediately preceding the Retreat, on May 15-16 the Department and the Center for Labor Education and Research, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama conducted a training session.

Harry Swaim, 74, retired District 3 staff representative, died May 26, at the Middle Tennessee Medical Center in Murfeesboro, Tenn.

Blaming weak sales of sport utility vehicles, General Motors this week announced plans to close the IUE-CWA-represented plant in Moraine, Ohio, along with three other plant shutdowns, prompting the union to declare that the workers and the community are victims of GM's "failure in reading the U.S. automotive market and securing future product for our facility."

A bill that promotes global trade as long as agreements are fairly negotiated and include effective labor, environmental and product safety standards is being introduced by Democrats on Capitol Hill with the support of CWA and other labor unions.