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After extremely tough contract battles, TNG-CWA units at Thomson Reuters and The Associated Press have reached tentative agreements that stave off the companies' worst demands and provide some wage and other improvements for Guild members.

"In both cases the companies set out to do real damage to the Guild contracts," TNG-CWA President Bernie Lunzer said. "The units had stiff resolve and became stronger. While some concessions were made, the units reached good agreements in both cases -- proof that unity makes a huge difference."

Continuing to build and expand coalitions of allies, CWA members in cities across the nation joined tens of thousands of people Sunday for May Day events that called for immigration reform and workers' rights.

In New York City, CWA District 1 President Chris Shelton addressed thousands of activists who rallied at Union Square and marched downtown to Foley Square.

As other states fixate on ways to take rights, services and benefits away from people, Vermont's legislature has boldly passed the nation's first single-payer bill to provide affordable health care for all Vermonters.

CWA members testified, rallied and helped educate the public about the bill, which removes from employers the costly burden of providing health insurance.

"We want health care to follow the individual and not be a requirement of the employer, which we think will be a huge jobs creator," said Gov. Pete Shumlin, speaking on the Rachel Maddow show. He said Vermont wants to be the first state to "treat health care as a right and not a privilege."

CWA will hold another national stewards call, our fourth "virtual union meeting," on Tuesday, May 3 at 7:30 p.m. EDT. It's a good way for CWA activists to move forward together on next steps.

On May 17, AFA-CWA-represented Flight Attendants at United-Continental begin voting in a critical union representation election to determine which union will represent the 24,000 Flight Attendants at the newly merged airline.