News

CWA increased by more than 1,700 new members in January, February and March and could soon draw several hundred more, the largest numbers coming in the wireless, health care and public safety sectors.

Cellular One — Boston

An analysis by the Legg Mason Precursor Group, a top telecommunications investment research firm, predicted the Department of Justice will likely block the proposed merger of Sprint Corp. and MCI WorldCom because of its anti-competitive effect on long distance, Internet and data networking.

Bargainers reached tentative agreement on behalf of 600 Sprint workers in Ohio, and Sprint units in Missouri and Kansas ratified pacts reached earlier, CWA Vice President T.O. Moses reported.

Ben G. Turn Jr., vice president of CWA District 6, retired on March 31. The CWA Executive Board has appointed Andy Milburn, Turn’s assistant, to serve as interim vice president until the CWA convention this August, when an election will be held to permanently fill the position.

CWA officials have been meeting with Lucent Technologies management to gather details on the company’s recently announced plan to spin off its PBX, business cabling and LAN-based data businesses as a new $8 billion independent corporation.