Diversity: Board Diversity Seats "A Great Bridge-Builder"

In 2007, CWA Convention delegates voted to add four diversity “at large” seats to the Executive Board to better ensure that all CWA voices were being heard at the top level of the union. Today, leaders of CWA committees focusing on minority and women’s issues say they’re pleased with the results.

“From my standpoint, it’s been a great bridge-builder, a morale-builder, to see that our leadership had the foresight to add the diversity members to the Executive Board. So far what I hear is that they are being listened to and their votes are being counted. And this is important for all members. For years, our rank-and-file, not only minorities, felt our union was being run from the top down. Now we know for a fact that they’re getting input from the grassroots.”

“CWA has broken ground in the labor movement in regards to making diversity happen at the highest level. We are trailblazers in the AFL-CIO, which is challenging its unions to have leadership that reflects its membership. The other positive outcome of having members-at-large on the Board is that they are active local leaders who know the day to day concerns of their members. They bring that critically important voice to the Board.”

“The at-large diversity members have added two additional women to the CWA Executive Board and they have worked with the Women’s Committee and Committee on Equity to update materials and brochures as well as discussing issues that affect both committees. The Women’s Committee has also had at-large board members attend conferences and provide feedback to our members. We are hopeful that these at-large members will help the Women’s Committee reach more members, get them involved and help us get support for issues that are important to women.”