Broadband Brigade on the Move

A lot of you have heard about the Broadband Brigade and the Build Broadband Better initiative at CWA, but you might not know what we’ve been doing recently. I’m proud to be representing Next Gen on the Brigade team, along with Britni Cuington from District 6 and Carissa Hahn in District 7, and I’d like to fill you in on our work.

Last month, as part of a major union lobby day in Kentucky, CWA activists including Local 3310 Broadband Brigade and Next Gen member Jason DeValdivielso (second from right) met with Governor Andy Beshear. Jason advocated for using federal infrastructure funds aimed at broadband expansion to support high labor standards. And at a January online event with Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (WA), District 6 Lead Britni Cuington discussed why expanding internet access will help raise up all communities and create a more level playing field.

“States must now set firm labor standards that work in the interests of the public, not Wall Street,” Britni explained.

The Brigade is fighting for key CWA priorities by contacting legislators and the media in every state and making sure they hear the voices of real workers talking about the problems of the digital divide and why it’s so important to extend broadband to underserved rural and urban areas.

As members of the Brigade, Britni, Carissa, and I communicate with leaders at the state and national levels and organize actions across the country. Everything we do is designed to ensure that money targeting telecom infrastructure goes to companies that employ well-trained union workers and not low-road contractors. Show your support by signing the petition at https://buildbroadbandbetter.org/ and check out the Brigade’s latest video on Facebook here and be sure to like and share it to show your support!