CWA Leader Attends Broadband Roundtable in Nevada

CWA Local 9413 President Marc Ellis attended a Broadband Roundtable in Nevada late last month. The guests included Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), one of the champions of making sure that broadband projects create safe, union jobs. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo also attended the discussion, along with Nevada broadband industry CEOs and Executive Directors.

The discussion centered on “middle mile” broadband buildout, creating the infrastructure to move internet between cities and out to rural areas. One topic of concern for CWA was the perceived “labor shortage” affecting the telecom companies. President Ellis made sure the companies present understood that there are CWA members ready to get to work and that the only real concern was whether these jobs being created would be safe, good-paying, career-building jobs.

Said President Ellis, “We [CWA] need to make sure this isn’t just a cash grab but is the career-building opportunity President Biden intended. CWA workers are highly skilled and highly trained, nobody does it better than us.”

With another $416 million yet to be awarded in Nevada, President Ellis is determined to make sure the created jobs work for working people and that smaller telecom companies are either hiring union workers or their workforce is being organized.

 
CWA Local 9413 President Marc Ellis (in the red shirt) attended a roundtable hosted by Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) (blue jacket, center) and Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo (white checkered jacket) to discuss broadband buildout in Nevada.