CWA Locals Honored for Organizing Efforts at 2019 CWA Convention

Since the last CWA convention, CWA locals from around the country have brought in over 4,500 new members through external organizing campaigns. At the 2019 CWA Convention, locals received organizing awards in honor of their extraordinary work.

The Hat Award for outstanding achievements in organizing is named for CWA's founding president, Joe Beirne, and is CWA's highest honor. This year, CWA President Chris Shelton presented the Hat Award to the NewsGuild's Organizing Committee for their outstanding work in helping thousands of workers gain a union voice in the news industry, and to Tennessee United Campus Workers-CWA Local 3865 President Ed McDaniel, who has helped workers build a fighting union of more than 2,200 members working at every single public college campus across Tennessee.

Shelton presented a new organizing award this year, named "The Morton Bahr CWA STRONG Award" in honor of the former CWA President's vision, tenacity, and union building, to the presidents of New Jersey State Workers CWA Locals 1031, 1032, 1033, 1036, 1037, 1038, and 1040 for their tireless work fighting back against anti-union attacks and electing a strong CWA ally in Governor Phil Murphy. As he presented the award, Shelton noted how Morty always embraced mobilization and political action to secure the best for our members.

The following locals were honored for supporting more than 100 workers in gaining formal recognition for a voice at work: CWA Local 1101, New York, N.Y.; CWA Local 1103, Port Chester, N.Y.; CWA Local 1109, Brooklyn, N.Y.; TNG-CWA Local 31003, New York, N.Y.; TNG-CWA Local 31041, Providence, R.I.; NABET-CWA Local 51011, New York, N.Y.; TNG-CWA Local 32035, Washington, D.C.; CWA Local 3265, Athens, Ga.; TNG-CWA Local 34071, Chicago, Ill.; CWA Local 6171, Krum, Texas; and TNG-CWA Local 36047, St. Louis, Mo. More than 200 Locals have received this award at least once. Each local will receive a $1,000 organizing subsidy as well as a plaque for the current year. Locals who have won this award 5, 10, or 15 times will receive $5,000.

In addition to the organizing awards, locals were recognized for their support for CWA's Political Action Fund and for fund-raising on behalf of the Pediatric AIDS Foundation.

Congratulations to all the winners!

At the 2019 CWA Convention, locals received organizing awards in honor of their extraordinary work.