Jul 8, 2021 - CWA Member Featured in TV Ad, and other news

Today, CWA launched a television and digital advertising campaign to educate the public and legislators about the importance of making sure that broadband infrastructure is built by skilled union workers and not low-wage contractors.

The ad, featuring CWA Local 4008 member Kojak Valentine, comes as a bipartisan group of legislators are negotiating a federal infrastructure bill which allocates $65 billion for broadband. CWA members have been contacting their Senators and members of Congress to make sure that the bill prohibits companies with union workers from subcontracting the work in order to avoid paying the fair wages and benefits we have negotiated and protects workers’ right to organize a union.

Click here to watch and share the ad and learn more at BuildBroadbandBetter.org.

The CWA Joe Beirne Foundation was established in October 1974 by the CWA Executive Board to honor the name and memory of the founding President of CWA, who served for more than 30 years.

Sixteen partial college scholarships of $4,000 each are being awarded for the 2021-2022 school year. Winners, selected in a lottery drawing, also will receive second-year scholarships of the same amount contingent upon satisfactory academic accomplishment. Part-time students, taking fewer than 12 credits, will receive half of the scholarship amount.

Eligible for the awards are CWA members and their spouses, children, and grandchildren, including those of retired or deceased members.

2021-2022 Winners:

Maya Harper, daughter of Robin Dade, CWA Local 1038
Debbie Yu, member, CWA Local 1104
Destiny Kirk, daughter of Richard Kirk, CWA Local 81359
Malek Boxx, son of Ronald Boxx, CWA Local 1170
Messiah Cook, son of Marie Cook, CWA Local 1036
Alyssa Montalvo, daughter of Julio Montalvo, CWA Local 13000
Jakobe Smith, son of Frederick Smith CWA Local 3902
Leah Daire, daughter of Alexander Daire, CWA Local 3122
Zach Boerner, grandson of Frank Boerner, CWA Local 4603
Paige Yu, daughter of Weili Du, CWA Local 24008
Nicholas Aragon, son of Leticia Aragon, CWA Local 6001
Derek Bachman, son of Matt Bachman, CWA Local 6402
Jackson Anderson, son of Tony Anderson, CWA Local 7476
Matthew Mejia, son of Omar Mejia, CWA Local 9510
Chioma Chibuko, daughter of Efanye Chibuko, CWA Local 9410
Pascal Hum, son of Peter Hum, CWA Local 30205

Check out this great new video of CWA members talking about what building worker power with the PRO Act means to them.

Quartz

After a year and a half of bargaining, on July 6, editorial workers at Quartz unanimously ratified their first contract as members of the NewsGuild of New York, CWA Local 31003. The contract improves company policies on salaries and health and safety issues among others, and guarantees medical, 401K, and severance benefits.

In a celebratory tweet, Quartz senior reporter Sarah Todd said, “The contract kicks in right away and includes a number of important wins, from just cause to improved salary minimums and longer paid parental leave. So proud to be a part of the union.”

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The Boston Globe

Reporters, truck drivers, IT specialists, photographers, and other workers at The Boston Globe are taking a united stand against unacceptable working conditions and negotiating tactics at the newspaper during ongoing bargaining. On July 2, leaders of The Boston Newspaper Guild, CWA Local 31245, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters signed a letter to management demanding action. All three unions are still without contracts as more than two years of negotiation continue.

“All employees at The Boston Globe deserve respect. Yet, union members representing Globe staff have experienced management’s hostile anti-worker posture during the course of each union’s recent and protracted contract negotiations,” said the letter, as reported by the Boston Newspaper Guild. “We are coming together to say enough is enough."

Workers have been outspoken recently about The Globe’s hiring of Jones Day, a well-known anti-worker law firm.

Two CWA members attended an Independence Day celebration at the White House on Sunday hosted by President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden. CWA Local 2336 member Lawrence Bryant and CWA Local 2201 member Nikki Robinson were among the essential workers and members of the military that the Bidens invited to the event to thank them for their service to the country during the pandemic.

Robinson said that President Biden gave an inspirational speech to remember those who have been lost to COVID-19 and to mark the progress that has been made with vaccinations, encouraging those who have not been vaccinated to do so.

“It was an absolute honor seeing how much our hard work and dedication was appreciated by the highest office in our country,” said Bryant. “It was a very humbling experience.”

Nikki Robinson and her fiance (right) and Lawrence Bryant and his family (left) represented CWA essential workers at a July 4th celebration hosted by President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden.

The CWA Virginia State Council has endorsed Terry McAuliffe for Governor. McAuliffe will face Glen Younkin in the November 2021 general election. Younkin built a $300 million fortune as CEO of a private equity firm which pushed companies to lay off workers and outsourced jobs.

“We reviewed the candidate’s records closely and the decision was clear,” said Steve Chambers, President of the CWA Virginia State Council and Executive Vice President of CWA Local 2201 in Richmond. “Terry McAuliffe is a proven leader who has focused on creating jobs and making life better for working families in Virginia. He will help strengthen and expand public-sector collective bargaining in our state, get us to a $15 minimum wage more quickly, and make sure Virginians are able to have paid time off when they are sick or need to care for family members.”