May 9, 2024 - Save on Flowers and Gifts for Mother's Day and other news

Last week, CWA District 3 held its annual meeting, bringing together worker activists and leaders from across the South and Puerto Rico. CWA Local 3310, based in Louisville, Ky., and led by President Diogenes Miller, hosted the event, which included breakout sessions, committee meetings, and workshops on topics including “Situational Arbitration” and “Weingarten Rights.”

CWA District 3 Vice President Richard Honeycutt welcomed members to the conference and shared some of the victories and hard work happening across the region. His remarks focused on the growing sense of unity and the accomplishments we can achieve by working together. “I am happy to see the unity within the District and the willingness to help our Brothers and Sisters in their fights, even if they do not work for the same employer,” said Honeycutt. “For those who haven't had the opportunity yet, we encourage you to share any potential opportunities you come across. We're here to support you. Let's continue to grow together, as there's no better time than now.”

CWA President Claude Cummings Jr. also attended the meeting and had high praise for the incredible work happening across the region. He also stressed the importance of unity and solidarity across the entire organization. “The simple truth: we will either succeed together or we won’t succeed at all. We can’t fight among ourselves, distrusting each other based on our job titles! That’s the boss’s game. They want to see us divided. That’s the truth. We may win a battle here or there going it alone, but, I assure you, we will not win the war unless we are united,” Cummings said.

CWA Secretary-Treasurer Ameenah Salaam took to the podium to extol the virtues of strong fiscal policy, saying, “This is an amazing time for the labor movement. To make the most of it, we must have a stable financial foundation so we can win strong contracts, help new members join our great union, and elect representatives who will fight FOR working families and NOT against us. That's what I am planning to do, with your help.”

Yolanda Cunningham, Vice President of CWA Local 3808, was honored with this year’s Karen J. Murphy Woman of the Year Award for her outstanding work and unwavering commitment to building worker power. On winning this award, Yolanda remarked, “I hope to inspire future women leaders of Local 3808 and be an example, as Debbie Sisco was an example for me.”

Attendees also heard from Assistant to the President Shane Larson; Public, Health Care and Education Workers Vice President Margaret Cook; NewsGuild-CWA President Jon Schleuss; Telecommunications and Technologies Staff Representative Brian Sawyer; Senior Director of Organizing Tom Smith; and other guest speakers.

 
Assistant to the Vice President Nick Hawkins (left) and CWA District 3 Vice President Richard Honeycutt (right) congratulated CWA Local 3808 Vice President Yolanda Cunningham, recipient of this year’s Karen J. Murphy Woman of the Year Award.

Following a marathon bargaining session over the weekend, NewsGuild of New York (TNG-CWA Local 31003)-represented staff at Condé Nast brands, including Vanity Fair, GQ, Vogue, Glamour, Bon Appétit, and more, reached a tentative contract agreement with the company, averting what could have been a work stoppage timed to begin on the day of the Met Gala.

This is the first contract for the Condé Union, which was certified in 2022. Some of the contract highlights include: $3.6 million in total wage increases, 14 weeks of fully paid parental leave (an increase of two weeks), just cause protections, an end to two-tier permanence employment, conversion of subcontracted employees to permanent staff, and hybrid work protections, among other wins.

“Our pledge to take any action necessary to get our contract, including walking off the job ahead of the Met Gala, and all the actions we took this week, pushed the company to really negotiate,” said Mark Alan Burger, Vanity Fair social media manager and a member of the Condé Union bargaining team. “We made every effort this week to meet with them and get this contract completed, and we’re thrilled to say we did it.”

After 19 months of bargaining, members of Fordham Graduate Student Workers-CWA (FGSW-CWA Local 1104) have ratified their first union contract. This contract is the result of membership solidarity, patience, strength, and action. Fordham’s graduate student workers mobilized and fought for a contract that sets industry standards in several areas and builds a foundation for future union members.

The contract covers an economic package representing an approximate 39 percent increase from the current baseline in the first year alone and 3 percent annual raises for the life of the contract thereafter. Members won improved medical insurance coverage and the creation of a dental insurance plan. Under their union contract, graduate workers now enjoy academic freedom and intellectual property rights to their course materials.

Setting a new industry standard, the contract bans Fordham from requesting non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) from any victim of discrimination or harassment, inside or outside the bargaining unit. The contract effectively ends the silencing of harassment and discrimination for anyone at Fordham, an important win for campus safety.

Setting another industry-leading standard, the contract increases protections for international graduate student workers and establishes an emergency fund to aid these workers in times of acute financial hardship.

To achieve this contract, workers at Fordham University participated in a two-year mobilization campaign that brought graduate workers together to march, protest, walk picket lines, and speak out for their rights as workers.

 
Members of Fordham Graduate Student Workers Union (FGSW-CWA Local 1104) gathered to celebrate after ratifying their first contract.

Yesterday, the National Audubon Society hosted a luncheon in New York City to celebrate the achievements of women in the conservation movement. But members of the Bird Union (CWA Local 1180) gathered outside to highlight the organization’s systemic unequal pay for women and BIPOC employees, which makes it difficult for the next generation of women in conservation to build a successful and impactful career.

Union members have been negotiating with Audubon for more than two years without reaching an agreement for a fair first contract. In December, Audubon announced merit-based, discretionary annual raises for staff but withheld raises for union members.

Members of the Bird Union-CWA delivered a new report to Audubon leadership exposing systemic pay disparities. In one job category, white men on average make 13 percent more than white women and 16 percent more than BIPOC women.

“My merit-based salary increase and cost-of-living raise are being withheld for being a Union member,” said Emily Ohman, a Bird Union-CWA member from California. “If this was not disgraceful enough, I have to work a part-time job just to make ends meet. I have been food insecure for the totality of my time at this job and have experienced such extreme bouts of acute hunger that I have forgone meals for multiple days so I could afford to pay my bills. We’ve had enough of the discretionary pay raises that perpetuate unequal pay.”

To achieve equitable wages and a more sustainable workforce, union members are calling on Audubon to abandon its arbitrary and opaque system of discretionary pay increases ostensibly based on merit and instead commit to regular and equitable cost-of-living increases.

Take a stand with Bird Union activists, sign the petition for a fair contract!

 
Bird Union (CWA Local 1180) members rallied for pay equity in New York City.

Earlier this week, CWA President Claude Cummings Jr. witnessed the critical role AFA-CWA Flight Attendants play as aviation’s first responders. As his United Airlines flight to CWA’s District 7 meeting was about to take off, a passenger became ill. The Flight Attendants located medical assistance, and supported the passenger and her traveling companion as the plane returned to the gate. “You hear about these kinds of situations on flights; it is something else to experience it. They did an excellent job!” said President Cummings.

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While attending a family event in Selma, Ala., President Cummings stopped by an Alliance Mobile AT&T Authorized Retail store to meet with CWA members. Workers at the store organized to join last year, becoming the first AT&T-authorized retail location to form a union.

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Earlier this week, while in Vancouver, Wash., for the CWA District 7 meeting, President Cummings and CWA District 7 Vice President Susie McAllister met with CWA Local 7812 members who work at Lumen. They heard firsthand about the challenges the workers are facing on the job. “I work for our members; our members don’t work for me,” said President Cummings. “These worksite visits are important to me because I get to learn more about members’ priorities and work with the District and Sector leadership to address any issues.”

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During the CWA District 7 meeting, President Cummings met with some of CWA’s newest members from Activision Quality Assurance Minnesota. The workers are members of CWA Local 7250 and were part of the first group to organize at Activision under CWA’s groundbreaking neutrality agreement with Microsoft.

Last month, Axel Hawkins, a member of United Campus Workers-CWA SE (CWA Local 3265), was named one of Georgia's Harry S. Truman Scholars for 2024. The fellowship is awarded annually to 60 young leaders from around the nation who are committed to careers in public service. Axel is a student at Georgia College and State University and the Lead Activist representing the Public, Healthcare, Education Workers (PHEW-CWA) in CWA’s Next Generation program. CWA Next Generation sponsored Hawkins’s organizing fellowship.

Hawkins will be completing her time as a UCW-CWA Organizing Fellow at the end of this semester. "As workers, we gain our political power when we join together, and it has been a great experience being able to gain more insight into this side of our union!" Hawkins also said, “My experience working with CWA and my commitment to unions and workers' rights is what set me apart from other applicants and helped me to win this award, and I am so grateful to the dozens of my union siblings who I've had the pleasure to interact and work with over the years."

After graduation, Hawkins plans to attend graduate and/or law school to pursue a career in politics and the labor movement.

 
Left to right: Alex Pieschel (member of UCW-CWA Alabama-UA), Roman Vasquez (President of UCW-CWA Auburn), Axel Hawkins, and Catie Young (President of UCW-CWA SE).

 
Mike Pound (TNG-CWA Local 38061) pickets in front of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette headquarters.

Name: Mike Pound
Local: The Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh, TNG-CWA Local 38061
Workplace: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Title: Digital editor
Experience: 10 years
Strike Time: 1.5 years
Quote: “I’ve been on strike for a year and a half. I want to make sure the paper’s owners obey the law and the people of Pittsburgh have the quality newspaper they deserve."
Inspiration: “I’m inspired by the labor community and its unwavering support of us over the last 18 months. Solidarity is real."

Learn more about how you can support the striking workers at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette here.

Breeze Airways

Earlier this week, workers at Breeze Airways gave a resounding “Yes!” to union membership, with over 76 percent of workers voting to join the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA. The election was certified by the National Mediation Board (NMB). This win is part of a wave of union organizing happening across the South. Breeze Airways Flight Attendants are based in some of the most hostile states for union workers: South Carolina, Florida, Louisiana, Utah, and Virginia.

“Breeze Flight Attendants filed for an election two weeks after taking their campaign public in January and kept organizing together to turn out a clear mandate to address their concerns at work. Today, they gain the legal right to bargain and have a voice in their future at Breeze. We are inspired by their solidarity and thrilled to welcome them to our AFA family,” said AFA-CWA International President Sara Nelson.

Despite an aggressive anti-union campaign run by Breeze management and its CEO, organizers persevered. “Management broke out all the tired old union-busting, but together we weren’t intimidated or fooled,” said Robynne Martino, Breeze AFA Organizing Committee.

Breeze Flight Attendants cited constantly-changing work rules, substandard pay for time on the job, insufficient work hours, and inconsistent and disrespectful treatment from management as reasons for organizing their workforce.

 
Despite an intense anti-union campaign, Flight Attendants with Breeze Airways have become the most recent unit to join the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA. Welcome aboard!

Mother’s Day is this weekend, and it isn’t too late to get something to remind Mom how much she means to you. Union members save sitewide on flowers, Belgian chocolate covered treats, and gift baskets. Offer available until May 12. Shop Now and Save 30%!