Dec 26, 2024 - CWAers Spread Union Cheer Throughout the Year: A Holiday Recap

In an incredible act of solidarity, CWA members of the New York Times Tech Guild (TNG-CWA Local 31003) have voted to donate the remainder of their strike fund to Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh-CWA members striking at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

“The strike fund we raised was far in excess of what we needed,” said Vicki Crosson, a member of the New York Times Tech Guild. “From the start, we talked about what we would do if there was any extra money. We knew that this would be the third holiday season that our union siblings in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette would be on strike and that they would really benefit from the remainder of our strike fund. It was an easy decision to stand with them and donate the remaining $114,000.”

“One of the things that this money from the New York Times Tech Guild means is that they still see us; they still stand with us—and that means as much to us as the money,” said Steve Mellon, a striking journalist and member of the Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh-CWA.

Strikers got even more good news on Saturday when they learned the NLRB filed for an injunction against the Post-Gazette at the 3rd Circuit Court. If granted, the injunction would enforce Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh strikers' demands for a reinstatement of their 2014-17 contract and dignified health care.

To read more, check out the striking worker-run Pittsburgh Union Progress.

Last month, New York Times Tech Guild members waged one of the first tech workers’ strikes in the U.S. with an unfair labor practice (ULP) strike that lasted eight days. Following their strike, which was supported on picket lines and digitally by thousands of supporters across the country breaking their Wordle and Connections streaks to avoid crossing the digital picket line, the Guild members reached a tentative agreement with the New York Times.

Read more about the impact of this generous gift here.

Make your own gift to support the striking workers at https://cwa.org/ppgholiday.

In 2024, CWA members and retirees gave back to their communities in countless ways. Below is a brief list of some of the charitable giving and community outreach efforts by Locals and individuals who went above and beyond to help others this year. We’d love to spotlight your local’s work: click here to tell us about your local’s community service efforts.

CWA Local 1036’s’ Community Services Committee donated supplies and food to the Burlington County Animal Shelter in Westampton Township, N.J.

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CWA Local 2204 members on the Norton Child and Family Services team put together 52 birthday blessing boxes for the local food bank to distribute. They also partnered with Family Crisis Support Services in Norton, Va., to provide supplies for their homeless shelter and domestic violence shelter and, for the tenth year, supported the special needs community at the annual Special Needs Fall Ball.

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CWA Local 3519 delivered “comfort bags” to various cancer centers for people undergoing chemotherapy treatments. Each bag contained a donated book, a bottle of water, and a puzzle book or quick craft supplies.

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This past October, CWA Local 4009's Community Service Committee organized a heartfelt event at Focus: HOPE in Detroit, Mich., where members and their families united to pack food boxes for seniors in the surrounding areas. Their generosity and commitment to the community exemplify the true union spirit, ensuring these seniors have what they need throughout the holiday season.

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Members of CWA Local 6300 sponsored a toy drive, along with a personal care item/gift drive for those in need. Some of the donations will go to the Marine Corps Toys for Tots program, and other toys, as well as personal care/gift items, will go to Pony Byrd, which serves over 1,100 individuals with disabilities and their families in St. Louis, Jefferson, and Franklin counties. Members also presented the United Way of Greater St. Louis with a $6,000 check from the proceeds of the union’s annual golf tournament.

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CWA Local 7026 members, retirees, friends, and family in Tucson, Ariz., helped firefighters pack and deliver 755 holiday food boxes for families in need.

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CWA Local 9586 sponsored the City of Norwalk’s Department of Social Services in their Angel Tree Project. In addition, the Women’s Committee went to the elementary school to help wrap donated toys for the project.

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CWA members didn’t just donate gifts and supplies to those in need. In 2024, two CWAers went above and beyond the call of duty to help others in need. 

In an extraordinary act of bravery, CWA District 9 Staff Representative and Staff Steward Robert Longer (pictured at right) put his life on the line to save his elderly neighbors from a life-threatening house fire. Robert, without hesitation, sprang into action, checking first on the husband, who had escaped the home. Robert then entered the house, battling intense heat and smoke, making several trips as he searched for the wife. After locating her, he carried her outside to await medical and fire services.

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In August, Kevin Tenkhoff, a 19-year AT&T Customer Service Technician and member of CWA Local 6316, shared details of an incredible moment that took place in October 2023. While working a job at a residence, Kevin heard cries for help coming from the other side of the house. He rushed over and found Helen Parli unconscious. Kevin performed CPR until medics arrived. Helen later learned that she had been technically dead for four minutes and that Kevin’s assistance had kept her brain oxygenated, likely saving her life.

Since 1990, as part of our Charity of Choice program, CWA members and retirees have contributed over $9 million to the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF), which aims to end AIDS in children, youth, and families.

On World AIDS Day earlier this month, CWA and EGPAF launched the “One is Powerful” campaign to help us reach our contribution goal of at least one dollar per member.

While many members and retirees have made direct donations, we are still short of our goal. Please consider making a donation online at www.pedaids.org/cwa so that CWA and EGPAF can reach the most vulnerable at critical points in their lives with lifesaving support.