Jan 23, 2025 - CWA Strikers Win Court Battle Over Right to Picket

Last week, over 1,400 workers in Boulder County made history, becoming the largest group to win union recognition since Colorado passed SB22-230 in 2022 granting county employees collective bargaining rights. The unit is also the largest group to join CWA District 7 in 25 years. Workers voted overwhelmingly to join Boulder County Employees Union-CWA (BCEU-CWA).

“This has been years in the making, and we’re so proud of what we’ve accomplished,” said Brianna Barber, a Boulder County employee and union leader. “We’re excited to begin bargaining with county leadership to improve working conditions and support the vital services we provide to our community.”

The vote comes as Boulder County navigates budget constraints and increasing demands for public services. Workers cited job security, high turnover, and work-life balance as key concerns. The workers also contended with several obstacles during the course of their three-year campaign, including a seven-month delay in unit determination.

The campaign succeeded with assistance and support from CWA Local 7799 organizing and CWA Local 7777 staff and local officers.

BCEU-CWA members hope to negotiate a fair and equitable contract that prioritizes wages, benefits, and working conditions. They also hope to create transparent communication channels between workers and county leadership to foster collaboration and strengthen partnerships between BCEU, the county, and the broader community.

 
Workers in Boulder County, Colo., made history last week when they voted overwhelmingly to join Boulder County Employees Union-CWA.

CWAers waging America’s longest-running strike have won a precedent-setting legal victory that will protect the rights of workers to picket their employer without fear of intimidation.

Last week, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania denied a final appeal by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (PG) and affirmed a Superior Court ruling that upheld the right of striking workers to picket, which is protected under both state and federal laws. The Post-Gazette had initially sought an injunction to prevent their striking employees from picketing a PG facility where scab workers were doing the work of union members.

“The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania rightly saw through the Post-Gazette’s attempts to intimidate workers exercising their right to join together and has denied the PG’s effort to waste all of our time in court when we should be meeting at the bargaining table,” said CWA District 2-13 Vice President Mike Davis. “CWA members have been on strike for more than two years, and with their dedication and solidarity, they have won important legal victories that affirm the rights of all working people in Pennsylvania.”

“This reinforces what we’ve been saying all along,” said Natalie Duleba, striking editor and page designer and secretary of the Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh (TNG-CWA Local 38061). “The injunction was yet another waste of resources and a clear attempt at intimidation. We look forward to the company accepting its wrongs and putting its time and money to better use by respecting us and bargaining a contract that includes dignified health care and reinstating the terms they illegally tore up years ago.”

For bringing this frivolous lawsuit to undermine workers’ right to take collective action, the Post-Gazette now owes the cost of legal fees to the striking unions, CWA Locals 14827 and 14842, the Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh-CWA, and PPPWU Local 24M/9N.

The Post-Gazette is facing multiple court cases for its unlawful conduct, including a ruling expected next month on the National Labor Relations Board’s request for an injunction against the PG for its numerous violations of labor law against advertising workers, mailers, and press workers. Then, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals will take up the NLRB’s request for an injunction over the PG’s numerous violations of labor law against its editorial workers—members of the Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh-CWA.

Thanks to CWA Local 13101 members, Delaware is on track to become the first state in the nation fully connected to high-speed internet under the federally funded BEAD program. Construction is expected to begin this spring to expand broadband service to more than 5,700 unserved and underserved homes and businesses in the state.

As part of CWA’s Broadband Brigade program, CWA Local 13101 members worked tirelessly with state representatives and policymakers to ensure that Delaware’s BEAD plan included high-road labor standards, including prioritizing a directly employed workforce to curtail the use of low-road subcontracting.

“While CWA members in upstate areas of Delaware have seen steady fiber work, this project brings much-needed opportunities to Kent and Sussex Counties, where fiber buildout has been limited,” said CWA Local 13101 President Mike Watson. “CWA has been at the forefront of this effort, advocating for our members and ensuring that Delaware remains a leader in digital infrastructure. This wouldn’t have been possible without the dedication of our union, state leadership, and the support of President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, championed by Delaware’s congressional delegation.”

Incoming Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz and Brendan Carr, President Trump’s nominee for Federal Communications Chair, have been critical of the BEAD program’s labor standards and focus on fiber buildout. Satellite company CEOs are pushing the Trump Administration to redirect funding away from fiber buildout to unreliable satellite internet service, and Cruz has threatened to stop the distribution of funding until labor standards are dropped.

CWA members are urging states to maintain their commitment to creating good, union jobs by using BEAD funds to build reliable, high-speed fiber internet connections. Click here to sign the petition.

Last week, members of the Hays County EMS Association in Hays County, Texas, held a ceremonial contract signing with members of the San Marcos County Board of Directors to celebrate the ratification of the unit’s first contract. Hays County EMS workers are represented by CWA Local 6115.

Workers began the process of forming their union in December 2022. They won union recognition in September 2023 and after a year of contract negotiations, ratified a four-year contract in December 2024. Union members and representatives of the county agreed to host a ceremonial signing to signal their commitment to working together for the betterment of EMS workers in Hays County.

Under the new contract, EMS workers will receive a pay increase, additional pay for bilingual workers, increased access to mental health services, and an expanded retirement plan. The contract also allows for union representation at county board meetings to take up union agenda items.

CWA Local 6115 President Zack Phillips told Community Impact, “This puts us in line with both Williamson County and Austin Travis County as far as pay benefits. People will want to stay here. That's a benefit to the community because you get people who are familiar with the community—familiar with their patients and the needs of a community.”

President Phillips expressed hope that the new contract represents a “strengthened partnership” between emergency medical staff and the county.

 
CWA Local 6115 leaders celebrated a landmark contract with San Marco Hays County. 
Pictured left to right: CWA Local 6115 Treasurer Greg Humphries, CWA Local 6115 Chief Steward Stephen Baehr, Former Hays County Commissioner/Company Bargaining Chair Lon Shell, San Marcos Hays County EMS Interim Chief Jill Rosales, CWA Local 6115 President Zack Phillips, CWA Local 6115 Chief Steward Dylan Thompson, CWA Local 6115 Vice President Robert Sanchez, CWA Local 6115 Secretary Tom Maia, and CWA Local 6115 Chief Steward Stacie George.

Last week, members of The NewsGuild-CWA ratified two new contracts.

Spotlight PA

Journalists at the non-profit Spotlight PA, represented by NewsGuild-CWA Local 38010, ratified their first collective bargaining agreement, winning a $750 ratification bonus, a grievance and arbitration policy, and annual pay increases. Other gains include improved healthcare coverage, 10 weeks of paid family and medical leave available to birthing and non-birthing parents, and two additional holidays for cultural or religious observances.

Click here to read more about the contract.

The New Republic

Editing and publishing staff at the New Republic (NewsGuild of New York/TNG-CWA Local 31003) ratified a new three-year contract that includes strong protections against misuse of artificial intelligence, a more than $20,000 increase in the salary floor, and an average of a nearly 20% raise for members over the life of the contract. The ratification vote was unanimous.

The workers also won protections for remote workers stipulating that any return-to-office requirements be bargained and management cannot force people who live more than 25 miles from the office to return.

“This contract sets a new standard for workers, especially on artificial intelligence and its use in the workplace, as well as creating life-changing increases for the lowest paid in the newsroom,” said NewsGuild of New York President Susan DeCarava. “This robust new contract for our New Republic members demonstrates what’s possible when we know our worth and fight for it.”

Click here for more about the contract.

Since January 7, multiple wildfires have erupted in southern California, threatening lives and property. CWA members and retirees have been both victims of these tragic disasters and heroes stepping in to help others in danger or in need.

CWA District 9 has established a Disaster Relief Fund to assist members and retirees impacted by these catastrophic fires. Every dollar contributed to the fund will go directly to helping members of our CWA family with shelter, clothing, and essential household items. Make your donation here: www.cwa-union.org/ca-wildfires.

“Our Union Brothers and Sisters are facing unprecedented challenges, with many losing everything they have,” CWA District 9 Vice President Frank Arce said in a message to CWA local officers. “Air quality throughout the area is plummeting to hazardous levels. The ongoing drought conditions only exacerbate this dire situation. During times like these, we must come together as a family, extending our support to those in need.”

The national CWA Disaster Relief Fund is also available to support our members affected by the fires. You can access the relief fund documents here or speak to your local steward or local officers for assistance.

In response to our call for stories of charitable giving and community outreach, CWAers sent in so many stories we’ve decided to continue to share the good news. You can read our original story here. If you have a story you’d like to share, please submit it here.

CWA Local 2100

Members of CWA Local 2100 have a tradition of ending their annual holiday party by choosing a charity to donate to. In 2024, members chose Fidos for Freedom, a non-profit organization with a mission to provide highly trained service dogs to residents of the Washington-Baltimore Metropolitan area. These special pups are trained as service dogs, hearing dogs, and therapy dogs for a wide range of people, including individuals with disabilities, children with reading difficulties, and patients in health care facilities. Individual members contributed $596 of the $1000 donation made by the local.

IUE-CWA Local 84901

Since 1981, members of IUE-CWA Local 84901 have provided the use of their hall to an Alcoholics Anonymous group. The group, in turn, uses money collected from members to make an annual rent payment to the local. IUE-CWA Local 84901 matched the rent payment and used the combined money for a $1050 donation to Wellspring Interfaith Social Services, a local non-profit organization that supports the community through after-school programs for children, summer camps, and a food bank. Wellspring serves approximately 18,000 clients, 80% of whom are children.

 
Members of the IUE-CWA Local 84901 Charity Committee presented a representative of Wellspring Interfaith Social Services a check to help support the many programs Wellspring runs for the local community.