Mar 5, 2026 - CWA Soccer Pros Promise Picket Over Pitiful Pay

Last week, CWA President Claude Cummings Jr. joined hundreds of tech workers in calling for companies including Microsoft and Google to stand together against abusive and deadly uses of autonomous AI platforms as the Pentagon attempts to coerce AI developer Anthropic to abandon vital safeguards. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei signaled his reluctance to use his platform for mass surveillance of Americans or to allow the removal of human oversight in fully autonomous weapons of war.

President Donald Trump responded by ordering the Department of Defense to label Anthropic as a “supply chain risk to national security,” effectively barring its use by our military or any contractors receiving or vying for federal funds.

President Cummings, in a statement, wrote, “This is not science fiction—we are actually living in a moment when this regime wants to remove any limits to artificial intelligence’s ability to erase Americans' Fourth Amendment Constitutional freedom and where robots could literally kill human beings without any direct human oversight.” He also stated that he would be reaching out directly to Microsoft management on the matter.

A recent study published by Professor of Strategy at King’s College London Kenneth Payne revealed a surprising lack of restraint when the three leading artificial intelligence platforms—GPT-5.2, Claude, and Gemini—vied with one another for military dominance. Each escalated conflict to tactical nuclear engagement and showed an understanding of psychology sufficient to lie convincingly about their motives, tactics, and goals. You can read more about Payne’s AI study here.

CWA is a trusted global ally on issues of artificial intelligence and is leading the way on establishing critical guardrails against the misuse of the technology against workers.

Last week, members of the United Soccer League Players Association (USLPA-CWA Local 7211) signaled their willingness to strike if the USL continues to stymie contract negotiations for USL Championship players. Bargaining has been ongoing since August 2024, with the previous contract expiring on December 31, 2025. The professional athletes are demanding better workplace protections, livable wages, and league-wide professional standards for issues including travel, housing, and medical staffing.

“This fight is about something bigger than one contract cycle. For generations, professional soccer players in the USL have been asked to accept subprofessional standards—wages that qualify players for food stamps, inadequate workplace protections, and conditions that fall short of what any professional athlete should expect. We are drawing a line in the sand to ensure that if a league calls itself professional, it meets professional standards,” said USLPA Executive Director Connor Tobin.

 
Professional soccer players with USLPA-CWA Local 7211 wore t-shirts with a message for United Soccer League management in November. Contract negotiations began in August 2024 and players have signaled their resolve to strike if needed to spur a contract resolution.

Last week, workers at Teleperformance subsidiary LanguageLine Solutions took another step toward forming their union with the support of a letter signed by 72 members of the Congressional Labor Caucus. The 72 House Democrats in support of the workers are calling on Teleperformance to honor its own human rights policy and its global agreement with UNI Global Union in regards to its treatment of workers in the United States.

Both CWA and OPEIU unions provided assistance to workers in their outreach to elected officials.

Workers have called attention to issues including inadequate breaks between calls, insufficient access to benefits, inadequate training, and major occupational safety and health issues on the job. These complaints are in addition to accusations of interference by the company with legally protected organizing efforts.

Lawmakers wrote, “In light of reports that Teleperformance employees have been terminated for engaging in protected concerted activity, it feels especially urgent that the company immediately align its practices with its stated commitments and U.S. labor law.”

Click here to read the letter from Congressional Labor Caucus members.

Since November of 2025, CWA political activists have made a special effort to thank our congressional allies and honor them as Workers’ Champions. Members and retirees visited congressional offices in CWA Districts 1, 2-13, 3, 4, 7, and 9. Members of IUE-CWA also met with elected officials to offer their thanks.

“Over the past year, we’ve spent a lot of time pushing back against folks who oppose a working people’s agenda,” said Legislative & Political Department National Field Coordinator Charlie Ramos. “In 2026, we wanted to take a different approach and focus on educating our members about the outstanding allieship of some of the people standing with us and championing our issues.”

 
CWA members and retirees honored legislative allies across the country. Pictured are CWA political activists with (top left to bottom right) Representatives Derek Tran (Calif.), Andre Carson (Ind.), Greg Stanton (Ariz.), and Greg Landman (Ohio).

Last month, 129 servers at Pier Sixty in Manhattan, N.Y., voted overwhelmingly in favor of joining CWA. The workers engaged in solidarity actions, including a successful mobilization to reinstate a suspended worker with back pay prior to the February 17 election conducted by the National Labor Relations Board.

Pier Sixty, according to its website, is the largest waterfront venue in Manhattan with 20,000 square feet of floor space and a capacity of up to 2,000 people.

Despite two election postponements due to the government shutdown, workers maintained momentum with public events celebrating their union pride. Members of the Organizing Committee tracked support prior to the election with supporters wearing red “CWA Yes” bands. Before ballots were mailed out, 81 percent of workers signed pledge cards indicating their support.

CWA Local 1109 provided guidance, advice, and legal counsel.

Congratulations to the Pier Sixty workers on their win!

Last week, members and retirees from across the country joined a CWA Black History town hall meeting hosted by the CWA Human Rights Department. The virtual meeting celebrated the history and future of Black activists both inside our union and as allies. CWA Director of Human Rights, Education and Health and Safety Angie Wells kicked off the celebration with a remembrance of civil rights legend and long-time CWA ally Jesse Jackson, who passed away on February 17. Last month also marked the 100th anniversary of the creation of Black History Month in the United States.

Central Region At-Large Diversity Executive Board Member Reggie Small served as host of the town hall. Speakers included IUE-CWA Industrial Division President Carl Kennebrew, Southeast Region At-Large Diversity Executive Board Member Vera Mikell, Northeast Region At-Large Diversity Executive Board Member Gloria Middleton, and CWA Secretary-Treasurer Ameenah Salaam.

Secretary-Treasurer Salaam spoke on the contributions of Black women, stating, “African-American women have always stood at the crossroads of justice and courage. Their legacy reminds us all that leadership is not about permission but about walking in your full purpose. As we all move into the next chapter of this union, let us remember true leadership knows no boundaries of race, gender, or title. Our power resides in our diversity. When every voice is heard, when every voice is valued, when every voice is empowered, we don’t just grow; we flourish.”

CWA Local 1180 Vice President Gerald Brown provided a history of the CWA Minority Caucus. Other topics included the creation of the “Diversity At-Large” positions on the CWA Executive Board and the many accomplishments for all CWA members and retirees that graduates of the Dennis Serrette Minority Leadership Institute have won. Attendees were also treated to a trip through the CWA photo archives.

Congratulations to the CWA Human Rights Department for hosting an impressive and inspiring event!

 
CWA’s Human Rights Department hosted a celebration of Black History within CWA to mark the 100th anniversary of Black History Month. Members and retirees were treated to a photo history of Black CWAers taking action.