Jun 18, 2026 - CWA Stands with AFL-CIO at 2026 Convention

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Earlier this month, the AFL-CIO hosted its 2026 Convention in Minneapolis, Minn., attended by numerous union affiliate delegates, members, retirees, and supporters. AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler and AFL-CIO Secretary Treasurer Fred Redmond, both re-elected to their respective positions, vowed to continue the fight for the working class through an ambitious set of goals, including a commitment to turn out 16 million pro-union voters and to organize two million more workers into unions.

At a Unity Summit held on Saturday, June 6, CWA President Claude Cummings Jr. provided a keynote address regarding the dismantling of the landmark Voter Rights Act by the U.S. Supreme Court via its recent Louisiana vs. Callais decision. CWA Chief of Staff and Coalition of Labor Union Women President Sylvia J. Ramos also participated in a panel discussion titled “WE ARE: Solidarity. Expanding Labor’s Reach Through Constituencies” during the Unity Summit.

Said Cummings, “Labor activists are mobilizing in support of one another and organizing workplaces across the country. We are opening doors to sustainable wages and safer working conditions for millions of workers. But, more than this, we are defending our shared values of equality, fairness, and justice. And we are fighting for what matters most to us.”

 
CWA Chief of Staff and Coalition of Labor Union Women President Sylvia J. Ramos (above, in pink) joined other panelists at the AFL-CIO Unity Summit in Minneapolis, Minn.

The convention’s official kickoff happened on Sunday, June 7, with a tribute to Minnesota Labor and all the union members who were involved in efforts to protect immigrant workers during the violence of “Operation Metro Surge,” where federal agents targeted lawful, legal residents, detained union members, and killed two U.S. citizens.

During the AFL-CIO Constitutional Convention, our delegates included CWA President Cummings, CWA Secretary-Treasurer Ameenah Salaam, CWA District 4 Vice President Linda L. Hinton, CWA District 7 Vice President Susie McAllister, CWA Southeast Region At-Large Diversity Executive Board Member Vera Mikell, CWA Central Region At-Large Diversity Executive Board Member Reggie Small, AFA-CWA International President Sara Nelson, NewsGuild-CWA President Jon Schleuss, and CWA Public, Healthcare and Education Workers (PHEW) Vice President Margaret Cook.

 
CWA delegates to the AFL-CIO Constitutional Convention celebrated union solidarity at the 2026 AFL-CIO Constitutional Convention.

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CWA President Cummings (right) joined other labor leaders on stage for a panel discussion titled “Civil Rights are Human Rights.”

During the convention, other CWAers spoke out, including PHEW Sector President Cook, who took Virginia Governor Spanberger to task for betraying working people by vetoing pro-worker reforms. Treasurer for the United Video Game Workers (CWA Local 9433) Sherveen Uduwana spoke on a panel highlighting organizing efforts, lifting up work in the video game industry, and the successes of their direct-join program. AFA-CWA Secretary Treasurer Dante Harris addressed the convention about Delta Flight Attendants’ campaign to organize with AFA-CWA.

Members of the Campaign to Organize Digital Employees (CODE-CWA) hosted an information table for convention attendees. Volunteers at the table included CWA Local 7250 Activision Stewards Emily Danko, Paul Carter, and Kara Fannon. CWA Local 7250 President Kieran Knutson also took a shift tabling.

CWA joins our AFL-CIO allies in our determination to continue the fight for workers.

Click here to learn more about our legislative agenda and what it will mean for working people.

While in Minneapolis, Minn., for the 2026 AFL-CIO Convention, CWA President Claude Cummings Jr. stopped to honor the memories of two Americans whose lives were cut short in senseless acts of terror. Cummings visited George Floyd Square, the site where Floyd was murdered by then-police officer Derek Chauvin, and also paid respects at the memorial to fallen veteran, union member, and Veterans Affairs intensive care nurse Alex Pretti, killed by federal agents while protecting peaceful protesters.

Last week, CWA District 9 members and retirees won a hard-fought victory over the state’s controversial Assembly Constitutional Amendment (ACA) 9. CWA activists made phone calls and lobby visits in opposition to the measure, alongside allies from several California Central Labor Councils and the State Federation of Labor. Both ally organizations sent letters to the committee opposing the bill.

The proposed legislative measure, introduced by Assemblymember Tasha Boerner, sought to alter the structure and oversight responsibilities of the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC).

CWAers and our allies beat back an attempt to pack the commission, expanding it from five seats to nine seats and shifting appointment powers away from the governor by adding appointment powers to the state senate and assembly. It also would have removed telecommunications regulation authority from the CPUC and would have opened the door wider for substandard satellite service to replace long-lasting fiber.

“We must be involved in the legislative and political process at all levels of government, by shaping legislative outcomes that affect CWA District 9 members' rights and protecting Californians,” said CWA District 9 Vice President Frank Arce. “I'm proud of the work CWA District 9 members and retirees did to stop ACA 9. This is our win!”

CWA political activism has paid off in many races across the country as we build momentum toward the November midterm elections. Members and retiree activists made phone calls, sent text messages, and visited worksites for pro-worker, pro-family candidates. Here are some highlights from recent wins.

CWA District 1

The primary season was very good for CWA-endorsed candidates winning roughly 71% of New Jersey’s competitive primary races. CWA members who ran for Democratic nominations and won include CWA Local 1037 member Leonard Luciano for Essex County Commissioner in N.J.’s District 4 and CWA Local 1036 member Belinda Fontanez for Mayor of Pemberton Township.

Click here for a detailed breakdown of CWA political wins in District 1.

CWA District 2-13

Thanks to a concerted effort of phone and text message campaigns and worksite visits in Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District, our endorsed candidate, Bob Brooks won the primary and will now face antii-worker representative Ryan Mackenzie in November.

CWA District 3

IUE-CWA and CWA District 3-endorsed candidates Charles Booker (Kentucky, U.S. Senate), Morgan McGarvey (U.S. House), Craig Greenberg (Louisville Mayor), and Nima Kulkarni (Kentucky House) all won their races.

In Louisiana, CWA turned out to help our own CWA Louisiana Legislative and Political Coordinator and President of CWA Local 3404 Shawn Jones win his seat on the Slidell City Council.

IUE-CWA (CWA District 4) 

Our IUE-CWA members in CWA District 4, most represented by IUE-CWA Local 84755, ran and won seats on the Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee. Winners include Local 84755 members Demetria Hodges, Angela Newland, Sha'eon Garrett, Carla Clay, Stacey Reynolds, and Ida Hamilton.

IUE-CWA activists organized, knocked on doors, talked directly with voters, and showed the power of grassroots campaigning, even standing in the rain for hours on Election Day.

One powerful example was Demetria Hodges, who faced two opponents and campaigned tirelessly, saying, “If I don’t win, it’s not from lack of trying.” Their success sent a clear message that when everyday people step up, organize, and fight for representation, democracy grows stronger.

CWA District 6

In Texas, several CWA members have won primary races and are now on their way to battle in the midterms. Winners include members of the Texas State Employees Union (TSEU-CWA) Local 6186: Maggie Ellis for the Texas Supreme Court; Kyle Rable for the U.S. House, District 19; Pooja Sethi for the Texas House, District 47; James Talarico for the U.S. Senate; Gina Hinojosa for Texas Governor; incumbent Mihaela Plesa for the Texas House, District 70; and incumbent Lauren Ashley Simmons of both TSEU-CWA Local 6186 and CWA Local 1180 for the Texas House, District 146.

Click here to read more about Texas union-led political power-building!

On June 6‒7, over 70 CWA members across 13 union-represented Microsoft studios gathered in Orange County, Calif., for a mobilization training on how to secure strong contracts across Microsoft, one of the largest companies in the world. CWA District 9 Vice President Frank Arce opened the meeting with words of encouragement.

As part of the Campaign to Organize Digital Employees (CODE-CWA) effort, over 4,000 Microsoft workers have chosen to form a union with CWA.

CWA members were grouped in pods to discuss and plan six-month escalation calendars in their respective units, heard from various CWA members across CODE-CWA and CWA District 9, and filmed member interviews with the CWA Communications Department.

Last week, members of the Legislative and Political Department hosted a CWA Fighting Oligarchy training in Denver, Colo. Participants included CWA members from Locals 7777, 7750, and AFA-CWA, representing Flight Attendants, ride-share workers, telecom workers, and members from Alamo Drafthouse.

The training focused on major long-term goals for political change, outlining not only the importance of elections but also of community organizing as we fight the billionaire class. The cohort also spent two days doing worksite visits and member-to-member canvassing in support of our CWA-endorsed candidate Julie Gonzalez, who is running for U.S. Senate. Members met with potential voters all across Denver in the ongoing effort to win the June 30 primary.

“I plan to bring these experiences into my workplace as we organize and bargain over our first contract and into my community as I continue canvassing for labor candidates,” said Brennain Degenhardt, a member of the Sloan’s Lake Alamo Drafthouse bargaining committee, represented by CWA Local 7777. “We are growing a coalition of advocates for the working class, and we will not stop until we see real change.

CWA members kicked off Pride Month at the 2026 Pride@Work Convention, held June 1‒4 in Minneapolis, Minn. The convention brought together LGBTQIA+ workers, allies, and labor partners to strengthen advocacy, build solidarity, and advance workers' rights.

Since its founding in 1994, Pride@Work has remained dedicated to advancing equality in the workplace and ensuring that all workers are treated with dignity and respect, regardless of their identity or background.

Convention delegates elected two co-presidents, a vice president, treasurer, recording secretary, and 13 International Union representatives, along with three diversity representatives, reflecting the organization's continued growth and commitment to inclusive leadership.

Attendees heard from notable speakers, including AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler and AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Fred Redmond. Throughout the convention, participants connected with unions, state federations, and advocacy organizations to foster collaboration and support.

 
CWA members, including CWA Local 6222 President Belinda Aguilar (second from right), met in Minneapolis, Minn., to kick off Pride Month at the annual Pride@Work Convention.

Minuteman Press

Workers at Minuteman Press, a printing shop in Athens, Ohio, with over 1,000 franchise locations across the world, voted to join CWA Local 4320 on May 22. The Athens location has a long history of union membership. Now, under new ownership, workers have chosen to join CWA and are looking forward to bargaining a new contract.

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Warrington Township Emergency Services

Warrington Township emergency firefighters in Pennsylvania joined CWA through a Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board (PLRB) election. Campaign momentum was strong, with workers recognizing the value of having a collective voice on the job. The workers will join CWA Local 13000 under President Jim Gardler. The firefighters are fired up and ready to start mobilizing for a strong contract.

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Six Flags Over Texas EMS

On June 6, Emergency Medical Service (EMS) workers at Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington won their union with CWA by a vote of 24-0. The unanimous win came after months of organizing and preparation by the Organizing Committee, supported by CWA District 6 staff. The workers began organizing because of concerns over low pay and being tasked with job duties far beyond their role as healthcare professionals. The EMS Department at Six Flags now joins the over 700 Texas EMS workers who are already in CWA and will be members of CWA Local 6215 in Dallas, Texas.

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Schneps Media

On June 15, workers of the Scheps Media Network, hyperlocal news outlets spanning New York City and Long Island, announced the creation of the Schneps Media Union with CWA. Workers seek to secure competitive wages, sustainable working conditions, and strengthen the news organization’s mission of providing objective local journalism in the public interest.

The Schneps Media Union is the first new unit ever organized by the Independent Association of Publishers’ Employees (IAPE), which represents Dow Jones and Wall Street Journal workers. IAPE is a part of The NewsGuild of New York (TNG-CWA Local 31003), representing nearly 6,000 media workers in the greater New York area.

Congratulations to our newest members!