Sep 3, 2026 - Free Speech Battle Ends in Victory

After three years of negotiations, CWA passenger service and ramp workers at Piedmont Airlines—a subsidiary of American Airlines—overwhelmingly voted to ratify a new contract. Highlights of the five-year contract include improved wages, with a 6 percent bonus upon ratification; expanded vacation and sick accrual time; improvements to overtime accrual; and more.

Bargaining for a new contract began in late 2023 and continued until negotiations deadlocked due to the company's miserly position​. The National Mediation Board assigned a federal mediator in early 2026 in response to the company’s failure to negotiate in good faith over wages. Under the Railway Labor Act, which governs labor contracts in the transportation industry, contracts do not expire but rather become “amendable,” and the process to strike is complicated.

“CWA members at Piedmont Airlines perform essential and often overlooked labor for one of the country’s most profitable airlines,” said CWA President Claude Cummings Jr. “This strong agreement is a reflection of our union’s commitment to fight for the indispensable workers that keep our nation’s flying public safe. I thank the members of our bargaining committee for their tremendous work and dedication on behalf of their fellow union members.”

“Throughout this lengthy process, in the face of the company penny-pinching at the bargaining table, CWA members at Piedmont Airlines understood that solidarity is our strongest tool at the table,” said CWA Chief of Staff Sylvia J. Ramos. “They remained united for a strong contract that delivers better wages and working conditions.”

Congratulations to our Piedmont CWA members!

Click here to read the full press release.

Last week, the Washington-Baltimore News Guild (TNG-CWA Local 32035) announced that The Washington Post columnist and founding editor of its Global Opinions section, Karen Attiah, could soon be returning to work after a nearly yearlong fight over two posts she made regarding racial double standards in the public response to political violence.

An independent arbitrator ruled that The Washington Post violated its collective bargaining agreement with the Guild when it fired Attiah in September 2025. The ruling vindicates the Guild's fight and orders the Post to reinstate Attiah with back pay and lost benefits.

Members of the Washington Post Guild stood in solidarity with Attiah throughout the fight—including with a broad letter-signing campaign and flyering outside Post events to push the company to do right by Attiah and honor their contract.

"This decision confirms what we've said from the start: I was doing my job as an opinion journalist, and doing that job is not misconduct," said Attiah. "After spending over a decade of my career at the Post as an editor and an opinion columnist focusing on race, gender, and global human rights, I’m relieved to finally have that record set straight. I am grateful to everyone at the News Guild and Democracy Defenders Fund who stood behind me through this nearly year-long battle. I hope that this win sends a message to journalists and media institutions everywhere that freedom of expression is always worth fighting for.”

Congratulations to Karen Attiah and all the members of the Washington-Baltimore News Guild for defending freedom and journalistic integrity.

Earlier this week, during the 2026 CWA District 3 Meeting, members, staff, and retirees rallied at the ADT Headquarters in Boca Raton, Fla., calling on management to “Respect Your Workers and Respect Our Union.” Members are bargaining contracts in CWA Districts 4 and 7, with another District 7 unit set to begin bargaining at the end of the year.

The group (pictured above) included NewsGuild-CWA President Jon Schleuss (second from left), CWA Secretary-Treasurer Ameenah Salaam (third from left), CWA District 9 Vice President Frank Arce (front and center), and CWA Telecommunications and Technologies Vice President Lisa Bolton (second row, right of Arce). The photo was taken by TNG-CWA member Amy Beth Bennett with CWA Local 3108.

This rally comes after a heated dispute over ADT’s unilateral decision to install in-vehicle surveillance technology, including eyeball-monitoring cameras and microphones. Vice President Bolton, working closely with CWA members and officials—including CWA Local 7250 President Kieran Knutson—staunchly defended our members and received confirmation from the company that the tech would not be installed in vehicles driven by union-represented workers.

Click here to sign a petition in support of your union siblings as they bargain with ADT.

Facing devastating cuts to their newsroom staff, workers at the suburban Chicago news outlet the Daily Herald announced last week their intention to form a union with The Chicago News Guild (TNG-CWA Local 34071). Workers include writers, editors, and photographers. The Daily Herald is owned by Tribune Publishing, a subsidiary of New York-based hedge fund Alden Global Capital.

Over the last 10 years, workers saw their wages reduced by at least 15 percent and their work week reduced to 36.5 hours. During that same approximate period, employees experienced eight rounds of buyouts and/or a combination of buyouts and layoffs, culminating on August 10 with the dismissal of 12 Daily Herald employees.

In response, an overwhelming majority of the editorial staff announced the establishment of the Daily Herald News Guild to secure competitive wages and pay equity, transparency, a strong voice in the future of their newsroom, and the ability to continue reporting on the suburban communities the paper has served for more than 150 years.

Workers submitted a petition for voluntary recognition by the company and have also filed for a union election with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). The workers are happy to withdraw their NLRB request if management voluntarily recognizes the union.

Congratulations to these workers in their fight for a voice in their workplace.

Last week, CWA members, staff, and retirees joined thousands of labor and civil rights activists in Washington, D.C., for the 63rd Anniversary of the March on Washington, commemorating the historic voter and worker rights march led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. This year’s march, titled “March on Washington: Defend the Vote,” focused again on voting rights in the wake of the Supreme Court’s disastrous Louisiana vs. Callais ruling, which gutted voter protections.

The march was co-hosted by the National Action Network, led by Reverend Al Sharpton, and the Drum Major Institute, founded by Dr. King Jr. and currently led by his son, Martin Luther King III.

The Trump administration’s attempts to purge voter lists, encouragement of race-based gerrymandering in Republican-led states, attacks on voting by mail, election denialism, and insistence on voter fraud despite bipartisan agreement to the contrary amount to a concerted effort to undermine election integrity ahead of the November midterm elections. With working people facing an affordability crisis, President Trump’s approval rating is among the lowest for any second-term president. Should Democrats regain control of the House, many of his initiatives could face serious scrutiny.

March participants vowed to continue their vocal opposition to any tampering with the U.S. voter system or the disenfranchisement of voters.

 
At the 63rd Anniversary of the historic March on Washington, (left to right) CWA President Claude Cummings Jr.; National Field Coordinator, Legislative, Political and Human Rights Department Charlie Ramos Jr.; CWA Legislative Advisor Tysianna Marina; CWA Secretary-Treasurer Ameenah Salaam; and CWA Senior Technical Specialist Niousha Farhangi joined other CWA members, staff, and retirees, along with thousands of civil and labor rights activists, to denounce the Trump administration’s undermining of our election integrity.