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2004 L-P Conference More Important than Ever
Urging every local to send at least one delegate, President Morton Bahr and Secretary-Treasurer Barbara Easterling noted that this month's CWA Legislative-Political Conference will be one of the most important ever held.
"For the union movement and the battles we fight on behalf of workers, retirees, children, consumers, the unemployed and the disadvantaged, there has never been a more critical moment in our lifetimes," Bahr said. "What our activists learn and accomplish in Washington, and the momentum they will bring back to their fellow members, can help us turn the tide in this year's critical elections."
Easterling reported that lawmakers so far confirmed for the conference, March 28-31, are Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle of South Dakota, Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.), Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.), Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio), Rep. Jim Moran (D-Va.), Rep. Maurice Hinchey (D-N.Y.), Rep. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), who chairs the House Democratic Caucus, and Rep. Peter King of New York, a labor-friendly member of the GOP who will talk about how unions can best work with Republicans. Former Democratic Rep. David Bonior of Michigan, who now chairs American Rights at Work, and AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Rich Trumka also will speak.
After hearing from speakers in the mornings, conference participants will go to Capitol Hill to meet with lawmakers from their states about pending issues in Congress that CWA has identified as especially important to members and working families in general.
Among those key issues, activists will ask members of Congress to support the Employee Free Choice Act, S. 1925, introduced by Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) and H.R. 3619, introduced by Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.). The bill would help restore the original intent of the National Labor Relations Act by requiring employers to recognize workers' right to organize through card check, with strong penalties for employer violations of the law.
Another top issue is the pending Consumer's Right to Know Act, S. 1873, sponsored by Sen. John Kerry. The bill has been introduced in the House, H.R. 3816, by Rep. Ted Strickland (D-Ohio). The bill aims to stem the flow of call center jobs overseas by requiring call-takers to identify themselves and their location when customers call.
Other key topics include maintaining and trying to strengthen the Family and Medical Leave Act, opposing legislation that will make it more difficult for families to move from welfare to work, extending federal unemployment benefits for another 13 weeks, salvaging what remains of media diversity, and strengthening hate crime legislation - part of a broader look the conference will take at justice and the courts during the Bush administration.
To learn more about the conference and registration, which is being handled online this year, go to CWA's legislative website at www.cwa-legislative.org.
"For the union movement and the battles we fight on behalf of workers, retirees, children, consumers, the unemployed and the disadvantaged, there has never been a more critical moment in our lifetimes," Bahr said. "What our activists learn and accomplish in Washington, and the momentum they will bring back to their fellow members, can help us turn the tide in this year's critical elections."
Easterling reported that lawmakers so far confirmed for the conference, March 28-31, are Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle of South Dakota, Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.), Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.), Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio), Rep. Jim Moran (D-Va.), Rep. Maurice Hinchey (D-N.Y.), Rep. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), who chairs the House Democratic Caucus, and Rep. Peter King of New York, a labor-friendly member of the GOP who will talk about how unions can best work with Republicans. Former Democratic Rep. David Bonior of Michigan, who now chairs American Rights at Work, and AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Rich Trumka also will speak.
After hearing from speakers in the mornings, conference participants will go to Capitol Hill to meet with lawmakers from their states about pending issues in Congress that CWA has identified as especially important to members and working families in general.
Among those key issues, activists will ask members of Congress to support the Employee Free Choice Act, S. 1925, introduced by Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) and H.R. 3619, introduced by Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.). The bill would help restore the original intent of the National Labor Relations Act by requiring employers to recognize workers' right to organize through card check, with strong penalties for employer violations of the law.
Another top issue is the pending Consumer's Right to Know Act, S. 1873, sponsored by Sen. John Kerry. The bill has been introduced in the House, H.R. 3816, by Rep. Ted Strickland (D-Ohio). The bill aims to stem the flow of call center jobs overseas by requiring call-takers to identify themselves and their location when customers call.
Other key topics include maintaining and trying to strengthen the Family and Medical Leave Act, opposing legislation that will make it more difficult for families to move from welfare to work, extending federal unemployment benefits for another 13 weeks, salvaging what remains of media diversity, and strengthening hate crime legislation - part of a broader look the conference will take at justice and the courts during the Bush administration.
To learn more about the conference and registration, which is being handled online this year, go to CWA's legislative website at www.cwa-legislative.org.