600 Utah Government Workers Join CWA

Already lobbying for wages and benefits and with hope for passing a state collective bargaining law, the 600-member Utah Association of Government Employees (UAGE) on Feb. 9 voted to affiliate with CWA.

CWA Local 7704 President Kent Anderson approached UAGE Executive Director Kevin Scofield last September. CWA's District 7, the Public, Health Care and Education Workers Sector, and the  National Coalition of Public Safety Officers worked together to make the affiliation possible.

The government employees group was very interested in getting support for organizing, training organizers, and establishing a mobilization structure, Anderson said.

The unit had already explored merger with the Teachers and Service Employees, but chose CWA and will become Local 7776.

UAGE's Scofield said members are very excited about "the affiliation and its possibilities. We've been very impressed with everyone we've met in CWA."