Board Urges 'August Blitz' for Million Member Mobilization

Employee Free Choice advocates in Congress will use cards and photos from Million Member Mobilization to show mass support for this crucial legislation.

CWA's Executive Board this week called on locals to make August "Blitz Month" for signing up members in the Million Member Mobilization for Employee Free Choice.  The Board set a deadline of August 29 for locals to reach their goal of at least 15 percent member participation – and receive recognition in the CWA Newsletter.

By that date, CWA is looking to have reached a target of 65,000 support cards from members, or 80 percent of the union's total goal of 80,000 cards and photos to help show massive backing for our Employee Free Choice champions in Congress.  CWA is planning additional, special honors for locals that have gone the extra mile to sign up at least 50 percent of members.

The Board also is urging locals and activists to organize viewing parties when Senator Barack Obama gives his acceptance speech at the Democratic convention the evening of August 28, and to use that occasion to enlist additional members, family and friends to sign up for the Mobilization to complete the August push.

Election of Obama as president and more pro-worker senators is necessary to pass the Employee Free Choice Act, igniting a resurgence in worker bargaining power and a new political movement, CWA President Larry Cohen stated in a letter to locals this week accompanying a video dramatizing the importance of the legislation.

He urged locals to use the video at membership meetings and other events, along with other resources for the Employee Free Choice campaign, including the comic book "Tom Riley's Nightmare," that can be downloaded at www.freechoicecwa.org.

"Nothing is more important to the future of CWA and the labor movement and to achieving our other key goals of universal health care, preserving and creating good jobs and insuring retirement security," Cohen noted.