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Calif CWAers Battle Attacks on Labor's Voice
The "Terminator" is at it again, only this time he's not out to destroy robots run amok. Instead, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger wants to terminate the political voice of union members throughout California. Hundreds of CWAers are joining together with other unionists through their central labor councils to block Proposition 75 and other anti-union ballot measures in the governor's special election, set for Nov. 8.
Like Proposition 226, the infamous California "paycheck deception act" that unions defeated in 1998, Proposition 75 would restrict unions' ability to make political contributions while doing nothing to stop vote buying by huge corporations. Only this time, disguised as responsible government, the measure is aimed only at unions that represent public sector workers.
It would require locals to annually obtain a signed authorization form from each member who contributes to COPE programs and would require extra burdensome record-keeping procedures.
CWA's UPTE Local 9119, with 11,000 University Professional and Technical Employees at University of California campuses and hospitals throughout the state, and the 3,000-member California Coalition of Police and Sheriffs are major CWA units that are targeted.
However, the measure could have a broad impact. Many CWA locals represent a variety of occupations ranging from telecom to the public sector. "People think Proposition 75 applies only to public sector unions," says Tom Ramirez, legislative chair of the Northern California-Nevada Council of CWA Locals, "But what they don't realize is that you only have to have one public sector member in your local, and the whole local would be restricted as far as the use of its money."
Ramirez and CWA Representative Nancy Biagini, through a two-hour class, got the word out to about 80 activists who attended District 9's Northern California stewards' training, Sept. 30 to Oct. 2, to mobilize their members.
Said District 9 Vice President Tony Bixler, "We've got to stop this thing. The restrictions it places on public employee unions are bad enough. But it won't stop there. If it passes, it will become a model for other states, and they won't stop until they have silenced the political voice of all union members everywhere."
Biagini said stewards returned home with a thorough knowledge of Proposition 75 and other measures labor opposes, where to get materials and a plan to ask their members to vote "No."
Materials used in the class are available on the state AFL-CIO's website at www.calaborfed.org, including fliers describing the anti-union measures and sample letters local presidents can send their members. Information is also available through the District 9 website at www.cwa.cwa-union.org/district9.
CWA activists, through several central labor councils, are already participating in phone banking and precinct walks to inform thousands of union households about the threat to their political voice and will intensify their efforts as the election approaches, Bixler reported. Members are also participating in precinct walks coordinated by the Alliance for a Better America.
Like Proposition 226, the infamous California "paycheck deception act" that unions defeated in 1998, Proposition 75 would restrict unions' ability to make political contributions while doing nothing to stop vote buying by huge corporations. Only this time, disguised as responsible government, the measure is aimed only at unions that represent public sector workers.
It would require locals to annually obtain a signed authorization form from each member who contributes to COPE programs and would require extra burdensome record-keeping procedures.
CWA's UPTE Local 9119, with 11,000 University Professional and Technical Employees at University of California campuses and hospitals throughout the state, and the 3,000-member California Coalition of Police and Sheriffs are major CWA units that are targeted.
However, the measure could have a broad impact. Many CWA locals represent a variety of occupations ranging from telecom to the public sector. "People think Proposition 75 applies only to public sector unions," says Tom Ramirez, legislative chair of the Northern California-Nevada Council of CWA Locals, "But what they don't realize is that you only have to have one public sector member in your local, and the whole local would be restricted as far as the use of its money."
Ramirez and CWA Representative Nancy Biagini, through a two-hour class, got the word out to about 80 activists who attended District 9's Northern California stewards' training, Sept. 30 to Oct. 2, to mobilize their members.
Said District 9 Vice President Tony Bixler, "We've got to stop this thing. The restrictions it places on public employee unions are bad enough. But it won't stop there. If it passes, it will become a model for other states, and they won't stop until they have silenced the political voice of all union members everywhere."
Biagini said stewards returned home with a thorough knowledge of Proposition 75 and other measures labor opposes, where to get materials and a plan to ask their members to vote "No."
Materials used in the class are available on the state AFL-CIO's website at www.calaborfed.org, including fliers describing the anti-union measures and sample letters local presidents can send their members. Information is also available through the District 9 website at www.cwa.cwa-union.org/district9.
CWA activists, through several central labor councils, are already participating in phone banking and precinct walks to inform thousands of union households about the threat to their political voice and will intensify their efforts as the election approaches, Bixler reported. Members are also participating in precinct walks coordinated by the Alliance for a Better America.