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COPE Contributions Top $2.6 Million
Due in part to the IUE-CWA merger, but even more to the union’s emphasis on member-to-member fundraising, contributions to CWA-COPE for 2001 increased by $847,107 for a total of $2,644,784.
“There are few things more important to working families than protecting good jobs with good pay and benefits, and we all know that with the stroke of a politician’s pen this can all be taken away,” CWA President Morton Bahr stressed, emphasizing the importance of the union’s “September: CWA-COPE Month” program. A resolution of the 2001 convention established the program, calling for a special focus and competition among districts, locals and individuals to build up the union’s campaign war chest.
Bahr stressed that with new bans on so-called “soft money” contributed to political parties by corporations and unions, there is a much greater emphasis on individual contributions to political candidates, with new limits set at $4,000 for a husband and wife in both primary and general elections.
That formula obviously favors the wealthy. “Without CWA-COPE and COPE dollars, there is no way to make certain that politicians and elected officials hear our voice. It is our avenue to political justice and we need each and every one of you from this moment forward to commit to making this program a success,” Bahr said.
Despite the shock of the Sept. 11 tragedies, Bahr proclaimed the first year of CWA-COPE Month a huge success, announcing that the program enrolled 6,323 new CWA-COPE members and raised an extra $22,396 per month over the course of the year.
The delegates passed resolutions to continue the September CWA-COPE Month program and to replace the current CWA-COPE quota system with a new fund-sharing program apportioned among the national, districts and locals.
“Please give yourselves a nice round of applause,” Bahr said, praising the locals, staff and individuals that contributed to CWA-COPE Month’s success. “You worked very hard, and it paid off.”
He presented the program’s first annual awards to:
Bahr also honored the four top locals that enrolled the most members in September: Local 9400 and President Micheal Hartigan, 676; Local 7200 and President Kathleen Coleman, 453; Local 2101 and President Maria Bury, 280; and Local 1118 and President Jim O’Hare, 260.
He singled out for special recognition Don Brewer, financial secretary of IUE-CWA Local 84755, who single-handedly enrolled the most CWA-COPE members, 225.
Top Annual Awards
CWA Secretary-Treasurer Barbara Easterling also stressed the critical role that the union’s political action committee plays.
“We are confronted with a president, an administration and a Republican leadership in Congress who are steadfast in their disdain for the rights of workers and their unions,” Easterling said. “It is against this backdrop that we head into this year’s crucial midterm elections.”
She congratulated 568 Locals that achieved 100 percent of their CWA-COPE quotas — 49 locals more than last year — as well as staff who contributed, and she pointed out that every CWA district increased its percentage of quota over the year 2000. She and Bahr presented top CWA-COPE fundraising awards to:
Individuals who contributed at least $400 to CWA-COPE, earning membership in the distinguished 400 Plus Club, numbered 147, an increase of 62 members, officers and staff. Membership in the 500 Plus club also increased by 49 contributors, to a new high of 121 members.
A record number of 58 CWA retiree clubs also made their CWA-COPE quota of $1 per member, Easterling said.
State awards for 100 percent participation by locals went to Arizona, Arkansas, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, South Carolina and South Dakota.
Retired Members’ Council
A COPE raffle run by the CWA Retired Members’ Council raised $1,553 for the union's political action fund.
IUE-CWA District 8 Secretary-Treasurer Roger Deel won the $500 first prize and returned $100 as a contribution. CWA Local 3106 Treasurer Steve Shaw won the second prize of $250, and District 9 Vice Pres. Tony Bixler won the third prize of $100. The pool of prize money was donated to the raffle by CWA Executive Board members.
“There are few things more important to working families than protecting good jobs with good pay and benefits, and we all know that with the stroke of a politician’s pen this can all be taken away,” CWA President Morton Bahr stressed, emphasizing the importance of the union’s “September: CWA-COPE Month” program. A resolution of the 2001 convention established the program, calling for a special focus and competition among districts, locals and individuals to build up the union’s campaign war chest.
Bahr stressed that with new bans on so-called “soft money” contributed to political parties by corporations and unions, there is a much greater emphasis on individual contributions to political candidates, with new limits set at $4,000 for a husband and wife in both primary and general elections.
That formula obviously favors the wealthy. “Without CWA-COPE and COPE dollars, there is no way to make certain that politicians and elected officials hear our voice. It is our avenue to political justice and we need each and every one of you from this moment forward to commit to making this program a success,” Bahr said.
Despite the shock of the Sept. 11 tragedies, Bahr proclaimed the first year of CWA-COPE Month a huge success, announcing that the program enrolled 6,323 new CWA-COPE members and raised an extra $22,396 per month over the course of the year.
The delegates passed resolutions to continue the September CWA-COPE Month program and to replace the current CWA-COPE quota system with a new fund-sharing program apportioned among the national, districts and locals.
“Please give yourselves a nice round of applause,” Bahr said, praising the locals, staff and individuals that contributed to CWA-COPE Month’s success. “You worked very hard, and it paid off.”
He presented the program’s first annual awards to:
- IUE-CWA and President Ed Fire: Largest monetary increase for the September COPE Month campaign, $6,633, and most new CWA-COPE Checkoff members enrolled during September, 1,105.
- District 9 and Vice President Tony Bixler: Second largest monetary increase through September CWA-COPE Month, $5,384, and second highest number of new members enrolled in Checkoff, 965.
- District 2 and Vice President Pete Catucci: Special District Award for largest participation rate increase through the CWA-COPE Month campaign.
- District 6 and Vice President Andy Milburn: Special District Award for largest money increase by participation rate.
(The two Special District Awards are “traveling” trophies that will stay with the winning districts only for the year in which they are awarded.)
- Local 1009 and President Daphne Clark: Special Local Awards for largest participation rate increase and largest money increase by participation rate.
Bahr also honored the four top locals that enrolled the most members in September: Local 9400 and President Micheal Hartigan, 676; Local 7200 and President Kathleen Coleman, 453; Local 2101 and President Maria Bury, 280; and Local 1118 and President Jim O’Hare, 260.
He singled out for special recognition Don Brewer, financial secretary of IUE-CWA Local 84755, who single-handedly enrolled the most CWA-COPE members, 225.
Top Annual Awards
CWA Secretary-Treasurer Barbara Easterling also stressed the critical role that the union’s political action committee plays.
“We are confronted with a president, an administration and a Republican leadership in Congress who are steadfast in their disdain for the rights of workers and their unions,” Easterling said. “It is against this backdrop that we head into this year’s crucial midterm elections.”
She congratulated 568 Locals that achieved 100 percent of their CWA-COPE quotas — 49 locals more than last year — as well as staff who contributed, and she pointed out that every CWA district increased its percentage of quota over the year 2000. She and Bahr presented top CWA-COPE fundraising awards to:
- District 1 and Vice President Larry Mancino: Special District Annual Achievement Award for most CWA-COPE dollars raised in 2001, $561,900.
- District 3 and Vice President Jimmy Smith: Quorum Achievement Award for most members enrolled, 914, to contribute at least $120 a year.
- District 6 and Vice President Andy Milburn: District Sweepstakes Award or highest percentage of quota, 308 percent; Special District Annual Achievement Award for highest percentage of membership participation in CWA-COPE PCC Checkoff, 16.3 percent; Platinum Quorum Award for most members enrolled, 461, to contribute at least $240 a year; Triple Quorum Award for most members enrolled, 303, to contribute at least $360 dollars a year.
- Local1034 and President Carla Katz: Special Local Award for most dollars raised, $112,883.
- Local 1301 and President George Alcott: Special Local Award for highest percentage of quota, 12,317 percent; Distinguished President’s Awards for highest percentage of voluntary or “free” dollars, 12,316 percent, and most voluntary dollars, $67,497 and Triple Quorum Award for most members enrolled, 141.
- Local 3212 and President L.N. Wofford: CWA-COPE Quorum Achievement Award for most members enrolled, 139.
- Local 6222 and President Claude Cummings: Platinum Quorum Award for most members enrolled, 95.
- Local 6320 and President Michael Neumann: Checkoff Achievement Award for most members signed up on CWA-COPE PCC Checkoff, 2,362.
- Local 7072 and President Estella Madrid: Checkoff Achievement Award for highest percent of member participation, 100 percent.
Individuals who contributed at least $400 to CWA-COPE, earning membership in the distinguished 400 Plus Club, numbered 147, an increase of 62 members, officers and staff. Membership in the 500 Plus club also increased by 49 contributors, to a new high of 121 members.
A record number of 58 CWA retiree clubs also made their CWA-COPE quota of $1 per member, Easterling said.
State awards for 100 percent participation by locals went to Arizona, Arkansas, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, South Carolina and South Dakota.
Retired Members’ Council
A COPE raffle run by the CWA Retired Members’ Council raised $1,553 for the union's political action fund.
IUE-CWA District 8 Secretary-Treasurer Roger Deel won the $500 first prize and returned $100 as a contribution. CWA Local 3106 Treasurer Steve Shaw won the second prize of $250, and District 9 Vice Pres. Tony Bixler won the third prize of $100. The pool of prize money was donated to the raffle by CWA Executive Board members.