CWA Attends the White House Summit on Working Families

I was privileged to be one of the CWA leaders to attend the White House Summit on Working Families.  There was some good information and discussion about the issues facing working families and the need to fight for many changes (the U.S. is one of only three countries in the world NOT required to provide paid pregnancy leave!) both legislatively and in our workplaces.  Click this link (Working Families Summit) for more information about the Summit and to download some of the fact sheets distributed there.

Although there was good representation from Unions at the Conference, I felt the role of Unions and the importance of Collective Bargaining was not emphasized nearly enough.  In almost every area we talked about, Union workers have better conditions, better wages, wage equality, paid sick time and other time off, paid disability - the list goes on and on.  

Making it easier for workers to organize is one of the most effective ways of improving the lives of working families.  The Department of Labor published the attached fact sheet but does not do nearly enough to protect workers when they try to organize and become Union members. 

This is not just a "women's issue".  Fighting for the needs of working families is a perfect issue we can all work on that can build ties with countless other organizations and movements.

In unity,

Laura Unger

Assistant to Vice President

Telecommunications & Technologies