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CWA Helps Launch GTE Literacy Effort
CWA will be a partner with GTE in an ambitious new program devoted to advancing the reading and writing skills of people of all ages.
President Morton Bahr joined GTE's CEO Charles Lee along with literacy advocates at a Washington, D.C., news conference Oct. 27 to unveil the initiative - "GTE Reads" - which allows GTE's customers to check off $1 on their phone bills to be earmarked to support literacy programs. GTE will add an extra $1 million up front. Altogether the company expects to generate contributions of $13 million the first year.
As part of the effort, CWA will participate in producing public service TV spots to raise awareness of literacy issues and encourage customer support. The union also will help identify some of the local literacy programs to receive funding.
"Literacy is the most important skill for individual advancement in this information society and it's vital for our society overall if we're to remain a competitive leader," Bahr stated at the news conference. He pledged that CWA will use all of its communications channels to support GTE Reads.
GTE's Lee said, "Today, anyone who can't use the Internet is going to be left behind, and you must first have language skills to use the Internet."
Literacy advocates noted that more than 30 million adults in the United States are functionally illiterate.
President Morton Bahr joined GTE's CEO Charles Lee along with literacy advocates at a Washington, D.C., news conference Oct. 27 to unveil the initiative - "GTE Reads" - which allows GTE's customers to check off $1 on their phone bills to be earmarked to support literacy programs. GTE will add an extra $1 million up front. Altogether the company expects to generate contributions of $13 million the first year.
As part of the effort, CWA will participate in producing public service TV spots to raise awareness of literacy issues and encourage customer support. The union also will help identify some of the local literacy programs to receive funding.
"Literacy is the most important skill for individual advancement in this information society and it's vital for our society overall if we're to remain a competitive leader," Bahr stated at the news conference. He pledged that CWA will use all of its communications channels to support GTE Reads.
GTE's Lee said, "Today, anyone who can't use the Internet is going to be left behind, and you must first have language skills to use the Internet."
Literacy advocates noted that more than 30 million adults in the United States are functionally illiterate.