Search News
For the Media
For media inquiries, call CWA Communications at 202-434-1168 or email comms@cwa-union.org. To read about CWA Members, Leadership or Industries, visit our About page.
CWA on 'State of the Union'
Reversing the freefall that's marked the U.S. economy since George W. Bush became president will require more help for unemployed workers, aid to states, fair tax relief and public investment, as well as a revitalized push for workers' rights and strong labor law, the CWA Executive Board said this week in a statement on jobs and the economy.
The proposals would "spur economic recovery in ways that help CWA members and all workers most directly," the board said.
Of a net loss of 1.67 million jobs nationwide since Bush took office in 2001, CWA members have lost about 50,000. Most have come from the badly depressed telecommunications industry, plagued by over-capacity and market and regulatory failures leading to bankruptcy or near bankruptcy, the board said.
Manufacturing jobs have fallen by 8 percent, 1.4 million jobs, since January 2001. "The ability of low-wage countries to attract American investment has led to the exodus of high-paying manufacturing jobs and contributed to income inequality," the board said. "NAFTA and the World Trade Organization agreements alone have cost three million jobs."
The recession is devastating state and local governments through a combination of reduced revenues and increased need for public services. Meanwhile, health care costs are escalating and the number of uninsured Americans is climbing.
"The best antidote to employment insecurity and the best protection for workers' income is the workers' right to organize and to bargain collectively," the board said. "Union workers earn 25 percent more per week than nonunion workers. Union members are 22 times more likely to have health benefits and more than 50 times more likely to have a guaranteed, defined benefits pension than nonunion members. And, union members are more likely to have negotiated severance and layoff benefits to ease the financial trials of layoff."
The board called for a renewed activist program to educate union members about the threat to their rights to organize and bargain collectively, and the economic consequences if those rights are trampled. Further, the board said CWA must push for "legislative and regulatory changes to secure and foster collective bargaining and organizing for all workers."
The board also called for support of proposals to enact universal health care coverage on a federal, state, or local basis and support for fair tax proposals, including "preserving the estate tax with a reasonable threshold."
In addition, the board endorsed the AFL-CIO's proposal for economic recovery. It includes a 26-week extension of emergency unemployment benefits, retroactive to Dec. 28, 2001; tax rebates for all workers, particularly low- and middle-income families; raising the minimum wage; financial aid to states to preserve health, education, and social service programs for seniors and children; accelerated public investment to create jobs and spur growth, including building and repairing schools, wiring all schools to the Internet, upgrading roads, rail, air and water transportation and water and sewer system improvements; and effective and fair trade agreements.
The proposals would "spur economic recovery in ways that help CWA members and all workers most directly," the board said.
Of a net loss of 1.67 million jobs nationwide since Bush took office in 2001, CWA members have lost about 50,000. Most have come from the badly depressed telecommunications industry, plagued by over-capacity and market and regulatory failures leading to bankruptcy or near bankruptcy, the board said.
Manufacturing jobs have fallen by 8 percent, 1.4 million jobs, since January 2001. "The ability of low-wage countries to attract American investment has led to the exodus of high-paying manufacturing jobs and contributed to income inequality," the board said. "NAFTA and the World Trade Organization agreements alone have cost three million jobs."
The recession is devastating state and local governments through a combination of reduced revenues and increased need for public services. Meanwhile, health care costs are escalating and the number of uninsured Americans is climbing.
"The best antidote to employment insecurity and the best protection for workers' income is the workers' right to organize and to bargain collectively," the board said. "Union workers earn 25 percent more per week than nonunion workers. Union members are 22 times more likely to have health benefits and more than 50 times more likely to have a guaranteed, defined benefits pension than nonunion members. And, union members are more likely to have negotiated severance and layoff benefits to ease the financial trials of layoff."
The board called for a renewed activist program to educate union members about the threat to their rights to organize and bargain collectively, and the economic consequences if those rights are trampled. Further, the board said CWA must push for "legislative and regulatory changes to secure and foster collective bargaining and organizing for all workers."
The board also called for support of proposals to enact universal health care coverage on a federal, state, or local basis and support for fair tax proposals, including "preserving the estate tax with a reasonable threshold."
In addition, the board endorsed the AFL-CIO's proposal for economic recovery. It includes a 26-week extension of emergency unemployment benefits, retroactive to Dec. 28, 2001; tax rebates for all workers, particularly low- and middle-income families; raising the minimum wage; financial aid to states to preserve health, education, and social service programs for seniors and children; accelerated public investment to create jobs and spur growth, including building and repairing schools, wiring all schools to the Internet, upgrading roads, rail, air and water transportation and water and sewer system improvements; and effective and fair trade agreements.