CWA Passes Half-Way Mark to Goal for Million Member Mobilization

In a milestone for the Million Member Mobilization to support the Employee Free Choice Act, CWA is now more than halfway to the goal of getting signed postcards from at least 15 percent of our members nationwide, at least 80,000 in all.

CWA had counted 48,064 cards as of yesterday.  District 2 officially became the first district to achieve at least 100 percent of its 15 percent target, with District 6 currently running a close second.

More cards are expected to come in as locals and members around the country sign up friends and family members at viewing parties tonight to watch Senator Barack Obama's acceptance speech for the Democratic presidential nomination.  A total of 813 CWA activists registered to receive party kits.

One of the week's most successful locals is Local 3865, Knoxville, Tenn., which upped its tally of cards to 1,219 – five times the members it represents.  And Local 3122 in Miami is attempting to reach every member by sending stewards to its AT&T call centers and into the field to talk to technicians. The 2,000-member local has more than met its goal, with 600 cards submitted or on their way and another 600 in the works, local President Don Abicht said, noting:  "Once you educate someone on the importance of this issue to our bargaining and political power, it's an easy sell."

And IUE-CWA locals came up strong this week, with 36 new locals in the Industrial Division meeting their goal.

The labor movement is collectively gathering 1 million postcards from union members, along with many of their members' pictures. Postcards and photos will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol early next year to push lawmakers to pass the Employee Free Choice Act, which will help restore workers' badly eroded organizing and bargaining rights.

Since last week's Newsletter report, a weekly record of 83 more CWA locals have met or exceeded their goal of signing up at least 15 percent of their members:  District 1: 1062, 1118, 1123 31026, 81045, 81154, 81206, 81212, 81232, 81304, 81310, 81336, 81353, 81384, 81386, 81388, 81440, 81441, 81496, 81981, District 2: 2002, 2003, 2006, 2009, 2202, 52027, 82161, 82647, District 3: 3105, 3109, 3114, 3178, 3309, 3310, 3371, 3372, 3682, 23086, 33091, 83698, District 4: 4008, 4025, 4100, 4310, 4373, 4379, 4473, 14430, 54042, 84060, 84078, 84707, 84715, 84737, 84745, 84755, 84765, 84811, 84846, 84859, 84950, District 6: 6086, 6150, 6201, 6402, 86029, 86129, District 7: 7001, 7102, 7704, 7777, 57052, District 9: 9333, 9415, 9578, 9586, 59054, 59057, District 13: 38010, 38187, 88315, 88623 and 88648. 

Click here, http://www.freechoiceact.org/cwa/localinfo/, for a full listing of locals that have fulfilled their 15 percent pledge.