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CWA Urges Focus on Organizing & Bargaining Rights
CWA has asked the AFL-CIO to adopt a resolution calling all its unions to a renewed commitment to collective bargaining and organizing rights. The resolution is based upon a statement adopted by the CWA Executive Board at its Jan. 16 meeting. CWA Executive Vice President Larry Cohen will make a presentation to the AFL-CIO Executive Council when it meets in Hallandale Beach, Fla., Feb. 25-27.
"Most of our members already know that collective bargaining and organizing rights in the United States are a cruel hoax," Cohen said. "They know this based on their own experiences in helping workers build unions. Every time we win majority support for a union and an employer is able to prevent recognition or delay effective first contract bargaining, the truth of the matter is brought home to us again."
The CWA board statement points out that union density in the United States is now less than 9 percent in the private sector and hovers around 30 percent in the public sector, and that the National Labor Relations Board as presently constituted is the least supportive of organizing and collective bargaining rights of any board in history. It calls for:
*** Promoting member education at the work site. CWA and other unions should use their mobilization structures to make members aware of the near collapse of organizing and collective bargaining rights in the United States.
*** Proposing changes in federal and state labor law. CWA and other unions should work to win federal and state acceptance of card check recognition as an alternative to NLRB elections, and to promote voluntary recognition and an end to employer interference in organizing campaigns.
*** Reestablishing collective bargaining as a top priority. The AFL-CIO should commit increased staff and resources to making collective bargaining its major focus. CWA and other unions would ask that the organizing fund be used solely for this purpose.
*** Seeking support from public officials. The statement makes support for collective bargaining a test for all candidates that unions support. It points out that state elected officials can make a critical difference by supporting organizing and collective bargaining campaigns.
*** Supporting Jobs with Justice and other workers' rights coalitions. Jobs with Justice, the Interfaith Committee and other coalitions could have profound influence by making it clear to elected officials and corporate management that support for collective bargaining is growing.
*** Forming a "Rights@Work" Committee. Several unions have proposed establishing an independent committee to fight for workers' rights, organizing rights and collective bargaining. The AFL-CIO would help coordinate the committee's work.
*** Participating in Joint Action. CWA, other AFL-CIO unions and allies would stage coordinated mass demonstrations, perhaps at NLRB regional offices, some time in the fall to demonstrate unified support for collective bargaining and organizing rights.
"This program will only be meaningful if we take it to every CWA work site and engage our members in an action plan to demand reform, and we will take that message to every AFL-CIO affiliate," said Cohen. "Hopefully, six months or a year from now millions of union members will understand that we can work together to change the system."
"Most of our members already know that collective bargaining and organizing rights in the United States are a cruel hoax," Cohen said. "They know this based on their own experiences in helping workers build unions. Every time we win majority support for a union and an employer is able to prevent recognition or delay effective first contract bargaining, the truth of the matter is brought home to us again."
The CWA board statement points out that union density in the United States is now less than 9 percent in the private sector and hovers around 30 percent in the public sector, and that the National Labor Relations Board as presently constituted is the least supportive of organizing and collective bargaining rights of any board in history. It calls for:
*** Promoting member education at the work site. CWA and other unions should use their mobilization structures to make members aware of the near collapse of organizing and collective bargaining rights in the United States.
*** Proposing changes in federal and state labor law. CWA and other unions should work to win federal and state acceptance of card check recognition as an alternative to NLRB elections, and to promote voluntary recognition and an end to employer interference in organizing campaigns.
*** Reestablishing collective bargaining as a top priority. The AFL-CIO should commit increased staff and resources to making collective bargaining its major focus. CWA and other unions would ask that the organizing fund be used solely for this purpose.
*** Seeking support from public officials. The statement makes support for collective bargaining a test for all candidates that unions support. It points out that state elected officials can make a critical difference by supporting organizing and collective bargaining campaigns.
*** Supporting Jobs with Justice and other workers' rights coalitions. Jobs with Justice, the Interfaith Committee and other coalitions could have profound influence by making it clear to elected officials and corporate management that support for collective bargaining is growing.
*** Forming a "Rights@Work" Committee. Several unions have proposed establishing an independent committee to fight for workers' rights, organizing rights and collective bargaining. The AFL-CIO would help coordinate the committee's work.
*** Participating in Joint Action. CWA, other AFL-CIO unions and allies would stage coordinated mass demonstrations, perhaps at NLRB regional offices, some time in the fall to demonstrate unified support for collective bargaining and organizing rights.
"This program will only be meaningful if we take it to every CWA work site and engage our members in an action plan to demand reform, and we will take that message to every AFL-CIO affiliate," said Cohen. "Hopefully, six months or a year from now millions of union members will understand that we can work together to change the system."