If Not Now, When? CWA Executive Board

'We Are Strongest When We Are United'

The CWA Executive Board, on March 23, 2007, adopted the Diversity Proposal that calls for adding four at-large diversity Board members. The Executive Board believes this proposal is an effective and important way to broaden the discussions and debate of CWA policies and to make sure that as many voices as possible are heard as we determine the direction and decisions of our union. It also further expands the partnership of  the Board and locals in leading the union. 

Last year, the AFL-CIO adopted, and CWA signed on to, key diversity principles which call for unions to promote diversity at every level within the union structure so that the leadership reflects the diversity of its members.

The history of the labor movement demonstrates clearly that we are strongest when we are united, when our enemies can't divide us over gender or race or other status. The union movement has made much progress over a century and a half, and we played a critical role in bringing equal rights to all, to establishing civil rights, to fighting workplace discrimination and in pushing for a just society. But we still have more to accomplish.

CWA leads the union movement in so many ways, and many of the proposals that the AFL-CIO has put forward are programs already in place in our union, from our Minority Leadership Institute to the convention committees on equity and women's rights to programs like the Norma Powell internships. Now, CWA must continue to move ahead to bring about  more inclusiveness and more solidarity within our ranks. The Board believes this proposal moves us in the right direction.  The Executive Board supports the diversity proposal.