If Not Now, When? Delegates to Take Up Diversity Proposal

In fullfillment of the mandate in the CWA Ready for the Future strategic plan, adopted at last year's Convention, a specific proposal to increase Executive Board diversity is being presented to the 2007 Convention, set for July 16-17 in Toronto.

The proposal calls for adding four at-large diversity seats to the Board, with the goal of at least three being people of color and at least two women, to be elected among candidates from four geographic regions (see full proposal).

The proposal was developed by a Committee on Executive Board Diversity composed of three vice presidents and two members each from the Committee on Equity and National Women's Committee, and chaired by Secretary-Treasurer Barbara J. Easterling.

Beginning last fall, the committee held sessions with local leaders around the country to solicit input, posted meeting notes on the Ready for the Future website, and e-mailed a survey to all locals seeking ideas. The proposal along with explanatory materials and a message board for member comments are located online at ga.cwa-union.org/future/diversity-committee.

"This committee worked very hard to design a proposal for bringing better balance to our Board in keeping with our democratic traditions and our organizational needs," President Larry Cohen said.

The new at-large diversity Board members would not be vice presidents but would attend all Board meetings, serve on committees and have a voice and vote on all matters before the Board. They would be paid lost time wages and travel expenses for Board-related responsibilities, estimated to cost no more than $25,000 per year for all four.

In addition to addressing the Board's demographic balance, the proposal "adds four rank-and-file voices to our leadership deliberations," said Easterling. "The more our leaders reflect our members, the more responsive we will be to their needs and the better perspective we will have in making decisions on the critical issues facing CWA," she said.

Serving with Easterling on the Diversity Committee are Vice Presidents Annie Hill, Noah Savant and Brooks Sunkett, Women's Committee members Susan McCallister, Local 7704 secretary-treasurer, and Mary Lou Schaffer, Local 13550 president; and Committee on Equity members Keith Robinson, Local 6310 steward, and Jetty Wells, Local 4009 executive vice president.