Many Locals Exceeding Million Member Mobilization Target

After an "August Blitz" to gather cards and member photos supporting Employee Free Choice, CWA is now close to reaching 70 percent of the overall target of at least 82,000 cards as part of labor's Million Member Mobilization.

As of Wednesday, 54,404 cards sent in from locals had been entered in the database and about 6,000 more were in piles waiting to be entered.  Many locals used viewing parties Aug. 28, where members gathered to watch Barack Obama's acceptance speech, as an occasion to enlist more members in the mobilization. 

Some locals this week hit or passed the 50 percent mark.  Among them, Local 4309 in Cleveland has turned in 540 cards so far from its 1,055 members.  President Pam Wynn reported that directors for its various units organized one-on-one discussions with members in the workplace, noting that, "It became a competition between our private and public sector units to get the most cards."  The local represents AT&T and Hyatt Legal Services members in the private sector, as well as state probation officers and workers at Cleveland State University.

For Local 7603 officers and activists in Boise, Idaho, "We're a right to work state here and we have to work twice as hard," said President Brant Duvall.  And they did, collecting 300 cards out of 586 members, with a goal of upping that to three-quarters of the membership.  The local tied the campaign to its recent Qwest contract mobilization efforts, telling members that bargaining power and fighting for health care "is all about having strong unions," said Duvall.

Local 2001 in Charleston, W.Va., turned in over 700 cards out of a membership of 1,000.  Local President Linda Miller cited the work of Vice President Ken Williams in "carrying the message everywhere," at work locations as well as community and church events.  Said Williams, "People in this state see what has been happening to the economy and jobs, and they see how the Employee Free Choice Act will help our communities."  Other locals in West Virginia also are well over their goal, he reported.

Besides collecting cards and photos to display in the U.S. Capitol to show massive support for Employee Free Choice, the mobilization is identifying an army of grassroots activists to help push through this vital legislation next year to help more workers organize and strengthen the middle class.

Since last week's Newsletter report, 38 more locals have met or exceeded their goal of signing up at least 15 percent:  District 1: 1083, 1117, 1122, 81204, 81215, 81320, 81323, 81347, 81380, 81475, District 2: 2101, 2108, 82109, 82160, 82627, District 3: 3122, 3179, 3403, 3607, 3616, 3704, 3708, 83767, District 4: 4032, 4107, 4318, 4377, 4640, 4780, 84888, 84924, 84999, District 6: 6137, District 7: 7505, 37194, District 13: 14848, 38218 and 88651.