More Locals Use Internet to Build Union

Recognizing the enormous power of the Internet, CWA is praising locals that are using the Web to communicate faster and more fully with their members and unorganized workers.

"As the union for the information age, we are well positioned to use the Internet in the most innovative, creative and informative ways possible," CWA Executive Vice President Larry Cohen said. "While e-mail and websites can't take the place of one-on-one education and organizing, they are a power complement to our work."

Surveys show that at least 80 percent of CWA members have regular access to the Internet, and the figure is growing quickly.

"In many creative and powerful ways, CWA is using the Internet to reach out to members, retirees, unorganized workers and potential allies," Cohen said. "At the national and local levels, the Internet allows us to talk about critical labor issues without a corporate filter. Our members can turn to our web pages to find out where we stand on organizing, bargaining and political issues, and why we've taken those positions."

Recently, all CWA locals were invited to show how they're using the Internet. Listed below are 10 local websites that are doing an especially good job of reaching out to members and potential members. The sites and all CWA local web pages can be easily accessed through the union's main site.

"These are all tremendous projects and there are many more at other locals," Cohen said. "I encourage everyone to go to CWA's website and check out the link to the dozens of local sites. See what our union brothers and sisters are accomplishing online."