More than 600 CWA Activists Head to Washington, D.C.

In CWA's version of a triple play, union activists will converge on Washington, D.C., next weekend to immerse themselves in the annual legislative, women's, and safety and health conferences.

The Employee Free Choice Act will be center stage at the Legislative and Political Conference, beginning March 25, and will be a key issue that more than 600 CWA members from across the country will discuss in meetings with lawmakers on Capitol Hill.

House members have passed the organizing and collective bargaining bill; the bill now moves on to the Senate. 

"The business lobby is spending tens of millions of dollars to try to defeat our effort to restore basic workers' rights through the Employee Free Choice Act," CWA President Larry Cohen said. "We're not going to let that happen. We're fighting back against the CEOs who demand contracts for themselves but refuse to recognize workers rights."

Healthcare for all, pensions and retirement security and quality jobs also are key issues on the agenda.

Activists attending the Women's Conference, March 24-25, will come away with a lot of practical experience while learning about many vital union issues, including the Employee Free Choice Act, the Stewards Army and health care. Seminars will discuss everything from domestic violence and identity theft to advice on running for office and retirement planning.

The Occupational Safety and Health Conference, March 23-25, features a full slate of seminars, with a special emphasis on electrical hazards for telecom technicians. In the past year, four Verizon technicians have been killed in electrical accidents, others have been injured and even more have reported close calls.

The risks will be examined in a four-hour refresher course on electrical safety, as well as a panel discussion and strategy session  Other panels and seminars will look at hazardous materials, indoor air quality, the Family and Medical Leave Act and Americans with Disabilities Act, workplace ergonomics and more. A full schedule is available online at http://ga.cwa-union.org/issues/osh/articles/page.jsp?itemID=28214000.

To learn more about the legislative conference, click on http://www.cwa-legislative.org/conference/2007-conference.html.