National Operators' Conference Sets Organizing and Political Goals

OVER 200 OPERATORS from throughout the telecommunications industry gave high marks to CWA's 18th annual National Operators Conference, held Sept. 29 to Oct. 3 in Manhattan Beach, Calif.

Geared to introducing new operators to CWA, the conference featured remarks by CWA President Morton Bahr and Sec.-Treas. Barbara Easterling,
workshops on a range of union issues, a special fundraising event for the Elizabeth Glazer Pediatric AIDS Foundation, and wrap-up by Dina Beaumont, executive assistant to Bahr, who rose to that position through the operator ranks.

Participants also saw a video on last year's general strike in Puerto Rico, presented by Ileana Agosto Rivera, a shop steward of the island's Independent Union of Telephone Workers (UIET), and received a visit from Rep. Grace Napolitano (D-Calif.), who as a
state legislator introduced a bill to keep operator jobs in her state and is looking for an opportunity to do the same at the national level.

Welcomed by District 9 Vice President Tony Bixler, participants heard from Bahr an overview of CWA's strategy of building the union through collective bargaining, representation and political and community
action. He warned of the dangers of allowing union membership in America to decline, particularly in the political arena, and stressed the importance of mass union participation in next year's elections.

"A 30-percent union turnout in 2000 could turn the tide of history," Bahr stated. "Historically, the last time conservatives controlled the White House and Congress was during Herbert Hoover's administration. Terrible labor legislation resulted during that period. We now face a challenge unknown in most of our lifetimes."

Pointing out that Vice President Gore, a former CWA member, has carried forward union values in telecom policy, worker education and training and protecting workers' rights, he asked those present to consider the unthinkable: "Just imagine if George W. Bush is elected President and anti-union Republicans control the House and Senate."

Easterling, herself a former operator, stressed that operators are "still the friendly voice of an industry and an era that seems to get more impersonal with each passing minute." Noting that operators on a daily basis continue to deal with high stress, excessive monitoring and insensitivity to child care and family pressures, she urged them to reach out to fellow operators and others in the telecom industry who are as yet unorganized.

"As we bring more and more workers into our union family, we in turn raise the bar for workplace standards, pay scales and benefits all across our burgeoning industry. It is the operators' strength and determination that will
force our own employers to stop maneuvers and
machinations that are taking work properly done by us and giving it to non-union workers."

Workshop presenters included Hall Sisson, administrative assistant to Easterling, on CWA COPE and political fundraising; Larraine Darrington,
administrative assistant to Bixler, on violence in the workplace and diversity; District 4 Organizing Coordinator Susan Baxter-Fleming on organizing; CWA Attorney
Pat Shea on the Family and Medical Leave Act; Local 9400 Vice President Bill Demers on environmental safety; Local 9509 Vice President John T. Young on ergonomics, and June McMahon of the University of California - Los Angeles on popular theater.

CWA Representative Laura Reynolds said the "Casino Night" fund raiser drew rave reviews from participants and netted $3,265 for the Pediatric AIDS Foundation, CWA's charity of choice.

Beaumont thanked the California-Nevada-Hawaii Network host locals and presidents, including Marjorie Terflinger, 9400; Margie Marks, 9410; H. C. Cotner, 9412; Kathy Kinchius, 9415 and Gloria Castillo, 9575.

She stressed that because of operators' persistence in collective bargaining, "Operators' wages now meet or exceed the median standard for male workers throughout
the United States."

Beaumont urged conferees to continue to reach out to unorganized operators as mergers and acquisitions reshape the telecommunications industry at an unprecedented rate. "It's not that operators are disappearing," she said, "but that companies have."