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Newsmakers
- Linda Mulligan, former executive vice president of Local 7777 in Denver, has been named state director of the Colorado AFL-CIO. Her appointment grew out of recommendations from affiliated unions that worked with her during the state federation’s Labor 2000 campaign. That mobilization returned the Colorado State Senate to Democratic hands for the first time in 40 years, with the election of seven senators in 10 targeted races. In her new position, Mulligan hopes to build up the New Alliance, a program she describes as “redefining the labor movement so that local unions are working together to gain power.” Mulligan began her career with Southern Bell Telephone in 1976 and worked as a service representative for US West, now part of Qwest. She served her local as a steward from 1987, then as EVP from 1993-1998.
- SBC Communications, which employs 110,000 CWA members, has been named “Employer of the Year” for its leadership in promoting opportunities for people with disabilities at work and in the marketplace. The award comes from the National Business & Disability Council, which CWA helped found 25 years ago. “I’m pleased to add CWA’s congratulations to SBC,” CWA President Morton Bahr said. “Under Ed Whitacre’s leadership, we’ve built a positive relationship with SBC. We’re proud to be associated with a company that is a leader in initiating programs and policies that truly respect people with disabilities.” The council applauded SBC for its career development programs and the SBC Medical Absence and Accommodations Resource Team (SMAART), which works one-on-one with employees with disabilities to meet their workplace needs. The company also was recognized for its philanthropy. Last year it gave nearly $1.3 million to nonprofit organizations providing services to people with disabilities and spent $113 million with disabled veteran-owned businesses.
- The Workers Defense League has awarded CWA President Morton Bahr its 2001 David Clendenin Award for Distinguished Service, named for one of the group’s 1936 founders. “We’ve wanted to honor him for years,” WDL Executive Director Jon Bloom said. “He is someone who is particularly sensitive to the rights of workers in the broadest sense, whether those workers are organized or yet to be organized.” At a ceremony in New York City, Bahr thanked the league for its strong advocacy on behalf of workers and their families and called on the labor community to fight for economic relief for the growing number of people laid off since the Sept. 11 tragedy. “Together we will pull through this experience,” Bahr said. “Together, our nation and our movement will emerge even stronger in the years ahead.”
- Jerald R. Garrison, a CWA representative in District 7, has retired. Garrison, hired as a lineman with Lincoln Telephone and Telegraph in May 1956, subsequently worked as a splicer and installation and repair technician. He served Local 7470 as a steward, chief steward; finance, grievance and community service committee member; vice president and, from 1984-1990, president. A registered lobbyist, Garrison also served as a delegate to the Nebraska AFL-CIO and commissioner on the Lincoln Tel Charter Revision Commission. Garrison joined the staff as a CWA representative in September 1990, to work out of the Tukwila, Wash. office, which became the Kent, Wash., office in 1994. He transferred to the Omaha, Neb., office in September 2000. Garrison, 66, retired in October.