Search News
For the Media
For media inquiries, call CWA Communications at 202-434-1168 or email comms@cwa-union.org. To read about CWA Members, Leadership or Industries, visit our About page.
ORGANIZING ROUNDUP - Union Grows in Variety and Numbers
From all across the U.S., more than 1,200 workers from a range of industries have chosen to join CWA: wireless and casino employees in the West, day care workers in the Midwest, social work intake interviewers in the East, cable installers in the South.
Employees of Pacific Bell Wireless have chosen CWA under "card check" provisions negotiated last year - the company agreed to remain neutral in an organizing campaign and to recognize CWA as bargaining representative for wireless employees throughout Calfornia and Nevada, if a majority of the workers signed authorization cards.
District 9 Vice President Tony Bixler noted his personal appreciation in letters mailed to nearly 40 CWA activists who visited wireless sites, developed personal relationships and helped convince employees to join the union.
"Everyone who worked on this deserves a great deal of credit for helping build our union," said Bixler. "Because of your efforts and their courage in banding together, some 600 technicians, administrative and clerical employees will have the benefit of CWA representation in determining wages, hours and working conditions."
Locals involved included 9400, 9407, 9410, 9412, 9413, 9415, 9416, 9418, 9421, 9423, 9509 and 9510.
Wager on Winners
Also in District 9, 72 percent of 514 employees of the Viejas Indian gaming casino have chosen CWA.
The drive was led by Paramount, Calif. Local 9400 Executive Vice President Mike Hartigan, assisted by Vice President Doc Indermuehle and local activists Ruth Calvin, Helen Dalton, Alex Rooker, Emilia Sandborn and Margaret Porras.
The workers' in-plant committee was led by Juan Tarlida, Robert Hawk-Zarate, Edwin Ryder and Carolyn Campbell.
Local 9400, first contacted by a casino worker in October 1998, faced a unique situation. Because the casino is on an Indian reservation, it is not subject to U.S. labor law or National Labor Relations Board regulations. Hartigan said the management company agreed to a voluntary election, following NLRB guidelines, with results to be verified by the American Arbitration Association. The tribal council remained neutral.
"This is definitely a first in California," said Hartigan. "The employees definitely wanted a union. They're proud to be part of CWA."
Getting a Head Start
Ed Phillips, president of CWA Local 4340 outside Cleveland, Ohio, looking for new ways to reach workers, put an ad in the Yellow Pages. One day in October 1998, the local got a call from a day care worker employed by United Head Start of Lake Geauga.
Local organizer Jim Cosgrove and activist Tom Ducca worked with an internal organizing committee of about 25, led by Diane Heald, Sheryl Archibold, Kate Seal and Laurie Mastrow.
"They were very, very instrumental," said Cosgrove. "They did a great job."
The local Head Start program is a nonprofit agency run by a board of directors, Cosgrove explained. "Fortunately, we were able to talk to the board. Once they took a neutral position, it was smooth sailing."
The workers, representing a unit of 80, voted 55-10 for CWA.
'Labor, Wall-to-Wall'
With petitions filed on behalf of public worker Locals 1037, 1038 and 1034 in New Jersey, the state agreed to recognize CWA as the representative of 147 social work intake interviewers employed by the New Jersey Department of Labor.
"We had overwhelming support," said District 1 Organizing Coordinator Ed Sabol. "I guess the state figured they were so similar to the people we already represent, it made sense to recognize the union."
Similar - but not the same. Local 1037 Executive Vice President Hetty Rosenstein pointed out that these workers are considered part-timers by the state, with no benefits, even though they work as many as 34- hours per week. "That's definitely something we have to address in bargaining."
Rosenstein credited several Local 1037 stewards, including Laurie Harding, who worked full-time on the five-month campaign with organizer Karen Jarrett. The campaign, titled 'Labor, Wall-to-Wall,' lived up to its promise. Said Rosenstein, "We now represent all of the workers in the New Jersey Department of Labor."
Pullin' Cable
Seventy-five cable and signal installers at ATREX, a BellSouth Entertainment contractor, won their bid to unionize, 32-8. The installers, whose work is controlled by BellSouth were earning $6 to $9 an hour, with no benefits. An inside committee of four, supported by Local 3204 organizer Ken Simpson, established good relations with co-workers. Norma Powell, administrative assistant to District 3 Vice President Jimmy Smith, said data compiled by CWA's research department was key in the victory.
Employees of Pacific Bell Wireless have chosen CWA under "card check" provisions negotiated last year - the company agreed to remain neutral in an organizing campaign and to recognize CWA as bargaining representative for wireless employees throughout Calfornia and Nevada, if a majority of the workers signed authorization cards.
District 9 Vice President Tony Bixler noted his personal appreciation in letters mailed to nearly 40 CWA activists who visited wireless sites, developed personal relationships and helped convince employees to join the union.
"Everyone who worked on this deserves a great deal of credit for helping build our union," said Bixler. "Because of your efforts and their courage in banding together, some 600 technicians, administrative and clerical employees will have the benefit of CWA representation in determining wages, hours and working conditions."
Locals involved included 9400, 9407, 9410, 9412, 9413, 9415, 9416, 9418, 9421, 9423, 9509 and 9510.
Wager on Winners
Also in District 9, 72 percent of 514 employees of the Viejas Indian gaming casino have chosen CWA.
The drive was led by Paramount, Calif. Local 9400 Executive Vice President Mike Hartigan, assisted by Vice President Doc Indermuehle and local activists Ruth Calvin, Helen Dalton, Alex Rooker, Emilia Sandborn and Margaret Porras.
The workers' in-plant committee was led by Juan Tarlida, Robert Hawk-Zarate, Edwin Ryder and Carolyn Campbell.
Local 9400, first contacted by a casino worker in October 1998, faced a unique situation. Because the casino is on an Indian reservation, it is not subject to U.S. labor law or National Labor Relations Board regulations. Hartigan said the management company agreed to a voluntary election, following NLRB guidelines, with results to be verified by the American Arbitration Association. The tribal council remained neutral.
"This is definitely a first in California," said Hartigan. "The employees definitely wanted a union. They're proud to be part of CWA."
Getting a Head Start
Ed Phillips, president of CWA Local 4340 outside Cleveland, Ohio, looking for new ways to reach workers, put an ad in the Yellow Pages. One day in October 1998, the local got a call from a day care worker employed by United Head Start of Lake Geauga.
Local organizer Jim Cosgrove and activist Tom Ducca worked with an internal organizing committee of about 25, led by Diane Heald, Sheryl Archibold, Kate Seal and Laurie Mastrow.
"They were very, very instrumental," said Cosgrove. "They did a great job."
The local Head Start program is a nonprofit agency run by a board of directors, Cosgrove explained. "Fortunately, we were able to talk to the board. Once they took a neutral position, it was smooth sailing."
The workers, representing a unit of 80, voted 55-10 for CWA.
'Labor, Wall-to-Wall'
With petitions filed on behalf of public worker Locals 1037, 1038 and 1034 in New Jersey, the state agreed to recognize CWA as the representative of 147 social work intake interviewers employed by the New Jersey Department of Labor.
"We had overwhelming support," said District 1 Organizing Coordinator Ed Sabol. "I guess the state figured they were so similar to the people we already represent, it made sense to recognize the union."
Similar - but not the same. Local 1037 Executive Vice President Hetty Rosenstein pointed out that these workers are considered part-timers by the state, with no benefits, even though they work as many as 34- hours per week. "That's definitely something we have to address in bargaining."
Rosenstein credited several Local 1037 stewards, including Laurie Harding, who worked full-time on the five-month campaign with organizer Karen Jarrett. The campaign, titled 'Labor, Wall-to-Wall,' lived up to its promise. Said Rosenstein, "We now represent all of the workers in the New Jersey Department of Labor."
Pullin' Cable
Seventy-five cable and signal installers at ATREX, a BellSouth Entertainment contractor, won their bid to unionize, 32-8. The installers, whose work is controlled by BellSouth were earning $6 to $9 an hour, with no benefits. An inside committee of four, supported by Local 3204 organizer Ken Simpson, established good relations with co-workers. Norma Powell, administrative assistant to District 3 Vice President Jimmy Smith, said data compiled by CWA's research department was key in the victory.