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President's Award: Telecom and Public Locals Build Union Together in Jackson, Miss.
Presenting the President's Annual Award - CWA's most prestigious award for organizing - President Larry Cohen recognized two locals from different sectors that helped each other organize more than 800 members in Jackson, Miss., with the potential for at least 1,100 more.
Telecom Local 3511 and public worker Local 3570 - the Mississippi Alliance of State Employees (MASE) - worked together every step of the way to take advantage of card check and neutrality for former AT&T Wireless employees, which came about in the merger of that company with Cingular. And, together, they created the opportunity to organize workers employed by the city of Jackson by helping to elect a mayor and city council that are committed to recognizing workers' right to organize.
In presenting the award to local Presidents Kim Sadler of 3511 and Brenda Scott of 3570, Cohen said, "These two sisters and these two locals are continuing to build a vibrant labor movement in their state, a state where CWA now has more than 10,000 members and is the largest union in the state."
By organizing, building favor with elected officials and representing their members well, Cohen said, both locals "work all three sides of the CWA Triangle. They have an amazing steward structure; they have elected representatives throughout the state that carry on our work on a day-to-day basis."
Added CWA District 3 Vice President Noah Savant, "You can bet the politicians in Mississippi, especially in Jackson, know the names of Brenda Scott and Kim Sadler."
Cohen described how early in 2005 - long before company neutrality went into effect in July, ending the union-busting practices of the former AT&T Wireless in accordance with its merger with Cingular - Local 3511 organizers were already helping 400 Cingular customer care workers in Jackson to organize. One of the in-shop leaders was Kelvin Banks, who knew all about the union from his brother, an IUE-CWA member.
One of the first meetings with the workers took place in Local 3570's offices, and MASE-CWA member Nate Williams was one of the first to volunteer to work on the campaign. It went forward with the support of Sadler and local Vice President Loubertha Neal, led by organizers Debra Noble and Margaret Quinn.
The organizers met several times with the workers, explained what could be gained by working together in CWA, built up an internal organizing committee and collected membership support cards from more than 60 of the workers. The American Arbitration Association verified the recognition in March.
Local 3511 turned around to help Local 3570 organize the Jackson City workers, making its facilities and several of its members - Williams, Banks and Noble - available to talk to city workers.
"Together with Local 3570 organizers, they have made a tremendous outreach to 1,500 eligible Jackson city employees, and already more than 400 have signed up," Cohen said.
"Now, in some ways, this is a lifetime achievement award for Local 3570," he added. He Pointed out that, against all odds and with no collective bargaining laws for public workers in Mississippi, workers formed MASE-CWA in 1989, and through aggressive organizing, electing pro-worker state officials and lobbying for raises and better working conditions have recruited more than 3,000 members.
Cohen also presented organizing awards and $1,000 stipends to 22 locals that organized at least 100 workers each and together brought the union nearly 6,500 new members.
Telecom Local 3511 and public worker Local 3570 - the Mississippi Alliance of State Employees (MASE) - worked together every step of the way to take advantage of card check and neutrality for former AT&T Wireless employees, which came about in the merger of that company with Cingular. And, together, they created the opportunity to organize workers employed by the city of Jackson by helping to elect a mayor and city council that are committed to recognizing workers' right to organize.
In presenting the award to local Presidents Kim Sadler of 3511 and Brenda Scott of 3570, Cohen said, "These two sisters and these two locals are continuing to build a vibrant labor movement in their state, a state where CWA now has more than 10,000 members and is the largest union in the state."
By organizing, building favor with elected officials and representing their members well, Cohen said, both locals "work all three sides of the CWA Triangle. They have an amazing steward structure; they have elected representatives throughout the state that carry on our work on a day-to-day basis."
Added CWA District 3 Vice President Noah Savant, "You can bet the politicians in Mississippi, especially in Jackson, know the names of Brenda Scott and Kim Sadler."
Cohen described how early in 2005 - long before company neutrality went into effect in July, ending the union-busting practices of the former AT&T Wireless in accordance with its merger with Cingular - Local 3511 organizers were already helping 400 Cingular customer care workers in Jackson to organize. One of the in-shop leaders was Kelvin Banks, who knew all about the union from his brother, an IUE-CWA member.
One of the first meetings with the workers took place in Local 3570's offices, and MASE-CWA member Nate Williams was one of the first to volunteer to work on the campaign. It went forward with the support of Sadler and local Vice President Loubertha Neal, led by organizers Debra Noble and Margaret Quinn.
The organizers met several times with the workers, explained what could be gained by working together in CWA, built up an internal organizing committee and collected membership support cards from more than 60 of the workers. The American Arbitration Association verified the recognition in March.
Local 3511 turned around to help Local 3570 organize the Jackson City workers, making its facilities and several of its members - Williams, Banks and Noble - available to talk to city workers.
"Together with Local 3570 organizers, they have made a tremendous outreach to 1,500 eligible Jackson city employees, and already more than 400 have signed up," Cohen said.
"Now, in some ways, this is a lifetime achievement award for Local 3570," he added. He Pointed out that, against all odds and with no collective bargaining laws for public workers in Mississippi, workers formed MASE-CWA in 1989, and through aggressive organizing, electing pro-worker state officials and lobbying for raises and better working conditions have recruited more than 3,000 members.
Cohen also presented organizing awards and $1,000 stipends to 22 locals that organized at least 100 workers each and together brought the union nearly 6,500 new members.