Pride at Work Puts "Boots on the Ground" in Cleveland

30 CWAers joined this year's Pride at Work convention in Cleveland.

CWAers had the biggest voice and largest participation at this year's Pride at Work convention, held in Cleveland last week. About 180 lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered union activists attended, with at least 30 CWAers on hand. Pride at Work gives voice to LGBT workers across the union movement.

Activists held a "Boots on the Ground" Day of Action, and spent a day walking neighborhoods and knocking on doors in Cleveland, especially where voters might need to re-register now to vote in the November elections.

Shane Larson, CWA's legislative director, was elected male co-president and Tiffany Heath, TNG-CWA, was elected secretary. Past co-presidents were Donna Cartwright, a retired TNG-CWA member, and Stan Kiino, an AFA-CWA activist.

Delegates adopted resolutions supporting passenger service agents at American Airlines, who have been fighting for some 15 years for a union voice, and calling on T-Mobile USA to support true and full equality by not blocking workers' right to a union voice. Other convention topics included a discussion of key LGBT labor issues, creative organizing strategies, voter suppression, developing social media skills and more.

Speakers included CWA Secretary-Treasurer Annie Hill, AFA-CWA President Veda Shook and CWA Chief of Staff Ron Collins.