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Public Sector Organizing Takes Center Stage
CWA gained 1,700 new members in August, nearly all of them public sector employees. The Tucson Association of City Employees voted 397-4 to affiliate with CWA, bringing union representation to nearly 1,500 workers in 23 city departments. The Aug. 15 election was the culmination of an intense effort led by a 30-member internal organizing committee.
"This campaign is a great example of how workers can build power with CWA," said Brooks Sunkett, vice president for public and health care workers. He said the victory was the result of "a real team approach, with local committees, District 7 staff and the union's Public Workers, Research and Public Relations Departments."
Tired of inconsistent policies, unreasonable performance expectations and unfair discipline, about a dozen city workers nearly three years ago began to build a union. They wanted a voice in how they served their community and in how they were compensated by the city of Tucson.
Internal organizers Karen Newhouse, Rosie Swecker and others contacted the Tucson Central Labor Council for advice, then interviewed several unions. They chose CWA because of its approach to organizing and its support of workers building their own organization.
Realizing that eight departments of city government were excluded from collective bargaining rights, they met several times with City Council members, worked through community coalitions and secured the mayor's endorsement for a successful November 1999 change in the city's labor relations ordinance. Then they petitioned the city for an election with more than 650 signatures - far in excess of the 15 percent the law requires. Over 700 employees signed cards expressing their commitment to having a union.
The workers who voted represent all city departments. CWA Local 7026 Lead Organizer Rolando Figueroa said they range from accountants to real estate appraisers to clerks, secretaries and 911 dispatchers. The results were verified by a neutral party, the League of Women Voters of the City of Tucson.
"It's an incredible victory for 7026 and President Michael McGrath," District 7 Organizer Kevin Mulligan said. "It's going to almost triple the size of the local." He also praised the efforts of Local 7026 Organizers Linda Hatfield and Lois Putizer as well as Vice President Randy Clarke, Secretary-Treasurer Cecilia Valdez and Janice McGrath, retired secretary-treasurer.
But the Tucson local was not the only one that supported the campaign.
Bonnie Winther, president of Local 7170 in Waterloo, Iowa, came out to work on the campaign in mid-July, went home for a week, then returned to see it through. She attended meetings in various office buildings, relating her local's success in representing public school employees, and handed out fliers. Judy Brown, an organizer from Local 7019, Phoenix, also assisted with house calls, phone banking and coordinating rallies.
The Tucson employees, said Winther, "are very committed to this and have all worked very, very hard."
Mulligan said their next steps will be to elect officers and prepare for bargaining.
"This campaign is a great example of how workers can build power with CWA," said Brooks Sunkett, vice president for public and health care workers. He said the victory was the result of "a real team approach, with local committees, District 7 staff and the union's Public Workers, Research and Public Relations Departments."
Tired of inconsistent policies, unreasonable performance expectations and unfair discipline, about a dozen city workers nearly three years ago began to build a union. They wanted a voice in how they served their community and in how they were compensated by the city of Tucson.
Internal organizers Karen Newhouse, Rosie Swecker and others contacted the Tucson Central Labor Council for advice, then interviewed several unions. They chose CWA because of its approach to organizing and its support of workers building their own organization.
Realizing that eight departments of city government were excluded from collective bargaining rights, they met several times with City Council members, worked through community coalitions and secured the mayor's endorsement for a successful November 1999 change in the city's labor relations ordinance. Then they petitioned the city for an election with more than 650 signatures - far in excess of the 15 percent the law requires. Over 700 employees signed cards expressing their commitment to having a union.
The workers who voted represent all city departments. CWA Local 7026 Lead Organizer Rolando Figueroa said they range from accountants to real estate appraisers to clerks, secretaries and 911 dispatchers. The results were verified by a neutral party, the League of Women Voters of the City of Tucson.
"It's an incredible victory for 7026 and President Michael McGrath," District 7 Organizer Kevin Mulligan said. "It's going to almost triple the size of the local." He also praised the efforts of Local 7026 Organizers Linda Hatfield and Lois Putizer as well as Vice President Randy Clarke, Secretary-Treasurer Cecilia Valdez and Janice McGrath, retired secretary-treasurer.
But the Tucson local was not the only one that supported the campaign.
Bonnie Winther, president of Local 7170 in Waterloo, Iowa, came out to work on the campaign in mid-July, went home for a week, then returned to see it through. She attended meetings in various office buildings, relating her local's success in representing public school employees, and handed out fliers. Judy Brown, an organizer from Local 7019, Phoenix, also assisted with house calls, phone banking and coordinating rallies.
The Tucson employees, said Winther, "are very committed to this and have all worked very, very hard."
Mulligan said their next steps will be to elect officers and prepare for bargaining.