Scholarship recipients show our union's strength

Solidarity.

That’s the first word that comes to mind when you read through the reports by CWA members who received scholarships to attend the 2014 CWA AT&T Mobility Leadership Conference (Nov. 16-19, Orlando, FL).

“It was very clear that the people who attended knew your struggles,” wrote Marco, a scholarship recipient from Local 9421 in Sacramento, California. “It felt like unity and I felt at home.”

The conference brought over 200 CWA members together for education, workshops, and the hard but exciting work of building the Unity@Mobility campaign. Marco was one of 10 members at Mobility given scholarships to the conference. Recipients were chosen from a mix of retail, call center, and technicians based on the leadership they’ve demonstrated and their commitment to step up even more.

Scholarship winners said they found practical value in being able to share worksite issues and potential solutions. Jamie from Pennsylvania Local 13000 wrote that most rewarding for her was the chance to “discuss common issues facing us that span across the country and hear the various ways those members have been able to overcome or address them.” Local 6215 member Lamar from Dallas echoed that sentiment: “Hearing others talk about how they were able to resolve issues was very enlightening.”

Witnessing the unity among conference goers and their shared passion to educate and mobilize their members back at home left the recipients feeling “very empowered and motivated” and “inspired.” “to look around and see that we have people who have our backs.”

Recipients also talked about their plans to keep building the Unity@Mobility campaign, including using newer forms of social media, following up with members who have contacts at other wireless companies, helping members connect political action with the workplace protections we rely on, and bringing the Unity@Mobility training to more members.

As Joseph, of Local 3407 in Lake Charles, Louisiana, put it: “We will be working to educate our members on what the union is all about, and how the most important part of the union is YOU. An active membership is what makes our union strong, and is the only thing that will keep us going into the future.”

To learn more about this year’s conference, read the wrap up on the CWA site.