Special Industry Report: Public Workers

Public workers in the United States are facing the same challenges as workers in the private sector — attacks on pensions and health care, outsourcing of jobs, and restrictions on rights to collective bargaining and a voice on the job. 

Today, just 33 states provide collective bargaining rights for public workers, and in the United States, only 35 percent of public workers have collective bargaining coverage.  Compare this with new democracies like South Africa and Brazil, where 100 percent of public workers have collective bargaining coverage.

In New Jersey, CWA public workers locals fought hard and gained full collective bargaining rights for nearly 50,000 workers in 1981. New Jersey workers needed that solidarity more than ever this year to turn back an attack by some state legislators on workers' pensions and health care.

In Texas, where public workers have no bargaining rights, CWA Local 6186 is building alliances with residents, lawmakers, community groups and state leaders, to secure jobs and quality services for Texas residents. The same kind of work — building power to improve jobs, benefits and working conditions for public workers — is underway in other states that lack bargaining rights for public workers: Mississippi, where CWA Local 3570 represents state employees; West Virginia, among CWA-represented law enforcement and corrections workers; the University of Tennessee system, and many more.

Until real workers' rights are restored, CWA public employee locals will continue to challenge the attacks on jobs and benefits by building power through innovative strategies and tactics.