Telecom News - Strategic Campaign to Boost Telecom Bargaining, Organizing, Political Power

Incorporating the suggestions of local presidents from around the country, CWA has launched a new Telecom Strategic Industry Fund campaign to support the fight for jobs, health care and retirement security throughout the telecommunications industry.

"Existing telecom-related projects will now be coordinated under this 'umbrella' strategic industry fund. In addition to potential national proposals, future telecom-specific projects may also now be developed and proposed through your district or sector for funding approval," CWA Executive Vice President Jeff Rechenbach said.

The Telecom SIF will support ongoing battles such as the union's efforts on behalf of its "Speed Matters" campaign to bring high-speed broadband to homes across the nation. It will fund a broad range of research, member education and mobilization activities.

"We are currently developing a Stewards Army training component that will include information on industry changes and will integrate our strategies for the Employee Free Choice Act, Speed Matters, health care and the 2008 elections," Rechenbach said. "This training will be designed to go hand-in-hand with any of the future telecom projects."

The Telecom SIF will be administered by CWA's Telecom Office, headed by Rechenbach, in conjunction with the committee of 10 telecom vice presidents, drawing upon existing staff as appropriate for individual projects.

Facing tactical challenges related to the SIF, the vice presidents with telecom responsibilities recently concluded a series of meetings aimed at reaching a common understanding of the industry, its challenges and future strategy. They took stock of unique opportunities and challenges of an industry now characterized by wireline and wireless telephony; cable competition in voice, TV and high-speed Internet; IP for long distance networks and data.

Mindful of numerous mergers and acquisitions, the selling off of networks and spinning off business units that affect the union's membership and collective bargaining agreements, the vice presidents prepared a confidential company-by-company analysis, reviewing current SIF projects and exploring future possibilities.

The Telecom SIF encompasses additional goals of identifying opportunities and planning for shareholder actions to change companies' anti-union behavior, building national, religious and anti-cable coalitions to support CWA's goals, expanding member education e-mail and the production of publications, building up Retired Members Council chapters and supporting candidacies of CWA members and retirees for city, state, and regulatory political office.