Tony Bixler and Noah Savant Retire As CWA District 9 and 3 Vice Presidents

After a combined 87 years of service to CWA, District 9 Vice President Tony Bixler and District 3 Vice President Noah Savant retired in January.

Bixler was elected District 9 Vice President in 1996 after serving as an elected officer and president of Local 9513 (now Local 9400) for 28 years. He joined CWA in 1964 after signing on with Pacific Bell and during his 17 years as president, the local organized more than 14,000 new members.

As District 9's vice president, Bixler built CWA membership in new and growing sectors, especially public service and health care. He also played a key role among California unions in state legislative efforts and political action.

Bixler was a charter member of the Coalition of Labor Union Women and a founding member of CWA's Minority Caucus.

Savant was elected District 3 vice president in 2005. As vice president, he worked to bring CWA representation to thousands of workers, especially at AT&T Mobility. Savant was a member of the Executive Board Committee on Diversity which spent many months encouraging discussions across CWA and developing the diversity proposal adopted by the 2007 Convention to expand participation and increase diversity among CWA leadership. 

He joined Local 3407 after going to work for South Central Bell in 1965. Heading the local's organizing committee, Savant helped workers at cable and marine and construction companies gain union representation. As local president, he served on the 1986 Bell South bargaining committee. He was appointed to the CWA staff in 1987 and was named assistant to the president in 1996.

Beverly Hicks, who had served as assistant to the District 3 vice president since 2005 and joined the CWA staff in 1996, was appointed District 3 vice president. Jim Weitkamp was appointed District 9 vice president; he had served as assistant to the District 9 vice president since 2004.

Elections wil be held at the June convention for the positions.