U@M trainer helps others stand up for their rights

It isn't easy to make someone say, "Wow," but when CWA member Mahalia C. trains her union brothers and sisters about their rights, that's often what she hears.

After union members receive training about CWA and the Unity@Mobility campaign, Mahalia says, "People are going back to the workplace empowered. Before, they were afraid. But after they actually feel like they have some power in their hands."

Mahalia recently answered some questions about her CWA experience:

Q. When did you join CWA?

November 2003, when I first started at AT&T Mobility. That's also when I became a trainer. In March of this year, I became a Unity@Mobility coordinator.

Q. What are the key lessons members take away from Unity@Mobility training?

A lot of people don't know the history of how their contract came about or the history of how the Unity@Mobility campaign started. During the training, we open their eyes to a whole different world.

People are excited to know they have recourse if a manager disciplines them — they can go through the grievance process if they don't think the discipline is right. They don't just have to take it.

They also learn that benefits aren't something that AT&T gives us — their CWA brothers and sisters fought for those. Yes, you have stewards in the building, but you have a responsibility to stand up and fight, too.

Q. Any favorite moments from your training experience?

I had a young lady who came to me and had been going through some things with her manager. She didn't realize she had a right to dispute it — she thought once it was done, it was done.

After the training, she went and challenged the manager on the write-up, saying, "I have a right to come and discuss this with you."

She told me it felt good to stand up to her manager. Instead of being fearful, she knew she had the union to back her up.

Are you interested in becoming a U@M trainer? Take a moment today to raise your hand and say you'll get involved — help build our movement, one member at a time.