Welcome

Here at CWA headquarters we’re starting a blog: Resistance Growing. It’ll be a place to join a conversation around the issues of the day, to keep tabs on important stories in the labor movement and to get quick takes on breaking news.

What’s with the name? Resistance is a strong word – with an historic message.

Labor has long been part of the fight for progressive change. Children’s advocates, religious leaders and unions banded together to enact child labor laws in the early 20th century. Labor activists marched shoulder-to-shoulder with Civil Rights leaders in the struggle for the 1964 Civil Rights Act and 1965 Voting Rights Act.

Today working families face a brutal assault on their right to organize and bargain collectively. Good jobs, higher wages and safe working conditions are all in danger of being taken away. States are suppressing voters and bullying immigrants. Our government is controlled by moneyed interests and fettered by a dysfunctional Senate.

But we aren’t backing down. In fact, we’re growing the coalitions that built the most successful progressive movements in history.

CWA has rallied its allies, forming partnerships with the NAACP, Sierra Club and Common Cause. Jobs with Justice – a CWA-founded national network of local coalitions bringing together labor unions, faith groups, community organizations, and student activists – is taking to the streets in 46 cities in 24 states. CWA joined more than 60 progressive groups — collectively called the 99% Spring – to train 100,000 activists in the techniques of nonviolent direct action, and thousands marched on annual corporate shareholder meetings around the country.

We’re building a voting electorate of 50 million organized progressives needed to shake up the status quo. It’s a battle for equality and justice for all.

In the words of CWA President Larry Cohen, “This resistance is fueled by love and hope, not just anger.”

We want to hear your voices. Join us on Facebook and Twitter. Email ideas to blog@cwa-union.org. And keep our blog bookmarked!