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Workers' Rights Focus of Human Rights Day, Dec. 10
With union organizing rights under attack in the United States, CWA is gearing up to help lead the labor movement in a full-court press Dec. 10, International Human Rights Day.
Delegates to CWA's 67th annual convention passed a resolution directing every local to get involved in Dec. 10 activities, saying that even among union members few people understand how bad the present situation is for workers seeking to organize and bargain collectively.
The goal is to build support for the Employee Free Choice Act by putting a spotlight on the delays, smear campaigns, captive audience meetings and firings and other illegal tactics that employers - with no fear of consequences - routinely used against union organizers and their supporters. The act would require employers to recognize card-check organizing and would penalize employers who interfere or refuse to bargain.
"We are fighting to protect workers' voice on the job, their rights and their benefits and their pay in the chilliest climate we've ever faced," CWA President Larry Cohen said. He pointed to CWA's long struggle to organize workers at the Chinese Daily News in southern California as a prime example. After years of management threats, intimidation and firing of union supporters and a huge backlog of worker appeals at the NLRB, the employer ultimately forced a new election and defeated the union. (See Chinese Daily News Vote Reflects Assault on Rights.)
"Our solidarity is the best weapon we have," Cohen said. "I call on every CWA member, every retiree and every local to take a stand December 10. Demonstrate with us, write letters to your newspaper, call radio shows, call your member of Congress. Show corporate America and its anti-worker friends in government that we are speaking with one loud, angry and powerful voice."
Human Rights Day activities are already being planned in cities across the country. CWA is taking a lead in New Jersey, Cleveland, San Francisco, Phoenix, possibly Philadelphia and other areas. The CWA and AFL-CIO websites will have details in coming weeks. See ga.cwa-union.org and www.aflcio.org.
Delegates to CWA's 67th annual convention passed a resolution directing every local to get involved in Dec. 10 activities, saying that even among union members few people understand how bad the present situation is for workers seeking to organize and bargain collectively.
The goal is to build support for the Employee Free Choice Act by putting a spotlight on the delays, smear campaigns, captive audience meetings and firings and other illegal tactics that employers - with no fear of consequences - routinely used against union organizers and their supporters. The act would require employers to recognize card-check organizing and would penalize employers who interfere or refuse to bargain.
"We are fighting to protect workers' voice on the job, their rights and their benefits and their pay in the chilliest climate we've ever faced," CWA President Larry Cohen said. He pointed to CWA's long struggle to organize workers at the Chinese Daily News in southern California as a prime example. After years of management threats, intimidation and firing of union supporters and a huge backlog of worker appeals at the NLRB, the employer ultimately forced a new election and defeated the union. (See Chinese Daily News Vote Reflects Assault on Rights.)
"Our solidarity is the best weapon we have," Cohen said. "I call on every CWA member, every retiree and every local to take a stand December 10. Demonstrate with us, write letters to your newspaper, call radio shows, call your member of Congress. Show corporate America and its anti-worker friends in government that we are speaking with one loud, angry and powerful voice."
Human Rights Day activities are already being planned in cities across the country. CWA is taking a lead in New Jersey, Cleveland, San Francisco, Phoenix, possibly Philadelphia and other areas. The CWA and AFL-CIO websites will have details in coming weeks. See ga.cwa-union.org and www.aflcio.org.