IUE-CWA Local 84901 is CWA Strong

Indiana has been a "right to work for less" state since 2012, but IUE-CWA members of Local 84901 in Ft. Wayne, In., are refusing to let that get in the way of their mobilization efforts.

Members of the local work at BAE Systems, an electronics and aerospace corporation. Out of 531 employees, only 6 are non-members – an incredible 99% signup rate. The local also has a 100% signup rate for new members coming in during the past couple of years.

As more and more states have been hijacked by the "right to work" corporate strategy to try to weaken collective bargaining rights, workers at BAE Systems are standing up to these tactics through grassroots organizing.

To achieve their success, Local 84901's mobilization team has held one-on-one meetings with coworkers and educated the entire membership on how "right to work" would affect them. Local officers, stewards, and other mobilization team members keep a constant presence on the floor to communicate with membership. Members promote a family atmosphere within the local with social events like picnics and holiday parties.

Local President Brent Eastom said, "One of the most important things we do is try to show our members that we care about them and their families and that we are all in this together. While 'right to work for less' is a challenge that many of our locals have faced over the past decade, the reality is we can defeat this corporate attack by organizing our members within."

IUE-CWA Local 84901 members are CWA Strong.