Labor Day 2023 Message from CWA President Claude Cummings Jr.

A message from CWA President Claude Cummings Jr.

Labor Day is a time to celebrate and it is also a time to reflect on where we have been and where we are going. That is particularly true for me this year, the first Labor Day since my election as CWA President.

At a time of great division, unrest, and hate-inspired violence in this country, we are also celebrating the 60th anniversary of Dr. King's March on Washington and his iconic "I Have a Dream Speech." I was proud to see so many CWA members from across the country attend this year’s commemoration, including Tonya Jackson, who spoke from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial about her struggle to organize a union with CWA at federal call center contractor Maximus.

The 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom attracted more than a quarter of a million people of all races, faiths, genders, and generations -- and from all walks of life. Working people’s concerns were at the heart of the gathering. Labor leaders, most notably A. Phillip Randolph of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, ably assisted by Bayard Rustin, and Walter Reuther of the United Auto Workers, provided extensive organizing and logistical support for the event. The marchers called for the federal government to make sure everyone had access to good jobs with fair wages and that people weren’t discriminated against, a call that was echoed by the Maximus workers this year.

That’s no accident. While we cannot ignore the xenophobia, racism, and sexism that are part of the American labor movement’s history, it is also true that organizing and mobilizing in the workplace brings people together against the forces that would divide us. By fighting together for dignity and respect on the job, we learn what we have in common and discover the leaders within ourselves. That was true for me, as I know it has been for many of you as well.

But while thousands were en route from the commemorative celebration of the March on Washington to the King Memorial, a lone 21-year-old white gunman was making his way to a store in Jacksonville with the stated mission, like other shooters in Buffalo and El Paso, to kill people of color. And three innocent Black people succumbed to bullets from his legally purchased AR-15 rifle. This reprehensible act stands in stark contrast to Dr. King's legacy of unity and nonviolence.

In this current climate, violent threats are made daily against those with whom unstable people disagree. I have heard from many members - particularly those who work at call centers, airports, and retail establishments - who face this kind of danger and abuse every day. It is often said defensively of Americans, "This is not who we are." I fear, however, that this is who far too many of us are. We've got work to do.

We must be strong - CWA Strong - for each other and for our communities. That means showing up for each other, not just at our workplaces or within our locals or our industries. When a member of our CWA family puts out a call for help, I want you to show up. When a member of any union puts out a call for help, I want you to show up. Whenever someone is fighting for respect and dignity for all working people - whether it is an ally or an elected official or anyone else - I want you to show up.

As president of this great union, I will continue to protect and advance the values that I have cherished for so many years. Our values of unity and solidarity are the foundation of our strength as a union and together we can set an example for the rest of the country.