Local 3905 Wins President's Award for DIRECTV Organizing

The CWA President's "Hat" Award, honoring outstanding achievements in organizing, was presented to CWA Local 3905 for their work building a strong, statewide unit of DIRECTV workers.

President David Betts accepted the award on behalf of all his members, especially the DIRECTV workers who stepped forward to meet the challenge of building a new unit, and thanked District 3 for its strong support. Local 3905 coordinated efforts with other Alabama locals to organize a statewide unit of 240 technicians.

The Hat Award is named for CWA's founding president, Joe Beirne, and is CWA's highest honor.

On behalf of his members, Local 3905 President David Betts accepts the Hat Award for organizing DIRECTV in Alabama.

CWA Organizing Director Sandy Rusher reported that since the last convention in 2015, more than 17,000 new members have joined our union through external organizing efforts.

Despite the fact that many of our largest employers have been shrinking our bargaining units, our union has grown over the past two years because of the organizing our locals have done, she said.

Carolyn Wade, at-large executive board member and president of CWA Local 1040, recognized the 41 locals that organized at least 100 workers in either one or both of the past two years. Each local will receive a $1,000 organizing subsidy; five time winners will receive $5,000.

Local 1037, Newark, N.J.; Local 1101, New York City; Local 1180, New York City; Local 30213, Toronto, Ontario; Local 31003, New York City; Local 2009, Huntington, W.Va.; Local 3010, San Juan, Puerto Rico; Local 3108, Orlando, Fla.; Local 3109, Pensacola, Fla.; Local 3212, Columbus, Ga.; Local 3808, Nashville, Tenn.; Local 3902, Birmingham, Ala.; Local 3905, Huntsville, Ala.

Local 4320, Columbus, Ohio; Local 6012, Tulsa, Okla.; Local 6016, Oklahoma City, Okla.; Local 6222, Houston; Local 6300, St. Louis, Mo.; Local 6327, Kansas City, Mo.; Local 6360 Kansas City, Mo.; Local 7011, Albuquerque, N.M.; Local 7019, Phoenix, Ariz.; Local 7026, Tucson, Ariz.; Local 7103, Sioux City, Iowa; Local 7750, Denver; Local 7777, Englewood, Colo.; Local 7906, Salem, Ore.

Local 9003, Burbank, Calif.; Local 9400, Paramount, Calif.; Local 9408, Fresno, Calif.; Local 9413, Sparks, Nev.; Local 9417, Stockton, Calif.; Local 9421, Sacramento; Local 9423, San Jose, Calif.; Local 9504, Simi Valley, Calif.; Local 9505, Los Angeles; Local 9509, San Diego; Local 9510, Orange, Calif.; Local 23004, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; Local 24031, St. Louis, Mo.; Local 29032, San Francisco.