Next Gen Members Confront Role of Racism and Bias in Union Busting

CWA Next Generation members and the Human Rights Department are working together to educate and engage as many young members as possible in an effort to expose the historic and ongoing connections between union busting and racial and gender bias. Earlier this month, members of CWA Next Generation participated in the Building an Anti-Racist Union Training at CWA Local 7050 in Phoenix, Ariz.

Lillian Coon, a member of AFA-CWA Local 24063, and Tayqwoiseceyon “Tay” Akins, a member of CWA Local 7050, are members of the Next Generation Confronting Bias Team, a partnership with CWA's Human Rights Department. The training, developed by CWA's Committee on Human Rights and Equity, was facilitated by Will Lykes, an Area Vice President with CWA Local 7050, and Civil Rights and Equity Committee member Vonda Wilkins, Executive Vice President of CWA Local 7019.

According to Akins, “I was inspired by this training because it helped me recognize that despite all the adversities I've faced, I'm able to fight for, speak up for, and be an example of the change we want to see. This class doesn’t only educate young activists but also gives us a safe space to talk about the real struggles we face as minorities, whether at work, in our unions, or in the community.”

CWA Next Generation members attended the Building an Anti-Racist Union training hosted by CWA Local 7050 in Phoenix, Ariz.