S-T Talk January 2026

Prior issues of S-T Talk are available on our website. Just visit cwa.org/s-t-talk

QUARTERLY LOCAL S-T TOWNHALL ZOOMS:
Please join us on February 24th, from 3 pm - 4 pm ET for the first S-T Townhall of 2026! Please click here to register to attend the Zoom meeting. At this Townhall, Susan Sumara from our Dues Department will provide an update on the changes regarding the payment of Per Capita dues to the International Union as a result of the resolution passed at our last convention.

Mark your calendars for May 26th, August 25th, and November 24th, from 3 pm - 4 pm ET, to ensure that you do not miss any of the S-T Townhalls in 2026.

We are always looking for topics to cover that are of interest for you, so please email stoffice@cwa-union.org and let me know what is of interest to you.

COPE-COMPLIANCE:
IUE Bond Renewal
IUE-CWA’s Labor Organization Bond was renewed on January 1. Please be on the lookout for Invoices and Certificates of Coverage and pay your local’s invoice as soon as possible.

Annual Financial Statement 
Article XIII, Section 9, M requires that all Locals furnish copies of their annual financial statement to the Union’s Secretary-Treasurer. The Compliance office is asking that Locals remit PDF copies of these statements to CWAMail@cwa-union.org.

990 Reminder
All Locals, including Public Employee Locals, that have $25,000 or more in gross receipts must file an exempt organization information return Form 990 - Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax. This return is due on the 15th day of the fifth month after the end of the fiscal year. The fiscal year for most CWA Locals ends on September 30th; therefore, the 990 would be due on February 15, 2026. The due date may be extended for three months, without showing cause, by filing Form 8868 before the due date. An additional three-month extension may be requested on Form 8868 if the organization shows reasonable cause why the return cannot be filed by the extended due date.

If you have questions about this requirement, contact your nearest IRS office.

DOL Late Filer Notice
If your Local’s Fiscal Year ended on September 30th and you haven’t yet filed your Annual LM report, please do so as soon as possible. While the Department of Labor does not impose fines, filing reports late could lead to your local being audited. Reports were due December 29, 2025.

PAF Cards:
To strengthen our outreach and better connect with our members, we kindly ask everyone to update Aptify with the contact information listed on the PAF cards as they are entered. Keeping this information current helps ensure that our communications are timely, accurate, and effective.

Please be sure to update:

• Email addresses
• Phone numbers
• Text opt-in status

DUES:
REMINDER: Changes to Cash Payer Units in January 2026!
As discussed on the last S-T Townhall call, we began consolidating the individual cash payer units into multi-local units in December. Nothing is changing with the overall cash payer process. We are streamlining the process at HQ and making it easier to see your cash payer categories at a glance.

There will be three categories of units, also separated by sector:

• Active Officers
• Retirees (not officers)
• Others (actively working & no payroll deduction, employed by local etc)

If you haven't already, please get back to your dues specialist on where your cash payers belong ASAP. We hope to begin processing at the end of this month. Anyone uncategorized when we begin to process under the new units will be put in the "others" bucket.

Changes to Per Capita Dues
Dues Resolution at 80th Convention: Delegates approved a resolution requiring CWA International to collect Per Capita membership dues on an “actual” basis rather than an “anticipated” basis for members who are out on leave. According to the CWA Constitution, Article VI, Section 2, locals are required to pay Per Capita dues, which are the portion of the member’s dues that is paid to the CWA International. This includes the fifty cents per member to the Defense Fund or the quarter hour to the Members’ Relief fund. All members are required to pay dues. Local membership committees can determine when dues are not required for members; however, per capita dues to the CWA International Union are required, with the exception of those on military leave from their employer or where units are on strike.

How will this resolution affect the Locals: Before the resolution was passed, in instances where the employer collected dues and sent them to the International Union for “top-down” dues processing, this was the process:

• Dues were posted to the member record
• Members’ Relief Fund monies deducted, if applicable
• International Union portion of Per Capita dues were deducted
• Where there was no option to strike, the Defense Fund per paying member deducted
• The remaining amount was sent to Locals in a settlement.

Under the new Resolution, the CWA International will no longer deduct the Per Capita, Defense Fund, and Members’ Relief Fund monies for any member who is on leave or has no dues collected. Instead, the remaining amount for those paying dues will be sent to Locals via settlement. The CWA International will now invoice Locals at the time of processing for the Per Capita, Defense Fund, or Member’s Relief Fund, for those in the unit not paying dues. Any unpaid invoices will be considered delinquent, according to Article XII, Section 2 (e), after 30 days from when it is due. Additionally, Article VI, Section 5, states that members in default of paying dues without “good cause” for 60 days from when it is due shall be suspended from membership.

Transition: We have been working with Aptify to change programming to align with the resolution. This may take up to six months, so our dues department will make these changes manually and begin issuing local adjustment refunds for the Per Capita, Defense Fund, and Members Relief Fund in late January to early February 2026. These refunds will be retroactive to the dues month following the passage of the resolution at the convention. CWA International will then invoice Locals to collect the owed Per Capita, Defense Fund, and Members Relief Fund monies.  Please register here for our Special Townhall Call to discuss the new Per Capita process and invoice billing on January 27, 2026 from 3 pm-5 pm EST.

FINANCE:
Reimbursement Deadline

Please remember that all reimbursements need to be submitted and processed within 90 days of the event.

MEMBER COMMUNICATIONS:
FREE Website, Email, Texting, and Other Online Tools for Locals

Did you know that CWA offers an easy-to-use solution for Local websites called UnionHall? The platform is free, and we provide phone and email support. No tech skills are required, and we can help you migrate an existing website. Learn more at cwa-union.org/for-locals/websites.

CWA Locals also have free access to the complete Action Network toolset, which includes the ability to send unlimited emails to your members and to create online actions like petitions, forms, event RSVP pages, and letter campaigns. Text messaging is also available for a minimal fee - about a half cent per message. You can sign up here or reach out to the CWA Communications Department for more information and a demo at commshelp@cwa-union.org.

Already using our tools and need a refresher? Check out our training schedule and recordings of previous training sessions here: cwa-union.org/CommsTrainings.

ICYMI (In Case You Missed It):
2026 CWA Annual Training Schedule: Level Up Your Skills!
Our 2026 training calendar is now available with packed sessions designed to make your work smoother and your skills sharper! Whether you’re new to Aptify or just need a refresher, we’ve got you covered.

Aptify & Dues Process | 3 hours
New to Aptify? This comprehensive session will teach you the ropes and guide you through the dues process with confidence.

   January 16, 2026 - 12 pm ET
   January 30, 2026 - 12 pm ET
   March 13, 2026 - 12 pm ET
   May 15, 2026 - 12 pm ET
   July 10, 2026 - 12 pm ET
   September 18, 2026 - 12 pm ET
   November 6, 2026 - 12 pm ET

Bottom-Up Dues Process Refresher | 1.5 hours
For those who already know Aptify—this refresher is designed for users familiar with our bottom-up dues structure. Get a solid review to keep things running smoothly!

   January 23, 2026 - 12 pm ET
   February 27, 2026 - 12 pm ET
   April 10, 2026 - 12 pm ET
   July 17, 2026 - 12 pm ET 
   October 23, 2026 - 2 pm ET

New! Grievance Management Module | 2 hours
Discover our latest addition: the Aptify Grievance Management Module! This new tool will simplify the grievance process, from filing to resolution. With easy, web-based access, you can handle collective bargaining agreements, deadlines, and documents all in one place. Perfect for local, district, and sector users!

  LOCALS (Stewards/Local Rep/Local Officers) - Grievance Management module training sessions

   February 6, 2026 - 12 pm ET
   April 3, 2026 - 12 pm ET
   June 5, 2026 - 12 pm ET 
   August 7, 2026 - 12 pm ET 
   October 16, 2026 - 12 pm ET

  DISTRICT/SECTORS Reps - Grievance Management module training sessions

   February 20, 2026 - 12 pm ET
   April 17, 2026 - 12 pm ET
   June 26, 2026 - 12 pm ET
   August 21, 2026 - 12 pm ET
   October 20, 2026 - 12 pm ET

Microsoft Excel Tips for Aptify Data | 1.5 hours
Want to get the most out of your Aptify data? Join us for an Excel crash course! You’ll learn the best tips and tricks for navigating and optimizing your data like a pro.

   February 13, 2026 - 12 pm ET
   May 8, 2026 - 12 pm ET
   August 28, 2026 - 12 pm ET
   November 20, 2026 - 12 pm ET

To sign up for one of our training sessions, please complete and submit this form. If you have any questions, email us at AptifySupport@cwa-union.org.

Free downloadable CWA Materials items available in the CWA Learning Lab!
You now have the opportunity to browse and download select CWA Materials resources for free! This option helps you save on printing and shipping costs while giving you instant access to materials you can easily share with your members.

To get started, log in to Aptify and click CWA Learning Lab in the top navigation menu. Then, click on the CWA Materials Downloadable Items module to view the full list of available resources. You can read more details HERE and reach out to AptifySupport@cwa-union.org with any questions.

Disaster Relief Fund Deadlines: 
There are currently 30 FEMA Declared Disasters across the US that are still eligible for members to submit assistance applications. Members have 6 months from the date of declaration to submit their application to their local. This is a lot of time, and some just forget about this benefit. Please review the timeline policy below and let members know they may still have time to submit.

Members and their locals have six (6) months from the date of the disaster declaration to file the Disaster Relief Fund application with the District staff assigned to the Disaster Relief Fund. If a member receives correspondence from the District staff that the application is incomplete, the member and their local have 30 days from receipt to resubmit to the District; otherwise, the file will be closed. Applications must be received at CWA Headquarters no later than eight (8) months from the date of the FEMA declaration. Applications more than eight (8) months from the FEMA declaration will not be processed.

CWA DRF Application can be located here.

FEMA Declarations Look-up can be located here.

Feeling the Financial Crunch? Don’t Fall Behind.
Union Plus offers a Free Credit Counseling session and program options for members who would like to work with a professional to review and provide solutions to assist in their current or future financial situation. Learn more here.

In Unity,

Ameenah Salaam
Secretary-Treasurer