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For media inquiries, call CWA Communications at 202-434-1168 or email comms@cwa-union.org. To read about CWA Members, Leadership or Industries, visit our About page.

S-T Talk November 2024

November 15, 2024

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

QUARTERLY LOCAL S-T TOWNHALL ZOOMS:
Time flies when you are having fun, sharing, and learning. Our last quarterly Local S-T Townhall Zoom for 2024 will be November 26, 2024, at 3 pm ET. Now that we have gone through a lot of the basics, we have gotten requests for more advanced topics that Secretary-Treasurer’s are facing. We will meet to plan our town hall topics for the 2025 calendar year. If you can’t make our November 26, 2024 town hall, please email SToffice@cwa-union.org on or before November 18, 2024, to provide topics you would like to see covered in our 2025 town hall Zoom series. Be on the lookout for your town hall Zoom registration email on November 18, 2024. If you have questions or need assistance registering for this town hall please contact Kelly Cline at kcline@cwa-union.org.

DISASTER RELIEF INFORMATION

CWA Disaster Relief Fund
Members are eligible for an assistance grant if their home is damaged due to a FEMA-declared natural disaster. The National CWA program allows up to 6 months to submit the application for assistance. You can utilize this simple FEMA Declaration tool to see if your local resides in one of the areas affected and can share the benefit with your members. www.fema.gov/disaster/declarations

Please refer to the CWA Disaster Relief Fund Member Handbook. We want to make sure every eligible member has updated information to access financial assistance in the event of a FEMA-declared natural disaster. 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.

Some CWA Districts and Sectors also provide hardship grants. Please promote the National program alongside these programs as members are not limited to just one source of support.

UNION PLUS Disaster Relief Grant Reminder: 
Members who live in areas impacted by declared natural disasters in the last 24 months, and who participate in the Union Plus Credit Card, Mortgage, Life Insurance, Accident Insurance, Auto Insurance, Personal Loan, and Retiree Healthcare programs may be eligible to access Union Plus Disaster Relief Grants. Eligible members must have their primary residence in a county or parish designated by FEMA as eligible for Individual Assistance. No proof of property damage is required. Learn more at unionplus.org/disaster.

If you have questions or need assistance, please contact Kevin Celata at kcelata@cwa-union.org

DUES
Holiday Staffing
Just a reminder that some Membership staff will be enjoying holiday time off in November and December. Processing may not be as robust as locals have come to expect. Our processing priority for these two months will be as follows:

Large top-down electronic units (ATT, VZN, GE, NBC, etc)
Bottom-up units
Smaller electronic units
Manual units

Holiday Month Settlement Dates:
Friday, Nov 15th
Wednesday, Nov 27th
Friday, Dec 13th
Friday, Dec 20th

Agency Fee Objector Requests
Since we are through the pandemic and accepting US Mail at CWA Headquarters, all objector requests must be sent in accordance with the Your Rights With Respect to Union Representation, Union Security Agreements, and Agency Fee Objections policy. We will no longer accept requests via email. The current policy can be found here https://cwa-union.org/pages/security_agreements_and_agency_fee_objections

COPE/COMPLIANCE
Local LM Filing Deadline (For Fiscal Year Ending September 30th):
Locals with a Fiscal Year Ending date of September 30, 2024, have an LM filing with the Department of Labor due electronically by December 29, 2024.

The LMRDA does not authorize or grant any extension of time for filing these reports for any reason.

Electronic Forms System (EFS) is a web-based system for completing, signing, and submitting Labor Organization Annual Financial Reports. EFS allows a labor organization with a web-enabled computer the ability to acquire, complete, sign, and electronically file reports without purchasing a digital signature or downloading special software.

   Reporting Requirements

     · If total annual receipts are less than $10,000, Locals may use the online Form LM-4; 
     · If total annual receipts are less than $250,000, Locals may use the online Form LM-3;
     · If total annual receipts are more than $250,000, Locals must use the online Form LM-2.

   Go to the following links for more info on the LM-2, LM-3, and LM-4:
   https://www.dol.gov/agencies/olms/reports/forms/lm-1-lm-2-lm-3-lm-4

   Exclusion From Filing LM Reports
   Only those Locals comprised entirely of public employees (state, county, or municipal 
   employees) are excluded from filing an LM financial report.

   CWA Councils ― Labor-Management (LM) Reporting
   CWA Councils (city, state, or regional Councils) are also subject to the reporting 
   requirements of the LMRDA. The Councils should use the same monetary guidelines as 
   previously outlined in determining which LM financial report form to use. (Part V. Federal 
   Reporting of the UOPM)

Bond Invoices & Certificates Reminder
Certificates and Invoices have been mailed directly to Locals from Eberts & Harrison for those covered by the TNG or CWA Labor Organization Bonds. If you have not received your Certificate of Coverage and Invoice, please contact CWA Compliance at cwamail@cwa-union.org.

Missing Job Titles Report
To address the timing conflict of Aptify users updating the job title field before receiving the monthly COPE Contributors without Job Titles report from Districts, we have decided to discontinue the Missing Job Titles report within Aptify. Going forward, only the monthly emailed reports distributed to Districts will be used, and the report within Aptify will no longer be available.

We are, however, in the process of developing a new job titles report within Aptify that will mirror the format of the monthly emailed report, ensuring that Aptify users have access to the same information provided to the Districts.

APTIFY
2025 CWA Annual Training Schedule: Level Up Your Skills!

Our 2025 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.

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!

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!

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.

Ready to sign up? 
Complete and submit this form. If you have any questions, email us at AptifySupport@cwa-union.org.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
CyberSecurity is Job #1 - 
We strongly encourage you to enable two-factor authentication on all local email accounts, especially those that will be sending member data or financial information. If you’re sharing bank information, make sure the email is encrypted or share it over the phone with someone at HQ. “Confidential mode” in Gmail, “Encrypt” in Outlook, or third-party applications like Virtru or Preveil are all good options for email encryption. Please review our Sensitive Data Management Guide for more information.

Boost Your Fundraising for CWA’s Charity of Choice: Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation

Since 1990, CWA has supported the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation’s mission to end AIDS in children, youth, and families. CWA’s Convention has established a minimum donation quota of $1 per member per year, although many locals contribute more. These funds are particularly important to EGPAF because unlike some of their funding from foundations and other sources, our donations are unrestricted and can be used to meet the most pressing needs.

Next month, we will recognize World AIDS Day (Dec 1) and Giving Tuesday (Dec 3). While we will be sharing information about EGPAF through our national email lists and social media channels on World AIDS Day and Giving Tuesday, we know that our members respond more enthusiastically when they hear from their locals directly. This year we are providing updated materials for locals to use in order to encourage members to contribute.

New materials include:

 

If you would like to order printed flyers for your local, you may do so through the CWA Materials website. You may also download the PDFs and have them printed by your local union printer.

If you need assistance with planning a fundraiser for EGPAF, would like partnership materials to distribute to your members or community, or have any questions, please contact EGPAF’s CWA liaison, Katie Cunningham, at kcunningham@pedaids.org or 202-448-8451.

More information about CWA’s Charity of Choice program, including guidelines and a local contribution form, is available at cwa.org/egpaf.


ICYMI:(In Case You Missed It)

Free downloadable CWA Materials items are 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 into 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.

As We Enter Into November We Have A Lot To Be Thankful For.

The Secretary-Treasurer’s Office And Staff Wish You And Your Family

A Safe And Memorable Holiday.


 

In Unity,

Ameenah Salaam
Secretary-Treasurer