November 14, 2025

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

QUARTERLY LOCAL S-T TOWNHALL ZOOMS:
As we wind down 2025, our next gathering of S-Ts will be on November 25, 2025. Be sure to update your email in Aptify so we can send you the Zoom invitation. During our next Town Hall, Susan Sumara from our Dues Department will provide instructions on identifying cash dues payers and the process for Locals to collect dues payments.

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.

APTIFY:
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

Ready to sign up? 
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.

COPE-COMPLIANCE:
LM Reports
Locals with a Fiscal Year Ending date of September 30, 2025, have an LM filing with the Department of Labor due electronically by December 29, 2025.

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

IUE Labor Organization Bond:
The IUE Labor Organization Bond is set to expire on January 1, 2026. Compliance will automatically renew the bonds at their current coverages, unless a local requests an increase or decrease.

Keep an eye out in early January for invoices, and please remit payment to the insurance company as soon as possible. Contact cwamail@cwa-union.org if you have any questions about your local’s coverage.

DUES:
Worried about cash flow if there are processing delays at HQ? We’ve got you covered with Local Pay!
What is Local Pay?
Local pay is a 75 – 80% advance on your expected dues income for a particular unit and dues month. This process was put in place to make sure the locals’ overall cash flow is not affected by processing delays at HQ - due to processing backlog, software issues, missing files/money from the employer, files not matching payments, etc.

When do we get Local Pay?
Local pay is sent when dues for the scheduled month have not been processed by settlement time (15th or 31st of each month). Like dues processing, any local pay sent sits on the Unsettled Transactions Report because it is technically an outstanding amount due to HQ until the corresponding unit/dues month is processed. You will see it as a negative amount.

Once the dues for the local pay month are processed, we deduct the advance and pay you the remainder on the next settlement. You will see the dues processed as a positive amount, and the local pay as a negative amount in the deduction column on the Settled Transaction by Settlement Date reports.
(FYI - If dues for a unit/month *are* processed by settlement time, you get the whole amount due at once, so no local pay is needed.)

How is my Local Pay amount determined?
We look at the last 3-6 months of dues processing (excluding any months with an “extra” pay period for 26 or 52 deduction units). We plug the amounts from the Dues Summary by PU and Dues Period Reports into an Excel spreadsheet, average the amount due local, then take that average and multiply it by 75 – 80%. We round up or down to the nearest hundred dollars.

You can see your local pay set up on the My Local Pay report in the District/Local/Sector/Industry section of the reports menu.

Have more questions? There is a Local Pay/Settlement FAQ document in the portal’s Learning Lab, or you can find it at this LINK.

And of course, we are always available at duesquestions@cwa-union.org.

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

MEMBER COMMUNICATIONS:
Protect Your Local's Email and Website Domain Name
Custom domain names for websites or email accounts are great for your local’s visibility, but they need to be renewed and are very difficult to recover if they expire. A custom domain is something like cwa5678.org - a domain name that is specific to your local.

Some CWA locals have lost access to their website or email because only one person had a login for the domain registration, and they left the Local.

We recommend that the email account associated with your Local's domain registration and website hosting be an email address that your Local’s Secretary-Treasurer or trusted local staff have access to, and that at least one other officer or staff person has an administrative account with the domain registrar.

We also recommend that your Local's Secretary-Treasurer keep a secure record of usernames, passwords, and expiration dates for domain name registrations and website hosting with other important, confidential information that is passed on when there is a change in the Local's elected leadership.

CWA offers free website hosting for Locals. Contact commshelp@cwa-union.org if you have any questions.

ICYMI (In Case You Missed It):
LAST CALL for 2025 CWA Annual Microsoft Training Schedule: Our 2025 training calendar is designed to cater to a diverse range of learners. Join us for any of the following sessions.

   Microsoft Excel training
   Everyone is welcome to join and learn all of our tips and tricks to navigate through your Aptify data. We will 
   share the most useful MS Excel functions to optimize the data extracted from Aptify reports. 
   (Duration ~ 1.5 hours)
        November 21, 2025 - 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.

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 local 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.

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.

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In Unity,

Ameenah Salaam
Secretary-Treasurer