Worker Power Update

Supporting Pro-Worker Candidates in Texas

CWA District 6 Vice President Claude Cummings, Jr., (right) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) at the Texas Organizing Breakfast.

CWAers in Texas continue their mobilization efforts to turn out voters and build support for pro-worker candidates in upcoming primary elections.

Last Saturday, CWA Local 6143 in San Antonio, Texas, hosted the Texas Organizing Breakfast featuring Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and CWA-endorsed candidates for Congress Jessica Cisneros (TX-28) and Greg Casar (TX-35).

CWA District 6 Vice President Claude Cummings, Jr., opened the event with an overview of CWA's political program in Texas, highlighting our work to elect candidates who support workers’ rights by building a coalition of labor and community partners. Casar and Cisneros both spoke about their vision to build a better Texas for working people. Rep. Ocasio-Cortez spoke about her organizing roots in Texas and her commitment to growing the labor and community movement to elect more pro-labor candidates to Congress. The next day, CWA activists along with other labor and community allies joined Rep. Ocasio-Cortez and a large crowd of voters for a rally in Austin to show support for Casar and help boost voter enthusiasm ahead of early voting.

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CWA Public Workers Win Pay Raises in New Mexico, Fight for Bargaining Rights in Colorado

Last week, public workers in New Mexico won full funding for a $15 minimum wage. This is a major victory for members of CWA Local 7076 who have been engaging in political and legislative mobilization and bargaining to secure this funding. CWA represents over 1,500 public sector workers in New Mexico who will directly benefit from this raise. The raises, which will be included in the workers’ collective bargaining agreements, will begin in April.

Unfortunately, in roughly half the country, public workers, who serve states and municipalities providing vital services, do not have the right to collectively bargain for fair wages, better working conditions, and other workplace protections. CWAers are turning up the pressure on state lawmakers to secure public workers’ bargaining rights. Members of CWA Local 7799 made a series of videos sharing their stories on the importance of securing collective bargaining rights for Colorado public workers. Check out their testimonials here.

The Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act is national legislation that, among other things, will provide these essential workers the ability to bargain and protect their rights on the job. CWAers across the country are mobilizing to pass this critical federal legislation. Sign this petition to show your support for the Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act.

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CWAers Continue to Build Support for the PRO Act

CWA Local 6143 in San Antonio, Texas, in coalition with Our Revolution and the Texas AFL-CIO, hosted the Support Texas Workers: Rally for PRO Act to hold Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) publicly accountable for his opposition to the PRO Act.

The event was moderated by CWA Local 6143 President Geronimo Guerra with opening remarks by CWA Local 6143 Legislative-Political activist Katie Garcia. Both Guerra and Garcia highlighted Rep. Cuellar's track record of being the only Democratic member of Congress to vote against the PRO Act twice. Members from CWA Local 6132 and the Texas State Employees Union (CWA Local 6186) also participated in the rally. The strong turnout sent a loud message that CWA, the labor movement, and community allies are committed to taking action and holding politicians who vote against the interest of working people accountable.

CWA Local 6143 President Geronimo Guerra (right) and CWA Local 6143 Legislative-Political activist Katie Garcia spoke at the PRO Act rally in Texas.