2023 Interview
Audio Part One
2024 Interview
Jeff Rechenbach served as CWA executive vice-president (2005-2008) and secretary-treasurer (2008-2011). Rechenbach got his start in the payphone department of Ohio Bell in Cleveland, Ohio. He was elected president of CWA Local 4309 at the age of 19 where he represented a predominantly female group of service representatives. He joined CWA staff eight years later, was promoted to administrative staff, and elected vice-president of CWA District 4 in 1994. When AT&T bought Ameritech (the midwestern regional Bell company), Rechenbach negotiated a majority sign-up (card check)/neutrality agreement over the wireless workers. He later led a successful four-day strike coordinated with other CWA regional AT&T bargaining units. Under his leadership of the national union (in partnership with president Larry Cohen), convention delegates adopted proposals to add four diversity seats to the CWA executive board and to establish the Strategic Industry Fund to promote strategic programs to grow the union.
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