Resolution: 72A-10-1
Adopted: July 27, 2010
The American economy is in crisis. We have lost eight million jobs in recent years and 800,000 union jobs in 2009 alone. The unemployment rate remains near 10 percent, the number of home foreclosures continues, and local and state governments are looking to balance their budgets by cutting vital public services and disparaging and firing public workers.
Corporate powers have trampled the right to organize a union and bargain collectively, supported all too often by government action or inaction. Unions represent 7 percent of the private sector workforce and, if we do nothing, it will soon be down to 6 percent or even less. We see the impact of this lost bargaining power in our contract negotiations every day.
There is a lot of talk and reporting about how angry many Americans have become. Unfortunately, some of that anger is being directed against workers who still enjoy good paying jobs and benefits like public workers and union workers, or immigrant workers who barely get by. There is also anger at Wall Street and Big Banks, but that anger has not led to a groundswell for workers’ rights or a real discussion of living standards.
Union activists worked tirelessly in 2008 and helped build Democratic majorities in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate, and elected a Democratic President. Although we have achieved some victories, we are disappointed with the lack of progress on a true workers’ agenda, one that will restore America’s middle class.
The Senate is polarized because of rules that require a super majority (60 votes) before legislation can even be considered on the Senate floor. These are rules set by the Senate itself, and serve no purpose today except to block majority support and majority voice for progressive and needed legislation.
People of progressive and democratic values must reset the national political narrative and profoundly influence the national political climate. Americans need a wake-up call.
All of us – community, civil rights, immigrant, women, environmental, student and labor organizations – must strengthen our unity and our determination to bring about the progressive agenda that working and middle class families need. We need an effective coalition that stays focused on these core economic issues: secure, sustainable jobs; quality, affordable health care; retirement security; and bargaining and organizing rights.
The One Nation movement – representing more than 170 labor, civil rights, and other progressive organizations – represents an important step forward toward building a broad coalition that will fight for economic justice. The One Nation national March on October 2, 2010 in Washington, D.C. provides an opportunity to demonstrate the strength of this movement.
The AFL-CIO Executive Committee and many of our allies have endorsed the One Nation March because they realize that we must work together like never before in order to protect our standard of living and civil rights.
Resolved: CWA endorses and joins One Nation.
Resolved: CWA will work with our allies to help ensure that the October 2 actions are successful and will encourage CWA locals to participate.
Resolved: CWA supports a core political agenda that encompasses the One Nation March theme: Putting America Back to Work, Bringing America Back Together.