Resolution: 72A-10-3
Adopted: July 27, 2010
In 2006, the CWA Convention adopted the “Ready for the Future” Resolution (RFF) which proposed eleven steps designed to strengthen and restructure our Union to better address new challenges and demands facing today’s labor movement. In the succeeding years, CWA has moved forward with implementation of these steps as directed by the RFF proposal. Consistent with that objective, the CWA Executive Board has proposed certain Constitutional amendments to be voted on at this year’s Convention that will advance this objective and, additionally, the Board recommends that District 2 and District 13 be combined into one District, to be effective as of the date of the 2011 CWA Convention.
The Locals within District 2 and District 13 have all been consulted about the proposed structural change and have been afforded various opportunities to express their views on this proposal at District meetings and at other forums. These discussions have resulted in strong expressions of support for a combined District that will be able effectively to meet the serious challenges that face us as we carry on the fight for workers’ rights in difficult times ahead. The District 13 Vice President advises that the District consents, as contemplated by the merger agreement, to the creation of the newly combined District.
The new, combined District will consist of the states of Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and Washington, D.C. The jurisdiction of the new District shall be all those eligible for membership according to the CWA Constitution working in these five states and the District of Columbia, including existing CWA Locals within the current District 2 and District 13. The existing two-District structure shall remain in place until the 2011 CWA Convention and the existing elected Vice Presidents of the two Districts will continue to serve and exercise their customary duties and responsibilities until their present terms of office expire in 2011, whereupon an election will be held as provided by Article XV for the office of Vice President of the newly combined District 2 and 13.
The combination of District 2 and District 13 allows more intensified attention to Union programs and functions, including more focused collective bargaining rights enforcement actions involving Verizon, the largest employer within the combined District area, increased opportunities for internal and external organizing and the cost savings to CWA by having these mutually beneficial activities conducted out of one centralized District office.
Resolved: The delegates to the 72nd CWA Convention in 2010 exercise their constitutional authority by directing the creation of a new, combined CWA District, to be known as CWA District 2-13, consisting of the States of Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia (formerly District 2 and District 13) with jurisdiction consisting of all those eligible for CWA membership within those geographic areas, including existing Locals.
Resolved: The action authorized in this Resolution to create a new, combined District 2 -13 shall take effect at the 73rd CWA Convention in 2011, at which time the Vice President of the combined District will be elected.
Resolved: The existing structures of District 2 and District 13 shall remain in place until the 2011 CWA Convention and the existing elected Vice Presidents of the two Districts will continue to serve and exercise their customary duties and responsibilities until their present terms of office expire in 2011.