In his keynote address, President Shelton outlined the three challenges facing CWA today: overcoming the divisions which split the unity of the working class, building workplace power and strengthening the union, and electing a pro-worker government in November 2020.

At the 2019 CWA Convention in Las Vegas, CWA members from every sector and district came together to discuss and make decisions about the union's future and how to make CWA STRONG, held national and district elections, recognized locals for their organizing accomplishments, and much more.

In his keynote address, CWA President Chris Shelton outlined the three key challenges facing CWA today: overcoming the divisions which split the unity of the working class, building workplace power and strengthening the union, and electing a pro-worker government in November 2020.

Shelton urged CWA delegates "in the fierce urgency of now," to "stand with me to make the changes we need to strengthen our union, stand with me to take back the Congress, stand with me to take back 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, stand with me to take back America from the racists and the billionaires, and stand with me to build a country that gives every working person a shot at the dignity and decency they deserve."

Shelton also rebuked President Trump for trying to turn working people against each other with his racist taunts of Democratic congresswomen of color, and made it clear that CWA will take a strong stand against racism and hatred.

"When we allow ourselves to be divided, we become weaker just when we most need our united power to protect the working class," said Shelton. "Who is to blame then, for our stagnant wages, our vanishing jobs, and our crumbling communities? It's not other working people, no matter where they come from or how they got here. It's the billionaires, the banks, and the corporations, and their policies that crush the hopes of those struggling to realize the American dream. Our job is to focus our anger on the 1% and fight for our fair share of the wealth — not be diverted into fighting for crumbs amongst the 99%."

After Shelton's speech, many CWA delegates stood up and showed their support in front of the stage, carrying signs that said "CWA STRONG Against Racism," and "CWA STRONG for Justice."

Read Shelton's full remarks and watch a video of the speech here.

Above: CWA Convention Delegates showed their support for overcoming the divisions which split the unity of the working class during President Shelton's convention speech.

Below: At the 2019 CWA Convention in Las Vegas, CWA members from every sector and district came together to discuss and make decisions about the union's future and how to make CWA STRONG, held national and district elections, recognized locals for their organizing accomplishments, and much more.

In her speech to the 2019 CWA Convention on Monday, CWA Secretary-Treasurer Sara Steffens told delegates how the union has withstood anti-labor attacks including the Janus case, and emphasized that CWA must not only defend, but also must take advantage of the current opportunities to grow and flourish.

"We are in an unprecedented moment of opportunity," Steffens said. "Workers haven't been this mobilized in decades. Young people's support for unions has reached an all-time high – in fact, the fastest growing segment of our labor movement is workers younger than 35. More than two thirds of those ages 18-29 support unions. Let's not miss the moment. We need to go big and bold while we can. The future is ours to build. Let's leave this convention ready to tackle the hard work of making real change."

Read her full remarks here.

Left: CWA Secretary-Treasurer Sara Steffens emphasized in her speech to delegates that CWA must take advantage of current opportunities to grow and flourish.

Right: Delegates heard from Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak, who has been a champion for working people and for CWA members since being elected in 2018. Last month, when AT&T's lobbyists fought hard against the CWA-supported Nevada bill to protect call call center jobs and applied pressure on state legislators to try to weaken it, Sisolak helped keep the bill from being watered down and signed it into law.

Since the last CWA convention, CWA locals from around the country have brought in over 4,500 new members through external organizing campaigns. At the 2019 CWA Convention, locals received organizing awards in honor of their extraordinary work.

The Hat Award for outstanding achievements in organizing is named for CWA's founding president, Joe Beirne, and is CWA's highest honor. This year, CWA President Chris Shelton presented the Hat Award to the NewsGuild's Organizing Committee for their outstanding work in helping thousands of workers gain a union voice in the news industry, and to Tennessee United Campus Workers-CWA Local 3865 President Ed McDaniel, who has helped workers build a fighting union of more than 2,200 members working at every single public college campus across Tennessee.

Shelton presented a new organizing award this year, named "The Morton Bahr CWA STRONG Award" in honor of the former CWA President's vision, tenacity, and union building, to the presidents of New Jersey State Workers CWA Locals 1031, 1032, 1033, 1036, 1037, 1038, and 1040 for their tireless work fighting back against anti-union attacks and electing a strong CWA ally in Governor Phil Murphy. As he presented the award, Shelton noted how Morty always embraced mobilization and political action to secure the best for our members.

The following locals were honored for supporting more than 100 workers in gaining formal recognition for a voice at work: CWA Local 1101, New York, N.Y.; CWA Local 1103, Port Chester, N.Y.; CWA Local 1109, Brooklyn, N.Y.; TNG-CWA Local 31003, New York, N.Y.; TNG-CWA Local 31041, Providence, R.I.; NABET-CWA Local 51011, New York, N.Y.; TNG-CWA Local 32035, Washington, D.C.; CWA Local 3265, Athens, Ga.; TNG-CWA Local 34071, Chicago, Ill.; CWA Local 6171, Krum, Texas; and TNG-CWA Local 36047, St. Louis, Mo. More than 200 Locals have received this award at least once. Each local will receive a $1,000 organizing subsidy as well as a plaque for the current year. Locals who have won this award 5, 10, or 15 times will receive $5,000.

In addition to the organizing awards, locals were recognized for their support for CWA's Political Action Fund and for fund-raising on behalf of the Pediatric AIDS Foundation.

Congratulations to all the winners!

At the 2019 CWA Convention, locals received organizing awards in honor of their extraordinary work.