Thanksgiving is a time of reflection - on the blessings that surround us, on the needs of our family, our friends, and our communities, and on what the coming year might bring.

At this time last year, I could not have foreseen that I would become president of this great union. But from my very first day at Southwestern Bell, I have felt called to serve and the opportunity to ensure that our members are treated with respect on the job and that our retirees are treated with dignity is one of the great blessings of my life. As I have said many times, I know that this work is not mine alone. I could not do it without the support of my family and each and every one of you.

This year, in celebration of the spirit of Thanksgiving, we are recognizing charitable activities by locals from across our union. From Sacramento to Boston, CWA members and retirees have volunteered their time and energy in order to give back to their communities. I know that so many of you engage in similar work, whether it is with the union, with your faith community, or with other organizations, as do I. These efforts reflect the heart and soul of our union and the power of collective action to create a more just world.

I am proud to be your president and look forward to continuing to work with you to strengthen our union.

Workers at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette remain on strike after over a year. All of the locals of NewsGuild-CWA have stayed engaged in supporting the strikers, along with many other CWA locals, individual members and retirees. Their charitable contributions have symbolized the solidarity of CWAers. In addition to making strike fund donations, some locals have also adopted strikers, an arrangement that provides financial assistance directly to Pittsburgh strikers.

Please make a contribution to support the strikers this holiday season. Visit cwa.org/ppgholiday to learn how.

This year, in celebration of the spirit of Thanksgiving, we are recognizing charitable activities by locals from across our union. From Sacramento to Boston, CWA members and retirees have volunteered their time and energy in order to give back to their communities. We’d love to spotlight your local’s work: click here to tell us about your local’s community service efforts.

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The Local 3871 Women’s Committee in Bluff City, Tennessee, has been busy serving others this year. For Veterans Day, the Women’s Committee partnered with Carver Recreation and a local school in order to provide food, awards, and musical entertainment for their community. The Women’s Committee is proud to be continuing their partnership with the recreation center through Thanksgiving, as they work together to host a Community Dinner.

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In CWA District 4, members participate annually in collecting and donating food items to the United Methodist Church Food Pantry, located in McCordsville, Indiana. The program, under the direction of lifelong CWA activist Marge Phillips, has grown from feeding 20 local families to over 115 families weekly.

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In Kansas City, Missouri, CWA Local 6360 has partnered with the Salvation Army for over 20 years to host the Christmas Angel Tree program, coming together to provide gifts for children who might not otherwise receive them. Through their efforts, Local 6360 has become one of the largest donors in the area!

CWA Local 6327 members in Kansas City also participate in programs like the Angel Tree. Additionally, the local's members have worked with United Way, volunteered at shelters, and sponsored families to offer holiday meals..

In St. Louis, CWA Local 6300 members work together to run canned food drives, with worksites becoming drop-off locations for cans that are then delivered to shelters. Members of CWA Local 6215, out of Dallas, Texas, volunteer their time at homeless shelters.

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CWAers from CWA Local 9421, in Sacramento, California, also support children in their community during the holiday season. In partnership with Mike Crane, a manager with DIRECTV and proud veteran of the Marine Corps, members put on a toy drive for Toys for Tots. Through this effort, hundreds of toys are collected for Sacramento children in need.