John,

I hope your holidays were happy and restful. Last year was an historic one for our union and for the labor movement as a whole, with a surge in strike activity, landmark bargaining agreements, and continued enthusiasm for union organizing. CWA-represented passenger service agents at American Airlines closed out the year with a hard-won new collective bargaining agreement, which guarantees industry-leading wage increases and job security for members. I am pleased to report that our members voted overwhelmingly to ratify the new contract.

At our convention last year, I promised that I would bring our entire union together to support each other’s bargaining fights, which is exactly what we did at American Airlines. I expect all of you to continue to show up for each other in 2024, as we continue to fight for striking CWA members at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and for retiree healthcare at Avaya, as well as for fair contracts for AFA-CWA Flight attendants at United and Alaska Airlines. The recent door plug blowout on Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 and collision involving a Japan Airlines plane in Tokyo underscore the fact that Flight Attendants are first responders and our lives depend on them every time we fly.

None of this work is possible without your dedication, your ingenuity and your creativity. We have to come together as a single union, one where we stand up for one another. No more “my fight.” From here on, it’s “our fight.”

And there are even more fights on the horizon.

Through our bargaining and our organizing we will be addressing some of the biggest issues that working people face, including the threats posed by A.I. and climate change. I know that by joining together we can ensure that even more jobs in our changing economy are union jobs, with family-supporting wages, good benefits, strong health and safety protections, and guardrails to ensure that new technology is deployed in an ethical manner.

The most important battle for the future of our union and our country will be the electoral battle leading up to November 5. The lines have been drawn. On one side are those who want unlimited power and control. They are fighting to ban books and history. They fight measures that would make our children safer in school and workers safer on the job. They want you ignorant, saddled with debt, and in constant fear of losing your job so you will work for less. On the other side is our union family. We represent a future where all working people can pursue their dreams, provide for their families, and enjoy the promises of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Every generation has their fight and this one is ours.

That future will be as bright as we make it. This year I will continue visiting your workplaces to listen to your issues, and I will speak to any group that will have me to advocate for the life-changing benefits union membership provides. But I can’t do it alone. The victories waiting for us come with hard work and our ability to put unity first. We must not just be vocal about our work and our wins, we must be seen and heard, showing up for one another. One union, one goal.

The future we all want, one with good jobs, dignity, and respect, comes when we put aside differences and recognize the old adage, “An attack on one, is an attack on us all.” Likewise, a victory for one should be a victory for us all. This year, I plan to celebrate our victories, collaborate on our fights, and bring the full power of our union to bear getting us the wins we need.

I wake up every day committed to fighting for you and building the future our children and grandchildren deserve.

Thank you for your hard work and dedication. Thank you for all you’ve done and, I know, all you are about to do. We are mighty when we are united and, together, nothing can stop us.

In Unity,

Claude Cummings Jr.
President