With a population of just under seven thousand people, Boonville, Ind., may not seem like a likely tech hub. However, thanks to broadband investment allocated under the Biden Administration’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), more than half of the residents and businesses of Boonville are now connected to the internet via high-speed fiber optic cable.

“Everyone here was stuck using dial-up,” said CWA Local 4700 President Dave Reddick. “This fiber optic cable is a lifeline for students, business owners, and local government agencies. This will allow people in rural communities to be able to run their lives, families, and businesses staying up to date with the rest of the world.”

Reddick went on to say that many CWA members have done work connecting fiber optic cable from public infrastructure to homes and businesses. Other CWA workers have been employed by the internet providers in call centers to handle the demand, which has been high.

“The numbers might not be huge like some cities,” said Reddick, “but, percentage-wise, this might be the most wired town in the country.”

CWA Local 4700 plans to continue the optimization of Boonville and other towns in the area.

Members of IUE-CWA Local 81201 working at General Electric rallied last week to protest their employer’s plan to send their manufacturing jobs to India. The workers asked long-time champion of worker rights U.S. Representative Seth Moulton (D-Mass.) to help secure their jobs here in the U.S. The Lynn, Mass., members have been building the F414 jet engines for years, but this deal, according to IUE-CWA Local 81201 President Adam Kaszynski, would allow India “the full, complete transfer of technology, everything from the component manufacturing to the assembly and test of the F414 engine, for their military.”

IUE-CWA Local 81201 Vice President Jeff Cruz said, “Take into account the impact that it’s going to have on that community and the impact that this has on U.S. manufacturing and the national security of the United States.”

For more information, follow IUE-CWA Local 81201 on Facebook.

Indianapolis News Guild Wins Greater Labor Protections in New Contract

Last week, members of the Indianapolis News Guild (TNG-CWA Local 34070), which represents journalists and photographers with the Indianapolis Star newspaper, reached an agreement with parent company Gannet. The deal, which took three years of negotiations, will raise base salaries and includes annual across-the-board pay increases. The bargaining team also negotiated guidelines for the use of artificial intelligence as well as commitments from the company for diversity, equity, and inclusion.

“The biggest win is our economics package, which will benefit every member of our bargaining unit," said veteran photographer and TNG-CWA Local 34070 President Jenna Watson.

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Arizona Republic Workers Ratify New Contract

After four years of negotiations, members of the Arizona Republic Guild (TNG-CWA Local 39213) are celebrating a victory. Last week, members ratified a contract with parent company Gannet, which will result in higher wages and secure retirement and health benefits for staff. This win comes after deep cuts to staffing, which left workers in fear for their jobs.

Meow Wolf Worker Collective

The Meow Wolf Workers Collective (CWA Local 7055) continues to grow as a result of collaborative organizing efforts between CWA Districts 6 and 7. The new members from Production and Engineering and Security in Santa Fe, N.M., and Operations and Security in Dallas, Texas, join artists and production workers in Santa Fe.; Denver, Colo.; and Las Vegas, Nev., to bring the total membership of CWA Local 7055 to nearly 700 workers

Meow Wolf is an immersive arts and entertainment company that was founded as an artist collective. The workers view their union as a collaborative force that holds the now-corporate Meow Wolf true to its progressive roots as a collective dedicated to making radical art. Together, the workers and artists of the Meow Wolf Workers Collective are working to make Meow Wolf a beacon for working creatives around the world.

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More Organizing News

Over the past month, workers at Liberty City 911 Dispatch joined CWA Local 6360 and workers at BallotReady joined CWA Local 1101.