CWA District 9 members at Frontier Communications ratified a strong new contract last month. Members throughout the District mobilized in support of their bargaining team, demonstrating the unity and strength CWA is known for.

The new three-year contract includes wage increases, maintains medical benefits, and boosts job security. It also includes a structure for addressing the implementation of artificial intelligence tools, reduces outsourcing to contractors, and improves sick leave and work/life balance.

In a statement, CWA District 9 Vice President Frank Arce wrote, “I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to each and every member for your mobilization efforts. Your commitment and solidarity were crucial in achieving this milestone. Together, we have demonstrated that when we stand united and fight for our rights, we win!”

This win comes on the heels of a similar victory for Frontier members in CWA District 1.

In the wake of November’s elections, CWA members have been tapped for key positions on transition teams, offering a foundational role for labor voices in these new administrations.

In New York City, Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani has announced more than 400 appointments to 17 committees that will oversee his ambitious plans to improve the city. CWA District 1 Vice President Dennis Trainor has agreed to be a leading voice on the Committee on Worker Justice, helping shape policies impacting workers across the five boroughs. CWA represents New York City workers in both the public and private sectors.

“It’s a tremendous honor to serve as part of Mayor-Elect Mamdani’s transition team, in very good company alongside a strong cross section of leaders representing union workers throughout New York City,” said Trainor. “The new administration’s efforts to build a broad and inclusive transition team that highlights and lifts up the voices of working families is a testament to the Mayor-Elect’s commitment to working with us to help build a stronger city for unions and all workers!”

New Jersey’s Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill, who had wide-ranging support from labor groups including CWA, has appointed three CWAers as part of her transition team. In a move signaling a commitment to responsible governance and the value of public service expertise, the Governor-Elect has announced the appointment of CWA District 1 Area Director for New Jersey Tonya Hodges to the newly formed Fiscal Responsibility and Government Accountability Action Team. Her work has centered on fighting for working families, securing fair contracts, and advocating for the resources necessary to deliver quality public services.

“The members of CWA are the ones who build our infrastructure, staff our agencies, and provide the vital services New Jerseyans rely on every day,” said Hodges. “I look forward to bringing the voices and expertise of our members to this committee to help build a stronger, more equitable New Jersey for all.”

Sherrill has also named CWA District 1's New Jersey Political and Field Director Anna-Marta Visky and CWA Local 1036 President Adam Liebtag to the Transition Advisory Committee and Interdisciplinary Task Force, respectively. Sherrill’s full transition team includes political leaders from both sides of the aisle, as well as stakeholders from across the industry and nonprofit sectors.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, nurses have experienced increasing short-staffing that can leave them caring for an unsustainable number of patients, compromising patient care and worker safety. Nurses at Cayuga Medical Center (CMC) in Ithaca, N.Y., took steps last week to protect themselves and their patients by forming Cayuga United-CWA. The group of more than 350 nurses hoped to receive voluntary recognition of their union from hospital administration.

Those hopes proved short-lived, as, on December 8, members of Cayuga United-CWA were forced to file unfair labor practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) against CMC for holding a captive audience meeting in violation of federal labor law. During a mandatory meeting, a department director read a script of anti-union messaging that was purportedly prepared by the CMC legal department. Workers were reprimanded for speaking up to share their support for their union.

“By holding captive audience, anti-union meetings, Cayuga Medical Center has not respected the right of its nurses to freely organize,” said CWA District 1 Vice President Dennis Trainor. “CMC nurses are the heart of the Ithaca community and deserve to be treated with dignity and respect when they speak out to improve working conditions.”

Despite employer opposition, the nurses remain determined to win their union by NLRB election. Elected allies and community groups are rallying in support of their cause, including Assemblymember Anna Kelles and Ithaca Mayor Robert Cantelmo.

Nurses at Cayuga Medical Center in Ithaca, N.Y., celebrated the kickoff of their union, Cayuga United-CWA, last week. They have since had to file an unfair labor practice charge with the NLRB against hospital administration for subjecting them to a captive audience meeting.

Earlier this month, CWA Local 1180 members at the National Domestic Workers Alliance (NDWA) voted overwhelmingly to ratify a three-year contract that rescinds nine layoffs. The decision came after the unit demonstrated extraordinary unity through contract mobilization efforts.

In addition to saving nine jobs, the new contract protects raises, secures wage improvements and compensation updates that support greater equity across the bargaining unit, strengthens comp time, and improves disciplinary and performance processes. Members at NDWA prioritized protecting union rights and were able to establish new enforceable proportionality language that safeguards the long-term strength of the bargaining unit. Members also reduced NDWA’s proposed no-strike restrictions to the narrowest possible terms.

To achieve this contract, members built unity across the bargaining unit and had 95 percent participation in mobilization actions like a strike authorization vote. This solidarity sent a powerful message and brought NDWA back to the bargaining table, ultimately resulting in a much stronger agreement.

“NDWA workers’ dedication and collective strength made this agreement possible,” said CWA Local 1180 President Gloria Middleton. “This ratification is a powerful reminder of what we achieve when we stand together, and it is a strong start to the next chapter of our partnership with NDWA.”

NDWA is a labor rights organization dedicated to uplifting the rights of the 2.2 million domestic workers across the country who provide essential care work in homes and communities. NDWA and CWA Local 1180 look forward to continuing their shared mission of building power for domestic workers and maintaining a relationship grounded in responsibility, fairness, and mutual respect.

CWA members at Envoy Airlines kicked off negotiations for a new contract last month with their bargaining committee presenting several proposals to management.

CWA represents over 6,000 passenger service and ramp agents at Envoy Airlines, a wholly-owned subsidiary of American Airlines. Members are fighting for a strong contract that secures fair wages and healthcare benefits for part-time workers.

At Piedmont Airlines, after months of delays due to the federal government shutdown, CWA members are set to begin federal mediation with the company. Under the Railway Labor Act, which governs labor relations in the airline and railroad industries, mediation is a required step when negotiations between the union and the company are deadlocked over wages. This means members are not permitted to strike unless the National Mediation Board declares an impasse and formally releases both parties from mediation—a process that can take time. While the government shutdown delayed previously scheduled federal mediation dates, mediation is now scheduled for January 27-28 in Washington, D.C.

CWA remains committed to securing a fair contract at Piedmont Airlines. Agents and supporters have sent over 2,500 letters to Piedmont Airlines CEO Eric Morgan demanding the company bargain in good faith. It’s not too late to send your own message. On the congressional level, CWA worked with North Carolina Rep. Alma Adams on a bipartisan letter to Piedmont Airlines. The letter, in support of a fair contract for our members, has been signed by 81 members of Congress.

[Photo credit: Steve Mellon, TNG-CWA Local 38061]

When CWA members fight, we win. On the morning of November 24, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (PG) journalists successfully returned to their jobs after winning all of their demands in an historic three-year strike.

The Pittsburgh labor community gathered to welcome strikers back to work with a rally where they were joined by CWA District 2-13 Vice President Mike Davis, NewsGuild-CWA President Jon Schleuss, Starbucks Workers United, the United Steelworkers, and other union members, retirees, and supporters. The crowd celebrated and sang “Solidarity Forever” as the strikers walked inside to return to work.

The PG strikers won their case before the U.S. 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals. Unlike with the many previous rulings against the PG’s years-long union-busting campaign, the 3rd Circuit Court’s order is backed by enforcement powers that include the ability to have non-compliant owners and managers detained as well as daily multiplying fines.

Steve Mellon, TNG-CWA Local 38061 member and former striking photojournalist, shared his experience going back to work at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: "On our first morning back, we met with managers. We'd anticipated this meeting and prepared for it. Though I figured it would be tense, it wasn't. We got our questions answered, and with that, a lot of pent-up stress fell away really quickly."

Tutor Associates

CWA Local 1180 members at education company Tutor Associates ratified their first union contract last month after 776 days of bargaining. The contract includes wage increases, improved scheduling, better safety protocols, and management accountability measures. Members waged an impressive contract campaign, both at the bargaining table and through effective mobilization efforts.

Rainforest Action Network

Members of Rainforest Action Network Alliance for Workers (RAWR-CWA Local 9415) ratified their first contract in November, securing caregiver support, improved wages, conflict resolution language, and flexible work solutions. Members voted unanimously to accept the contract. Rainforest Action Network voluntarily recognized the union in August 2022.

L.A. Times

After three years of contentious negotiations, journalists at the L.A. Times, members of the Media Guild of the West (TNG-CWA Local 39213), voted overwhelmingly in favor of a new contract that locks in pay increases. The bargaining team was met with stiff opposition from management, which sought to roll back protections codified in the Guild’s first contract, ratified in 2019. Guild members beat back the company’s attempts to expand its ability to use non-union labor to perform newsroom job duties and weaken just cause protections in disciplinary investigations. To read more about this win, click here.

LNP/LancasterOnline and WITF

NewsGuild members at outlets LancasterOnline and WITF (represented by the NewsGuild of Greater Philadelphia-CWA Local 38010) overwhelmingly ratified their first union contract, securing major wins. The contract includes a vastly improved health plan, a minimum salary of $50,700 for full-time employees, pay raises, a signing bonus, 12 weeks of parental leave at 75 percent pay, and up to eight weeks of severance pay depending on time with the company.

Salt Lake Tribune

Members of the Salt Lake News Guild ratified their first contract, a first in the 155-year history of the Salt Lake Tribune. The two-year contract covers members at The Tribune, the Tribune-owned Times-Independent of Moab, and the Southern Utah Tribune. Members agreed to minimum annual salary limits, guaranteed cost-of-living raises, improved job security, and limits on the use of artificial intelligence in the creation of news content. Salt Lake News Guild members are part of the Denver News Guild (TNG-CWA 37074).

AFA-CWA Flight Attendants at PSA Airlines will hold a system-wide Day of Action on December 18 at multiple airports across the country. The AFA-CWA PSA Negotiating Committee has shown up month after month ready to negotiate a fair contract for our members, but management refuses to bargain in good faith. Join AFA-CWA PSA Flight Attendants on the picket line to help them pressure management to deliver a contract now. Click here to find a picket near you.