NEWSLETTER
September 1, 2022
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CWA Exposes Frontier Communications’ Dangerous Use of Subcontractors in New Ad Campaign
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CWA has launched an advertising campaign exposing Frontier Communications’ increasing and dangerous use of subcontracting companies to perform critical broadband infrastructure work. Frontier management’s aggressive attempt to displace its union workers and squeeze out good union jobs following the company’s emergence from bankruptcy in April 2021 is resulting in damage to communities amid botched rollouts. The ads are running on local television, radio, and digital platforms in Connecticut, California, and Texas
CWA members fought tirelessly to secure conditions around Frontier’s emergence from bankruptcy that would protect union jobs and commit Frontier to capital investments and fiber deployment in overburdened and underserved communities, but Frontier has not lived up to its commitments.
The campaign was announced at a press conference last Thursday attended by CWA members, leaders, elected representatives and other supporters in Hartford, Connecticut, Frontier’s home state of operations. Watch the ads and read more here.
CWA’s launched an advertising campaign exposing Frontier Communications’ increasing and dangerous use of subcontracting companies at a press conference last Thursday attended by CWA members, leaders, elected representatives, and other supporters in Hartford, Connecticut, Frontier’s home state of operations.
Organizing Update
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Verizon Wireless
A majority of workers at Verizon Express in Portland, Oregon, have voted for union representation with CWA in an official National Labor Relations Board election. The Portland workers, who were inspired by the groundbreaking union win in Everett and Lynnwood, Wash., are the first Verizon Express store workers in the country to win formal union representation. Despite Verizon’s attempts to squash organizing efforts, workers remained united and overcame the telecom giant's anti-union tactics. With their newly formed union and a voice on the job, Verizon Express workers are preparing to bargain for fair compensation, comprehensive health benefits, wage increases, appropriate staffing levels, and safe working conditions. The workers in Portland join a growing movement of Verizon retail workers who are organizing across the country.
Google/BDS Connected Solutions LLC
Matt Beck, member of Alphabet Workers Union-CWA Local 1400 and a worker at Google Fiber contractor BDS Connected Solutions LLC, won a settlement with the company after filing an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board. Beck was eligible for a four percent raise in May 2022. When the raise was not given, management told Matt that union members were no longer eligible for raises. The charge was filed in response and last week Beck won a settlement to receive the raise and missed backpay.
Beck works at the Google Fiber location in Kansas City, Mo., where a majority of the workers voted to form a union with AWU-CWA in March 2022, becoming AWU-CWA’s first recognized bargaining unit. Since then, the workers have been meeting with management to secure their first union contract.
American Red Cross
Last week, workers at the American Red Cross (ARC) at four Virginia locations in Blacksburg, Lynchburg, Salem, and Roanoke voted to join CWA Local 2204. The workers who work as Collections Specialists at ARC were able to conduct a successful election due to the labor neutrality language CWA members at Red Cross had negotiated in their contract.
Orchard Park Veterinary Medical Center
Over 30 workers at the Orchard Park Veterinary Medical Center, who recently voted to join CWA Local 1168, held a rally last week after the employer fired several pro-union workers for unjust causes. The workers took this action to send a clear message to management that union busting is unacceptable and that they will not be intimidated or back down from organizing. Members from CWA Local 1122 and the Kaleida Health bargaining committee, composed of members from CWA Local 1168 and 1199SEIU, as well as members from Starbucks Workers United and other supporters also joined the rally in solidarity with the workers.
Bargaining Update
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Restaurant Opportunities Center
Members of Restaurant Opportunities Center (ROC) United, part of the NewsGuild of Greater Philadelphia (TNG-CWA Local 38010), voted unanimously to ratify a new contract last week. Highlights from the new contract include higher minimum starting salaries, wage increases, additional paid time off, additional paid holidays, and flex time. ROC United includes organizers in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Detroit, Minneapolis, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, New Orleans, Oakland, Mississippi, Washington D.C. and Washington state.
Worker Power Update
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CWAers in Georgia Building Political Power
Last week, CWA District 3 activists from Georgia came together for an in-person political bootcamp training. Over the two-day training, participants learned about the decades-long strategic campaign corporations have engaged in to undermine workers’ rights, and worked on building critical skills including member-to-member organizing, volunteer recruitment, creating organizing plans, and much more. Attendees also discussed how to strengthen the CWA Political Action Fund (PAF) and discussed CWA's national legislative efforts to fight for pro-worker legislation, as well as CWA’s field mobilization for upcoming elections.
CWA Members in Tennessee Fight Against So-Called “Right to Work” Amendment
In a new video released by the Tennessee Democratic Party, Yolanda Cunningham, member of CWA Local 3808 and CWA Tennessee Legislative and Political Director, spoke out against a constitutional amendment that will enshrine so-called "right to work" laws into the state’s constitution and urged voters to vote NO in the upcoming election. CWA members in Tennessee in coalition with other union members, activists, and community groups have been actively mobilizing to defeat this amendment. Right to work laws force unions to advocate on behalf of workers who haven’t paid their fair share in dues. They are part of the ongoing attempt by big corporations and their political allies to drive down wages and benefits by weakening the power of union workers.
CWA Member Touts the Benefits of the Affordable Connectivity Program
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Last Thursday, Kwami Barnes, President of CWA Local 4603, participated in a press conference hosted by CWA, For Our Future - Wisconsin, and Opportunity Wisconsin to discuss the benefits of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), a part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that increases high speed internet access and affordability. Barnes, who has worked as service representative at AT&T for over 20 years, shared the fact that he was able to safely work from home during the pandemic because he had access to high speed internet and emphasized that the ACP will allow so many members of the community to do the same by addressing the lack of affordable high speed quality internet service. “CWA is committed to making sure that every American household has access to affordable reliable high speed internet service to be able to live and thrive in today’s changing world. We believe that digital inclusion is imperative,” said Barnes.
CWA Public Workers in New Jersey Fight for Inclusion in Telework Program
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Workers at the Department of Children and Families (DCF) in Trenton, N.J., members of CWA Locals 1037 and 1038, held a picket outside the DCF central office during a grievance hearing to demand the inclusion of clerical staff in the telework pilot program. Currently, the pilot program excludes 300 clerical staff who have an average of 16 years of service and are disproportionately women and people of color. In July, the workers delivered over 1,400 letters to Commissioner Christine Norbut Beyer urging the state to expand the program to the clerical workers who have already proven that they can effectively carry out their duties while teleworking during the pandemic.
CWA Delegation Attends Virginia AFL-CIO Convention
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A delegation of CWA members attended the Virginia AFL-CIO convention earlier this month and met with AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler. During the convention, several CWA members were elected to the Virginia AFL-CIO Executive Board, including Chuck Simpson, CWA Local 2204, as Vice President of the Western Region; Audrey Collins, CWA Local 2205, as Vice President of the Eastern Region; Kerri Ross, CWA Local 2201, as Vice President of the Central Region, and Doris Crouse-Mays, CWA Local 32035, re-elected as President.
Tragic Accident Takes Life of CWA Member
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CWA mourns the loss of Joshua Schulze, member of CWA Local 6171 and Customer Zone Technician for Frontier Communications, who died from electrical shock while performing his job last Wednesday. Josh lived in Brownwood, Texas and is survived by his wife and three young children. A donation page has been set up to help support his family.
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