• Nomination Process for At-Large Diversity Board Positions
• Thousands Kick Off Mobilization for '08 Verizon Talks
• Democratic Presidential Candidates Promise Big Changes for Workers
• IUE-CWA Reaches Agreement with Delphi
• Vodacom Ends Lockout in South Africa, then Retaliates
• IN BRIEF:
  • Cohen to Question Dem Contenders in Iowa
  • GOP Candidates Unanimous: No Government Role in Health Care
  • Bloggers Discuss Unionization at YearlyKos Convention
     

Nomination Process for At-Large Diversity Board Positions

In line with last month's Convention action to create four at-large diversity seats on the Executive Board, CWA is inviting members to submit information for nominations for interim appointments to the posts. Nominations will be made by the National Women's Committee, Committee on Equity and Minority Caucus to the Board by Sept. 1, 2007.  At-large diversity members will be elected to three-year terms at the 2008 Convention.  The process (which also is posted at CWA's website, here) is as follows.

Nominations must include the following information:

1. Name
2. Local number
3. Current position in local
4. Gender
5. Ethnicity
6. District and Sector
7. Other qualifying characteristic (optional)
8. Committee you want nomination sent to: Women's Committee or Committee on Equity
9. Best way to contact you
10. Brief list of experience
    • (Years in local union leadership, experience with bargaining, politics, organizing and representation. Feel free to mention accomplishments. Candidates will likely have a lengthy and expansive list of accomplishments and experiences but it is only necessary to provide 1-2 paragraphs.)

The Executive Board will be guided in its interim appointments by the goals set forth in the Implementing Resolution: "This Convention has adopted the necessary amendments to the CWA Constitution to add four At-Large Diversity Executive Board Members to the CWA Executive Board with the goal of having at least three be people of color and at least two women."

Nominations can be sent with information listed above by e-mailing: easterling@cwa-union.org, faxing: 202-434-1481 or mailing to Barbara J. Easterling, CWA Secretary-Treasurer, 501 Third St. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20001.

The information will be forwarded to the appropriate committee.

Thousands Kick Off Mobilization for '08 Verizon Talks

"One Year 'til Expiration" demonstrations by CWA and IBEW members on August 2 succeeded in getting the message out that workers won't stand still for attacks on their jobs, health care and other benefits when contract talks for Verizon East workers open next year.  Thousands of activists turned out for bargaining mobilization events, held from Boston to Virginia and West Virginia.  And support even came from the West Coast where 125 CWA members in Upland, Calif., braved 95-degree heat in a solidarity rally for their Verizon East brothers and sisters.

Among the most powerful displays of worker solidarity came in the form of quiet shows of strength in the workplace. At Verizon business offices in Maryland, 2,000 CWA members from eight locals, all wearing red, rose in unison at 12 noon. "It was a powerful sight," said CWA Local 2100 President Steve Holland. "Hundreds of workers at each location stood in solidarity for one minute," he said. At a dozen garages and other outside work sites in the state and in Washington, D.C., technicians and splicers arrived at their work locations en masse and wearing red.

At the day's largest rally, held outside Verizon's soon to close New England headquarters in Boston, nearly 1,000 members of CWA and IBEW urged management to respect workers' organizing rights at Verizon Business. "All we want is the same job protections and organizing rights that core Verizon employees have," Verizon Business tech John Elia told demonstrators.

Senator Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) urged workers to keep up the pressure in a written message.  "Unions make the difference between an economy that's strong and fair, and an economy where working people are left behind. It's time for the company to respect [workers'] right to have a union," he said. The demonstrators, also concerned about preserving quality service and quality jobs in the region, used the event to launch a nationwide postcard campaign to oppose the Verizon's sale of its New England access lines to FairPoint Communications.

More than a 1,000 CWA members rallied in other locations. In Pennsylvania, hundreds rallied at Verizon business offices in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Harrisburg. In Richmond, Va., 300 gathered at Verizon's business office supported by a cadre of 100 Stewards Army activists, who passed out leaflets to core Verizon employees working at the location. In Fredericksburg and St. Petersburg, Va., dozens of CWAers conducted informational picketing at Verizon garages and storerooms. In Morgantown, W. Va., 100 CWA members were joined by students and faculty at West Virginia University in a march to Verizon's central office.

Democratic Presidential Candidates Promise Big Changes for Workers

AFA-CWA's Janette Rook was standing in line in front of the stage Tuesday night in withering Chicago heat at Soldier Field eager to ask her question when the clock ran out on the AFL-CIO's Democratic Presidential Forum.

But that didn't make her any less thrilled to be there. "What an incredible opportunity, so fantastic and exciting," Rook, the local council representative for Northwest Airlines members in Detroit, said the next morning.

A Northwest flight attendant for nine years, Rook was one of 25 workers the AFL-CIO selected to be in the front section for the event and one of 10 chosen to ask questions, if time permitted.

She knew her question by heart: "In 2005, Northwest filed for bankruptcy. Our pay and benefits were cut nearly 40 percent and our pensions were frozen. Meanwhile, our top executives received nearly $400 million in bonuses. How will you protect workers like me and stop companies from abusing corporate bankruptcy laws?" she planned to ask.

The workers who did get their 15 seconds in front of the candidates and crowd of 17,000 union members asked about health care, outsourcing, worker safety – noting this week's mine accident in Utah – and workers' freedom to form unions.  All of the candidates wore pins showing their support for the Employee Free Choice Act.

A retired Indiana steelworker in leg braces who lost his health care and much of his pension when his company went bankrupt brought the crowd to its feet after his voice broke at the microphone. "Every day of my life I sit at the kitchen table across from the woman who devoted 36 years of her life to my family and I can't afford to pay for her health care," Steve Skvara said. "What's wrong with America and what will you do to change it?"

A Los Angeles TV critic called it "real pain, on display" and MSNBC Hardball host Chris Matthews said in the post-debate analysis, "I wonder if that wasn't a moment that's going to change American political history."

Candidates took turns answering the workers' questions, and Skvara's went to former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards, who said pensions and health care for CEOs should be no different than that of workers. He and all the candidates called for universal health care.

The crowd at the Chicago Bears' football stadium for the debate included hundreds of CWA members, some of whom volunteered to help stage the event. In addition to Edwards, the event featured New York Sen. Hillary Clinton, Delaware Sen. Joe Biden, Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, Connecticut Sen. Christopher Dodd, Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson. MSNBC's Keith Olbermann served as moderator.

All the Democratic candidates have strong to exceptional track records on workers' rights issues. For now, neither CWA nor the AFL-CIO is making an endorsement.

The AFL-CIO Executive Council said in a statement Wednesday that, "It is clear that a number of the Democratic candidates have the experience and the credentials to lead our nation. And it is equally clear that our members support a number of the candidates - union members have told us all the candidates are impressive and they are eager to support many of them. For this reason, the AFL-CIO has decided not to proceed with a decision process that would lead to support for a single candidate at this time."

IUE-CWA Reaches Agreement with Delphi

IUE-CWA has reached a tentative four-year agreement with Delphi Corp. that provides an array of choices to help members best provide for themselves and their families as the Michigan-based auto parts supplier continues its struggle to emerge from bankruptcy, division President Jim Clark announced.

"We have provided significant and meaningful options for our members as they strive to survive this difficult period," said Clark. "Our local leaders who make up the national bargaining committee made the best out of what was a deplorable situation."

Members will be able to select from choices ranging from retirement options to buyouts to buy-downs that will provide lump sum payments in return for their agreement to accept lower salaries.

"These agreements strike a balance between allowing Delphi to win new business and our members to progress with their lives," said IUE-CWA Automotive Conference Board Chairman Willie Thorpe. "From temporary workers who have advancement prospects to senior members who can decide their future within the company, this contract delivers the best opportunities for our members under our current situation."

IUE-CWA is holding informational meetings this week to go over details of the agreement with members. The bargaining committee unanimously recommended ratification.

Delphi said early this week it had also reached agreements with the Machinists, IBEW and Operating Engineers, covering about 1,000 additional workers. Delphi was continuing to negotiate with the Steelworkers, who represent a smaller number of employees.

Progress in negotiations began soon after IUE-CWA notified Delphi on July 20 of its intention to terminate its contracts. That move could have led to a strike in October.

On Aug. 2, the bankruptcy court approved the investment by Appaloosa Management LP and others of $2.55 billion, which puts Delphi a step closer to emerging from bankruptcy.

The company plans to keep open at least three plants that employ IUE-CWA members.

Vodacom Ends Lockout in South Africa, then Retaliates

Just days after workers reached a settlement with Vodacom ending the South African wireless company's 5-week lockout, management has retaliated against union activists, suspending 13 workers when they returned to work on August 7.

CWA, the AFL-CIO and other unions around the world have been supporting the workers' struggle for union recognition at this subsidiary of telecom giant Vodafone, Verizon's partner at the anti-union Verizon Wireless.

According to the Communications Workers Union (CWU), "The assault on workers seems carefully orchestrated to show other workers a vicious response to union activity," the CWU stated in a Aug. 8 report on its campaign blog, which can be found by clicking here. Management so far has refused to meet with the union in apparent violation of the Aug. 2 settlement agreement.

The settlement includes several improvements that should help the workers continue to build their union, including expanded access for union organizers to Vodacom facilities, the right to appeal disciplinary actions to an outside government authority, and a procedure to collect and process union dues for workers joining the union. Earlier, the lack of such a procedure allowed management to claim the CWU did not have the required 30 percent support to win union recognition, support which the company continues to dispute.

Vodacom has unilaterally boosted wages between 2 percent and 15 percent and improved other benefits and conditions for the 3,700 workers – improvements that the workers realize was a direct result of their organizing activity and their strike, which turned into a lockout, according to David Alvarado of the AFL-CIO's Solidarity Center, who is stationed in South Africa.

CWA and IBEW recently donated $10,000 to CWU for legal and other assistance for the workers.  "Clearly, the courage of these workers in taking a stand, along with global union support, is making an impact, but management's suspensions of 13 activists shows that they are still struggling against a union-busting mindset at Vodafone," said CWA President Larry Cohen.  "We'll continue to stand with them."

IN BRIEF:

• CWA President Larry Cohen will take CWA members' top issues to the Democratic candidates at a forum in Waterloo, Iowa on Aug. 15.

Cohen, AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Richard Trumka, and Iowa AFL-CIO Executive Vice President Jan Laue will ask six leading Democratic contenders for specifics as to how they will restore bargaining and organizing rights, and address health care, trade and jobs during the three-hour forum sponsored by the Iowa AFL-CIO.

• Whatever the differences between the Democratic presidential candidates, all of them are talking seriously about some form of universal health care. The 10 Republicans running? Not even kids in need of medical care tug at their heart strings.

Every one of the Republicans said in a Sunday morning debate Aug. 5 that they oppose expanding the State Children's Health Insurance Program, as the Senate recently voted to do. The AFL-CIO said the candidates "spent nearly all of their (debate) time advocating a smaller federal role, leaving coverage to the market and to private insurers."

While they had varying approaches, their bottom line was that it's not the government's problem. "It's not the responsibility of the federal government," said Colorado Rep. Tom Tancredo. "It's unhealthy to have a government health care plan in America."

The irony, given that he and the other members of Congress have the best government health plan ever imagined, apparently was lost on him.
 

• There's a new group of impassioned, energetic workers talking about organizing a union. The workers are bloggers.

No one's clear on how one goes about organizing such a fiercely independent group or who would be included, but among bloggers on the left of the political spectrum there's interest. Some bloggers interviewed for a recent Associated Press story said a union or coalition of some sort could help them get health insurance discounts, fight for press credentials or set guidelines for advertising on blog pages.

The pool of potential members is huge. The AP reports, "With pages focused on everything from bird watching to celebrity footwear, more than 120,000 blogs are created every day and more than 58,000 new posts are made each hour."

A panel discussion titled, "A Union for Bloggers: It's Time to Organize" was held at last week's blogger convention, YearlyKos, in Chicago. Participant Kristen Burgard said, "I sure would like to have that union bug on my website."