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Organizing

Where to Begin

In District 7 every member, Local Officer, and Staff Representative plays a role in building power for working families. Building power through organizing is the key to our success in every aspect of the Union; from Political Action to Community Coalition building, contract negotiations to everyday grievance processing; organizing is the cornerstone of creating the leverage necessary to be successful as a Labor Movement.  

By organizing workers into CWA, we ensure our futures by adding to our collective strength in the workplace. Sounds simple enough, but we have many challenges to overcome when deciding to join together with each other for positive change. One of those challenges is employers who don’t want the balance of power to shift to workers. They will do everything in their power to keep employees feeling like they will take care of their every need, like they are one big happy family, and there is no good that can come from joining together with each other.  

Now ask yourself this question: If it were really such a bad idea for workers to organize, why would employers try so hard to keep their employees from it? 

The fact is that the only chance American working families have at a better way of life is to join together with each other. By joining together with your co-workers and CWA we will have the power to earn a living wage, have a safe secure working environment, and a chance at a comfortable happy retirement. Not to mention affordable healthcare.  

How Do I Join Together With My Co-Workers? 

Talk to each other! Think about how often you actually talk with your co-workers? Reason is because your boss wants it that way. If we talked to each other regularly we would discover that we all share the same concerns about our work. These common concerns are what Unions are all about. Through education and empowerment we provide the tools necessary for workers to take a stand at work and achieve real positive change. By building relationships with each other and our community we strive to create an atmosphere where all working people can provide a decent way of life for their families.  

The concerns about the workplace that are shared by employees are what we call “issues”. These issues are the driving force behind any organizing campaign. It is our job to identify the issues, agitate our co-workers around them, and make the connection between those issues and how forming a Union can help with those issues.  

Once issues are identified a committee of workers equal to 10% of the workforce must be formed in order to have one-on-one conversations with every worker to ascertain the level of support of forming a Union. This may take some time but this is the most crucial step in forming a Union. Without a group of workers committed to the organizing effort the Union will appear as “third party” or “outsiders”. Organizers can provide the tools, but workers must form their own Union in order to be successful.

Organize Your Workplace!

If you would like to find out more about how we can help you form a Union with CWA, contact a Local CWA Organizer in your area or contact the Denver District Office at (303) 770-2822. Or you can email District 7 Administrative Assistant to the Vice President, Kevin Mulligan at kmulligan@cwa-union.org. If you are a CWA Local and want to know how you can become involved in organizing contact your Staff Representative and they will give you all the information you need and connect you with an Organizing Coordinator.      

Organizing in the Public Sector 

Locals 7000, 7019, 7050, and 7077 in Arizona, and 7076 and 7911 in New Mexico are working together to identify opportunities to organize State and Local government entities. If you come across workers in the public sector with no voice on the job, please share your experience with CWA and encourage them to join with us to build power. In most cases your local municipality will have an ordinance, charter, or state law that provides organizing rights to Public Sector employees. To find out if your local municipality has such a law call Kevin Mulligan at the Denver District Office or email him at kmulligan@cwa-union.org. 

 Arizona State Employee Alliance (ASEA)

ASEA-CWA is an organization of Arizona State Workers in the Health Services Department and the Arizona School for the Deaf and Blind.  Currently there are about 500 members working to improve Arizona Government services and improve their standard of living. To learn more about ASEA visit http://www.cwa7019.org/ASEA CWA.htm

Airline Industry  

In February 2008 AFA-CWA asked the National Mediations Board of the Federal Government to conduct a representational election for the Flight Attendants at Delta Airlines.  Delta Flight Attendants have been working for 2 decades to obtain a voice on the job.  An election should be held this spring.  Delta Flight Attendants work all over the country.  One of the largest domiciles is Salt Lake City in District 7.  CWA District 7 Organizers will be working hard to help AFA and the Delta Flight Attendants win a voice on the job. 

Communication Industry

AT&T

AT&T Mobility (Formally Cingular) is the only unionized wireless company. At&t is a union friendly company that understands the value added when workers have an organization and a voice. In the last few years thousands of at&t Mobility workers have joined together with CWA for a voice on the job. 

If you work for at&t and you have not been contacted by a CWA Organizer send an email or call today.  All CWA members that have a chance to talk to AT&T workers please encourage them to Join us and get names and phone numbers.

Remember – AT&T Mobility  is the only unionized wireless company so switch to AT&T.

New Call Center in Davenport IA.   In December 2007 a brand new AT&T Mobility center opened in Davenport, IA.  Those workers are already hard at organizing to join the rest of AT&T in CWA.  If you would like more information about the Davenport organizing effort please contact Kay Pence at (515) 278-5551 or email: mpence@cwa-union.org.

AT&T  LNS center in Denver CO.  Last year the employees at the AT&T Local Network Services (LNS) center in Denver fell just short of obtaining the majority support needed to join CWA.  The union organizers in the center never stopped organizing for a voice.  This year they are very close to majority support in just one week of an effort to have the workforce sign a union card.  When the majority is on record as wanting a voice with CWA they will have the chance to negotiate on their collective interests. 

Although most Qwest employees are CWA members, there are over 3,000 in Qwest with no voice on the job.  Currently we are working with the technicians that build and maintain Qwest’s vast fiber optic network and the Engineering departments.  If you know Qwest workers that do not have a contract, encourage them to join us. 

The Latest Organizing News

July 2009

ATT Mobility and Print Workers in OH, MN and MD Join CWA

District 7 Organizing Coordinator Al Kogler reports that on July 1, 2009, the American Arbitration Association certified that 50%+ of the AT&T Mobility employees of the Minnesota Network Group indicated, through their Consent Membership cards, that they desire to become members of CWA and appoint CWA as their collective bargaining representative.

CWA Local 7250 President Shari Wojtowicz led the campaign along with help from AT&T workers Jon Spaude and Rich Curnow. The 26 network workers will join with the AT&T Mobility Retail workers who are already represented in CWA Local 7250.

CWAers Organize in Denver, New Jersey

Low wages, poor benefits and job security in a bad economy were major factors in the organizing victory by parking lot attendants at WallyPark, an airport parking lot near Denver International Airport. The workers also wanted a union so they would be treated with dignity and respect. More than 70 percent are immigrants and faced unfair treatment by their employer. Unity and a strong inside organizing committee made the difference in blocking a nasty anti-union campaign, and the vote for CWA representation was 32-11. Workers were supported by District 7 organizing coordinator Al Kogler and Local 7717 President, Tommy Costello.

In New Jersey, teachers with the Rankokas Valley Schools gained representation with CWA Local 1039 through majority sign up. The teachers, who teach night school classes for adults, were assisted by local staff representatives Lionel Leach, Cheryl Palermo and Serena Teel.

AT&T Mobility employees of the New Mexico Network Group, Arizona Network Group and Duluth, MN become CWA Members

District 7 Organizing Coordinator Al Kogler reports that on January 7, 2009, the American Arbitration Association certified that 50%+ of the AT&T Mobility employees of the New Mexico Network Group (5), Arizona Network Group (22) and Duluth, MN (formerly Dobson) Call Center (150) indicated, through their Consent Membership cards, that they desire to become members of CWA and appoint CWA as their collective bargaining representative.

CWA Local 7214 EVP Casey Cusick and President Terri Newman did a great job running the Duluth Campaign with support from CWA Staff Brenda Roberts. CWA Local 7050 President David Blackburn assisted with the AZ. and NM campaigns.

23 Budget Shuttle Bus Drivers at Denver International Airport, Voted for CWA Representation

CWA District 7 Organizing Coordinator Al Kogler reports that 23 Budget Shuttle Bus Drivers at Denver International Airport, voted 16 - 6 for CWA representation with one challenged ballot in an NLRB election on 12/30. The primary issues were dignity & respect, equity, and working conditions.

In spite of several Unfair Labor Practices committed by management, the Inside Organizing Committee held fast and prevailed led by Anibal Tegegne. This mostly immigrant unit also received support from an Avis group that voted for CWA in October, since Budget and Avis are owned by the same corporation.

The two units will join together in CWA Local 7717 in Boulder, CO, who assisted with the campaign. We encourage all of our union brothers and sisters to use the Avis/Budget Group when they travel to Denver.

Local 7906 Won Card Check Recognition for 39 Customer Service Representatives in the Former Edge Wireless Call Center in Bend, Oregon

CWA District 7 Organizing Coordinator Brenda Roberts reports that CWA Local 7906 won card check recognition for 39 Customer Service Representatives in the former Edge Wireless Call Center in Bend, Oregon.

Local 7906 President Ken Saether and Executive Vice President Craig Bullock, along with organizing committee members Margie Green, Sarah Grimes, Janine Lauderback and Zach Samuel signed 35 of the 39 members on representation authorization cards. The AAA certified the election on November 21st.

Congratulations to Local 7906 and their new members!

Denver Workers Join CWA

CWA District 7 Organizing Coordinator Al Kogler reports that Avis Rental Car Service Reps at Denver International Airport, voted 26 - 15 for CWA representation in an NLRB election today. In spite of intense anti-union campaigning by Avis management from as far away as Dallas, the Inside Organizing Committee held fast and prevailed.

This unit is made up primarily of immigrants from Africa, Indonesia and the Middle East, resulting in ballots being printed in five languages. Lead Committee Member Abraham Tadesse from Sudan was phenomenal in holding the unit together. The primary issues were dignity & respect, equity, and working conditions.

An Avis unit at Logan Airport that was organized by the IUE in 1982 also provided encouragement and support.

We encourage all of our union brothers and sisters to use Avis when they travel to Denver.

Public Safety Workers in Iowa and Arizona Join CWA

On Wednesday, May 7, CWA won an election for affiliation with the Woodbury (Iowa) County Sheriff's Department, Sioux City, Iowa and surrounding area.

The group is comprised of 39 Deputy Sheriffs and 100 civilian Corrections Officers. John Burpo, NCPSO, and Ken Mertes, CWA Local 7103 helped Staff Representative Midge Slater with this effort. The other choices on the ballot were FOP and no affiliation. we received all but one vote, which was cast for no affiliation.

In the last year Local 7077, AZCOPS, has organized 7 new units with the following numbers.

ADOT Peace Officers Assn. +34, Arizona Capitol Police Officers Assn. +48, Casa Grande Police Supervisors Assn +14, Maricopa Police Officers Assn. +28, Navajo County Probation Officers Assn. +16, Safford Police Officers Assn. +10, Yavapai County Lieutenants Assn. +8 for a total of 158 new members. This does not include the internal growth over the last year in Arizona Correctional Peace Officers Assn.1,000+, Arizona Probation Officers Association 100+, & Arizona Juvenile Corrections 100+.

Senator Kerry and other elected leaders talk to VZB techs about organizing and certify that a majority have signed up.

See the You-tube Video at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULxC44aFBnE .

 

  Qwest Engineer Organizing Page

 

For More information, please visit our National Organizing Web Site.

 

 


Copyright ©2009 Communications Workers of America - District 7
For problems or questions regarding this web contact
Rick Sorensen or Jay Lute
Last updated: July 01, 2009.