With
the theme of "Ignited and United", the 2010 CWA
District 7 Conference was held in Phoenix,
Arizona May 2-5. Delegates and guests from all
over District 7’s 14 state areas were present to
represent their members and increase their
knowledge of union programs. Attendees heard
inspiring words from D-7 Vice President Mary
Taylor, CWA Vice President of Communications &
Technologies Ralph Maly, and CWA Executive Vice
President Annie Hill. Conference attendees also
heard presentations on NLRB Law and Internal
Organizing.
Bargaining unit meetings for Dex, AT&T, Public
Healthcare and Education Workers, AT&T Mobility
and Qwest were held as well as workshops on
Ready For the Future, Situational Leadership,
Grievance Handling, and an LPAT Training. On
Monday, many conference participants also
attended a rally at the Arizona Capitol, and
dinner at the beautiful Desert Botanical
Gardens.
AK/jl
opeiu3, afl-cio
Please click the links below to see pictures
taken at the District 7 Conference
Attached is a Video from KVI News, Located in
Pocatello, ID., concerning National
Observance
of Worker's Memorial Day, the day to commemorate
workers who have died while working on the job.
After
two years of effort the CWA was able to pass legislation in
Washington State aimed at increasing both access and
adoption of broadband. The 2009
Washington State legislature passed broadband legislation HB
1701 with a focuses on access and adoption barriers.
Technology Committee chairman, Representative McCoy,
designated long time CWA member Representative Zack Hudgins
as legislative lead on all broadband legislation.
Representative Hudgins introduced four bills: HB
1699 High-speed internet adoption, HB 1698 Broadband
adoption, HB 1700 High-speed internet infrastructure, and HB
1701 which was redrafted to include the most significant
components ofthe previous
bills. Senator Jeanne Kohl-Wells,
our Senate champion, worked with Representative Hudgins and
other legislators and introduced SB 5916 and SB 5917 which
were companion bills to those introduced in the House, and
combined into HB1701 to produce the final bill. HB1701
can be read in its entirety at:
After many public
hearings, amendments, and stakeholder group meetings, HB
1701 was rewritten to include the consensus of most
stakeholders. The Department of Information Services is
tasked with implementing the legislation. The new law
accomplishes the following:
Creates a Washington State data collection and
mapping initiative.
Establishes Community Technology Opportunity
Programs.
Reestablishes the high-speed internet workgroup,
renamed Advisory Council on Digital Inclusion,
to oversee the expansion of broadband in
Washington.
Designates an agency as an entity for
application purpose of the broadband data
improvement act P.L. 110-385
Designates a state agency to implement broadband
policy and services
The legislation was
drafted, in part, so that the state could capitalize on the
approximately $7.2 billion in the ARRA earmarked for
broadband initiatives. With the Governor’s signature on May
15th 2009 the CWA has taken another step forward to ensure
job security for CWA members and enhance the lives of
Washington residents through broadband access and literacy
programs.
Last
month, the Arizona
State Employees Association held
it's Third Annual Lobby
Day. This lobby was to let people know that we
deserve meaningful pay raises and need to
improve our jobs and
working conditions.
Attached are two video links
(part one and two) and a link of pictures.
(Presented by: Kevin
Mulligan, Administrative Director, CWA District
7)
To all Locals:
CWA
is one of many unions leading the fight for the Employee
Free Choice Act. Below are links to see current TV
commercials supporting the Act. Please share them widely.
While your at it, commercials alone will not pass this bill.
Perhaps by sharing these videos, you can convince members to
write a personal letter to their House Rep and Senators in
Congress. I have attached a letter writing kit to help you.
Please forward copies of your members' letters to me at the
Denver District Office.
Here is a link to one of the new television ads that will
begin running on cable networks nationally as of this
Sunday.
Another new ad, focusing on corporate greed will be released
in another week or so, and we will send you that link when
it is ready.
Below, please find a link to all of the television ads that
the AFL/CIO has run so far, in part due to the generous
contributions and fund-raising undertaken by many State
Federations, Area and Central Labor Councils. Please get
involved with your local AFL/CIO.
CWA Local 7774 Reaches
New Three-Year Agreement
with Hospital
Cooperative Laundry
(Submitted by
Brenda Roberts, CWA
Representative)
CWA
Local 7774 reached a new
3-year agreement with
Hospital Cooperative
Laundry. The new
contract covers about
110 workers.
The
CWA bargaining
committee, President
Mary Ann Vegas, Steward
Irma Dominguez and Staff
Rep Brenda Roberts,
negotiated a new
agreement that included
a 3.5% wage increase in
the 1st year, a 3.3%
wage increase in the 2nd
year and a 2.8% wage
increase in the 3rd
year.
Additional highlights of
the new agreement
include an additional
holiday, daily overtime,
a $1.00 per hour Sunday
differential, and the
50% 401(k) match went
from 4% to 6% of gross
pay. Members will vote
to ratify the contract
on August 7th.
Final
Bargaining
Report, AC
Lightning Inc.
(Submitted by
Jay Boyle, CWA
Representative)
Today we came to
agreement on a 1 year
initial contract for the
employees at AC
Lightning Inc.
This group was provided
voluntary recognition by
the employer.
Highlights are:
6% wage increase
Health Care Paid at a
50/50 split premium (One
reason for a 1 year
contract)
Paid Travel Time
Grievance and
Arbitration Process
401(k) Funding
Per diem
Improved Vacation
Benefit
Prevailing Wage Language
Layoff/Recall by
Seniority
Bargaining Team Members
were:
Andrew Crafton, Member
of the Bargaining Unit
Corky Cammarata,
President Local 7400
Jay Boyle, Chair
CWA
Local 7774 reached a new
3-year agreement with
Hospital Cooperative
Laundry. The new
contract covers about
110 workers. 
