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April 9, 2009
Labor Leaders Form National Labor Coordinating CommitteeOrganizations representing 16 million working people -- affiliates of the AFL-CIO and Change to Win and the National Education Association -- have come together to create a new National Labor Coordinating Committee to act nationally on critical issues facing working families. "Recognizing the historic moment we face, the American labor movement must unify to restore the American dream for working families," said David Bonior, the facilitator of the unification effort. Bonior serves as chair of American Rights at Work. The Committee will work on some of the biggest challenges confronting our nation, including the reform of our labor laws, the renewal of our economy and the passage of national health reform. "The Committee pledged to complete its consultations among affiliates and other work on unification plans over the coming months. A unified labor movement is the way to ensure that the vast majority of Americans who want a union are able to join one," Bonior said. CWA President Larry Cohen has been the leading advocate of the reunification effort and has worked for several years to bring about a united labor movement. The members of the National Labor Coordinating Committee are the Presidents of AFL-CIO, Change To Win, and these unions: National Education Association Members Mobilize Nationwide as AT&T Bargaining Continues
In the days since their contracts expired last weekend, CWA members at AT&T have stepped up a busy schedule of rallies and actions. From leafleting outside the NCAA basketball finals and opening day of Major League Baseball games to demonstrations outside AT&T offices and even more standups and taps inside AT&T operations, CWA members sent management a clear message: we want a fair contract. Five of the six contracts between CWA and AT&T expired April 4. The contract covering workers at AT&T Southeast expires Aug. 8 and bargaining will resume in July.
For now, employees are continuing to report to work, but that could change at any time. Members are working under the terms of the expired contracts, with the exception of arbitration for new grievances. Negotiations covering nearly 100,000 AT&T workers covered by five contracts are continuing, but CWA has called on the company to step up the pace of negotiations. AT&T has been dragging its feet and has not moved forward on critical issues for workers, including employment security and health care. In just four days, an Internet campaign and e-support from CWA activists have resulted in more than 20,000 signers to a statement of support protesting corporate greed and calling on AT&T not to cut middle class jobs and benefits. CWAers are signing up friends, family and co-workers to make sure AT&T gets the message, said CWA Executive Vice President Annie Hill. Go to www.standupforworkers.com or click on the ads when you see them on news, political and entertainment sites.
In Detroit, hundreds of CWA members from Michigan, Ohio and Indiana turned out for rallies and leafleting over the past week outside Ford Field, where the AT&T-sponsored NCAA basketball finals were played. Signs called out AT&T for corporate greed and pointed out that the company's comparisons to the auto industry just don't hold up.
In San Francisco, District 9 members turned out in force for the Giants opening ballgame April 7. Rain washed out plans by the CWA "Steward's Navy" on the waterfront, "but the landlubbers had a great time," said Libby Sayre, the district's area director for northern California. "More than 60 soggy activists from 9410, 9415, 9412, 9423, 9421, and 9404 and NABET kept spirits high with signs and chants. We distributed several hundred fliers to Giants fans with "Go Giants" or the opening day roster on one side and a CWA flier on the other." CWA Local 4900 turned Local 6222's solidarity song into hip-hop music and used it for a mobilization video. Watch it on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VurUJAusLeo&feature=email. Updates on bargaining, more photos and other information are available at www.cwa-union.org/att. Union-Community Coalition in Lynn, Mass, Protests Bank Abuses
Sixty IUE-CWA members were among several hundred union activists and supporters in Lynn, Mass., who protested Bank of America's numerous home foreclosures and its anti-union campaign, all while taking taxpayers' bailout money. Bank of America got $45 billion in bailout funds but that hasn't stopped it from lobbying against the Employee Free Choice Act, said IUE-CWA Local 81201 President Jeff Crosby. At the rally, Crosby rejected the claims of Bank of America and other corporate opponents of Employee Free Choice that now is a "bad time" to pass the bill. "They say it's a bad time to encourage unions because of the economy," Crosby said. "Well when we passed the National Labor Relations Act in 1935 it was the middle of the Great Depression. Unemployment was over 20 percent, three times what it is today. And unions helped us build good jobs that sustained the economy for the next 40 years. Unions are the solution, not the problem." Roger Moreau, chief steward at the Lynn Waste Water Treatment plant, described the trouble he and his coworkers had organizing a union with their employer fighting them every step of the way. "They fired two people," Moreau said. "It took us three years to fight through the lies and intimidation. Since we finally won a union through Local 81201, we have started a pension, we made decent wages, we have job security. We are part of the community here and we can contribute. We need a fair and safe way to form unions." Local 3570 President Runs for Mayor in Jackson, Misss.
Brenda Scott, president of CWA Local 3570, is running for mayor of Jackson, Miss., a city and state where she has successfully organized more than 3,000 members against some of the toughest odds in the country. "Brenda has done this in a state where there are no collective bargaining laws for public workers and no legal right for dues check-off for public workers," said Beverly Hicks, CWA District 3 Vice President. "She has been successful over the years against all odds, and CWA is proud that the Mississippi labor movement has joined us in supporting her." Scott has been endorsed by Mississippi's AFL-CIO and many religious and community organizations and is one of 16 people running in the May 5 primary election. The general election is June. 2. Locals and individuals who want to help support her campaign can go to www.brendascott4mayor.com. Contributions may be mailed to Scott's campaign at P.O. Box 1765, Jackson MS 39215. New Ad Exposes Greed of Companies Fighting Employee Free ChoiceAs thousands of union activists are using the Congressional recess to talk to lawmakers about the Employee Free Choice Act, a new TV ad hit national airwaves Thursday exposing the true motive – greed -- of those spending millions to try to defeat the bill. The hard-hitting ad calls out corporations, many of which have received billions of dollars in taxpayer-funded bailouts at the same time they are fighting organizing and bargaining rights for workers. "The public and lawmakers alike need to know that the special interests opposing the Employee Free Choice Act are the same ones that caused this economic meltdown," said Mary Beth Maxwell, executive director for American Rights at Work. "This new ad sends a resolute message that now is the time to help workers bargain for a better life." "Greed" and another ad, "Fabric of America," can be viewed at www.freechoiceact.org. While Congress is in spring recess until April 17, activities underway nationwide include rallies, leafleting, lobbying, town hall meetings, moving billboards featuring huge photos of workers, community forums, vigils, call-in days, and more. CWAers, workers struggling to organize, students, elected officials, civil rights leaders and others are participating. Retired Dist. 2 VP Peter Catucci, 60, Succumbs After Valiant Fight
Retired District 2 Vice President Peter G. Catucci, who spent a lifetime fighting for working families, died April 3 after battling ALS disease for more than two years. Catucci, 60, was CWA's longest-serving district vice president, having won election to the post at CWA's 48th Convention in 1986. About a month ago, Catucci and CWA President Larry Cohen were in attendance at the White House as President Barack Obama signed an executive order that removed restrictions on responsible scientific research and federal funding for embryonic stem cell research. Since stepping down as a CWA leader in 2008, Catucci had been a tireless fighter to restore the funds. "Pete's service to our union is legend," said CWA President Larry Cohen. "He helped lead many of the positive changes we made in recent years, including CWA's groundbreaking 'Ready for the Future' restructuring," Cohen said, adding "Pete's beloved District 2 was his constant focus beyond his family." District 2 Vice President Ron Collins, a long-time friend and colleague, praised Catucci's "incomparable fighting spirit during his years of service to his union and in finding a cure for those suffering from ALS." Catucci's commitment to working men and women began in 1968 when he joined CWA Local 2336 after going to work at C & P Telephone, now Verizon. Catucci served as steward, strike captain and executive vice president before being elected local president in 1976. As president, Catucci lead the local through tough rounds of bargaining. Elected District 2 Vice President in 1986, Catucci's leadership and dedication to organizing helped bring CWA representation to thousands of workers in sectors including airlines, health care, public service, printing, news media, broadcast, cable TV, higher education and law enforcement. Despite his February 2007 diagnosis of ALS, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, Catucci continued to devote time and energy over the next two years to pressing for an end to restrictions on the federal funding of embryonic stem cell research. Catucci retired at the CWA Convention in June 2008. He told delegates that he would continue to keep up the fight for stem cell research and for the Employee Free Choice Act, which he called "stem cell research for the labor movement." Catucci is survived by his wife, Terry; Children, Nick, Traci and Francesca. The family has asked that donations be made to the 4 Pete's Sake ALS Foundation, Attn: Kurt Weigert, 1020 Cromwell Bridge Road, Towson, MD 21286. 400 Health Care Workers Join CWA in California and New YorkNearly 400 health care workers gained CWA representation through organizing campaigns in California and New York. A unit of 63 licensed practical nurses and medical technicians at the Faxton campus of the Faxton-St. Luke's Health Center, in Utica, N.Y., voted for CWA Local 1126 by a big 40-16 margin, said District 1 Vice President Chris Shelton. Workers wanted the same level of benefits – guaranteed pay raises, medical benefits, and job security – that nearly 800 CWA-represented LPNs, RNs, and technicians at St. Luke's already have. More than 300 medical interpreters and clinical research coordinators at the University of California medical centers have joined the Union of Professional and Technical Employees-CWA Local 9119, District 9 Vice President Jim Weitkamp said. UTPE-Local 9119 already represents nearly 12,000 workers throughout the University of California system. UTPE-Local 9119 also reached a first contract for 150 skilled trades employees at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in Lawrence, Calif. Workers won union certification last year through majority signup, but their employer-contractor, the Bechtel Corp., had tried to block workers' union choice by privatizing their jobs; that move was unsuccessful. May Deadlines Set for Annual Newsletter, Website ContestsEntries are now being accepted for CWA's 2009 local newsletter and website contests. The contests recognize the hard work of all editors, webmasters and others who devote their time and energy to membership communications. The deadline to enter the 26th-annual newsletter contest is Friday, May 8. All locals were notified by e-mail this week, and information, rules and entry forms are posted online at http://www.cwa-union.org/newslettercontest. The web contest deadline is Friday, May 15. Awards will be given for best local website, best electronic newsletter and best local online advocacy campaign. Entry forms are available at http://www.cwa-union.org/ecom. Panels of expert judges from outside CWA will judge the contests. Awards will be presented at the 2009 CWA convention in Washington, D.C. in June. |
