CWA Convention: Messages of Hope and Unity

Throughout the two-day CWA Convention, August 11-12, speakers from across the union and our allies delivered messages of hope and unity

CWA District 2-13 Vice President Mike Davis welcomed delegates, members, retirees, staff, and guests to Pittsburgh, Pa., and introduced CWA President Claude Cummings Jr. CWA Local 13500 President Cindy Neumeyer served as Temporary Convention Chair.

Secretary-Treasurer Ameenah Salaam updated those in attendance on the financial state of the union, stressing the need for diligence in keeping to our fiscal budget and outlining her plans to maximize efficiency. She closed her presentation noting that the challenges we are facing are not new but, “These attacks have intensified, and we need to keep in mind we have to not only, like the young kids say, ‘match energy,’ but we must match energy and level up. When they come for our jobs, we must match energy and level up. When they come for our pensions, we must match energy and level up. And when they come after our unions and collective bargaining agreements, we must match energy and level up!”

Members also heard from allies, including Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, Congresswoman Summer Lee, Congressman Chris Deluzio, and UNI Global Union General Secretary Christy Hoffman.

CWA Organizing Director Tim Dubnau presented the Organizing Report and congratulated CWAers on welcoming over 25,000 new members into our ranks since our last convention. He invited United Campus Workers-CWA Local 3821 President Anne Langendorfer to the stage to share her experience helping form the direct-join, wall-to-wall union. She and her union siblings have won higher pay, dignity, and a voice on the job despite forming their union in a right-to-work state.

National Retired Members Council (RMC) President Gwen Parker and the National RMC Executive Board shared the RMC report and encouraged retirees to join the RMC as lifetime members. They noted that, “We cannot put away our union card, sit back and reap the rewards and benefits of a long career because [employers] continue to find ways to take those benefits away, as history has shown.”

The National Committee on Civil Rights and Equity and the National Women’s Committee provided comprehensive reports on critical issues of concern. The Civil Rights and Equity Committee ended their presentation by asserting, “We built this, we run this, and we are taking it back!” The Women’s Committee brought the delegates to their feet, asking, “We’re fighting back, are you?” The answer was a resounding, “Yes!”

 
Pictured, top left to right: CWA Local 13500 President Cindy Neumeyer, CWA District 2-13 Vice President Mike Davis, Secretary-Treasurer Ameenah Salaam, Congressman Chris Deluzio, CWA Organizing Director Tim Dubnau, Congresswoman Summer Lee, National Retired Members Council (RMC) President Gwen Parker, United Campus Workers-CWA Local 3821 President Anne Langendorfer, the National Committee on Civil Rights and Equity, and the National Women’s Committee.

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This post originally appeared on cwa-union.org.