Worker Power Update

CWAers in Ohio Building Power for More Jobs, Equitable Broadband Access

On Monday, Tim Ryan, Democratic Congressman from Ohio and candidate for U.S. Senate, met with CWA leaders from District 4 for a roundtable conversation on equitable broadband expansion and other CWA priorities in the bipartisan infrastructure law. During the meeting at CWA Local 4302's Union Hall in Akron, the CWAers discussed the importance of building out broadband to traditionally underserved communities, distribution of federal funds to companies with high labor standards, and creating more good union jobs.

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CWA Activists in California Attend Annual Legislative Conference and Lobby Lawmakers on CWA Priorities

Last week, nearly 30 CWA activists from 14 CWA locals in District 9 attended the 2022 California Labor Federation Joint Legislative Conference and held a lobby day. CWA District 9 Vice President Frank Arce opened the pre-conference CWA meeting and spoke to the attendees. The participants also received a training on lobbying best practices and discussed CWA’s legislative priorities in California, including the expansion of broadband to rural and tribal communities in the state using experienced union workers. In addition, the participants had an opportunity to discuss the importance of and the resources available to form and support local Legislative and Political committees.

CWA District 9 Legislative and Political Activists with Gov. Gavin Newsom (Calif.) at the 2022 California Labor Federation’s legislative conference.

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Pushing Pro-Worker Legislation in New York

After two years away, CWA political activists in New York flooded the State Capitol to lobby legislators on CWA-supported legislative priorities. The members primarily focused on two pieces of legislation that would protect workers’ collective bargaining rights and ensure the work to expand our broadband infrastructure is being done as safely as possible using experienced union workers.

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Primary Election Victories for CWA-Endorsed Candidates

CWA-endorsed candidates won in key primary races held recently. In Georgia, gubernatorial candidate Stacy Abrams officially became the Democratic Party nominee for the upcoming general election. Incumbent Senator Raphael Warnock also won the Democratic Party nomination for U.S. Senate. Both candidates have shown incredible support for CWA and all workers’ rights, including a commitment to supporting CWA’s position on broadband expansion and collective bargaining rights for public sector workers. On the Republican side, State Senators Brian Strickland and Randy Robertson – both of whom sponsored the CWA-supported Broadband Resiliency, Public Safety, and Quality Act – won their primary races in their respective districts. Other CWA-endorsed candidates who won Democratic Party nominations in Georgia include Jen Jordan (Attorney General), State Senator and CWA Local 3204 member Nikki Merritt, and more.

In North Carolina, U.S. Senate candidate Cheri Beasley won the Democratic Party primary. Beasly is a former union member and has been actively engaging with CWA members in the state. In addition, State Senator Wiley Nickel won the Democratic Party primary for North Carolina’s 13th congressional district. Senator Nickel has been a champion for working people and has co-sponsored several pieces of key, pro-worker legislation, including a bill to repeal the ban on public sector bargaining. Council Member Yvonne Kinston, member of CWA Local 3680, also won the Democratic Party primary for Fayetteville City Council’s 9th district.