Dear Colleagues: Congratulations on your election. You take office at one of the most critical moments in the history of our country and union. This moment calls for bold leadership as our union responds to three intersecting crises. We are living in an era of extreme economic inequality and Corporate Power. We have seen the largest redistribution of wealth in our nation’s history and the lowest unionized workforce in decades. In 2020 we also faced the threat, destruction, and tragedy of the COVID-19 pandemic. Amidst the devastation of COVID-19, we have found ourselves confronting the plague of racism in America, which has been rampaging in our communities since long before the pandemic. I have been proud of the actions our union has taken to dismantle anti-Black racism and we have so much more work to do. I know that together we are up to the task of confronting these challenges. We can continue building our union’s power through new organizing, bargaining strong contracts, and building independent political power behind a working class agenda. As unprecedented as the COVID-19 pandemic is, CWAers have been on the front lines every day, keeping people informed, connected, and safe during this difficult time. And if we are to make progress in tearing down racism in this country and in our union, we must listen to the experiences of Black CWA members and all Black workers. Every white union member, Black union member, Latino union member, and every ally must fight and organize for Black lives. Unions have a duty to fight for power, dignity and the right to live for every working-class person in every place. We must do this work as if our union’s future depends on it. We hope this resource serves as a guide for the many each of you as you take on this work of leading our union. Together we make CWA STRONG. In Solidarity, Chris Shelton President CWA i ii How To Use This Manual As a Resource This manual includes resource materials that you can refer back to after you leave this training session. It is also a handy place to keep other information that you may run across from time to time. With Fellow Officers, Stewards, Activists, and Members Much of the material in this manual is designed to help you educate, guide, lead and ener- gize your local. This resource book contains materials to help you develop union activists and guide them in their union work. Keep this resource manual handy and use copies of pages of pertinent information in your one-on-one education sessions with officers, stewards, and members. This manual has been written and produced by: CWA Education Department 501 Third St., NW Washington, DC 20001-2797 www.cwa-union.org iii CWAers in District 4 hold AT&T accountable CWA members at Envoy Air fight to form a union iv Table of Contents Chapter 1: Primary Roles of Local Officers 1 The CWA Triangle 5 Chapter 2: CWA STRONG 7 Broad Goals of the CWA STRONG Program 10 CWA STRONG Against Racism: Addressing Anti-Black Racism 10 CWA STRONG: What We Can Do 12 Chapter 3: CWA Organization 13 CWA Organizational Structure 16 CWA District Map 17 CWA Functions 18 Union Dues 21 CWA Departments 23 Association of Flight Attendants (AFA-CWA) 25 IUE-CWA 26 NABET-CWA 27 Public, Healthcare and Education Workers – PHEW 28 The NewsGuild (TNG-CWA) 29 Chapter 4: CWA Constitution 31 Responsibilities of Office 33 Authority, Duties and Obligations of Locals 34 Exercise: The CWA Constitution 36 Chapter 5: The Role Local Bylaws Play 41 Local Bylaws 43 Exercise: Fiduciary Responsibility Case 43 v Chapter 6: Financial Responsibilities of Local Officers 47 Fiduciary Responsibility of Local Officers 49 I. LMRDA 49 II. CWA Constitution 51 III. Local Bylaws 52 IV. Union and Local Operating Practices 52 Exercise: Local Finances 56 LM-30 Overview 63 Exercise: LM-30 66 Chapter 7: Setting Goals/Budget 67 Preparing a Local Budget 69 Sample Local Goals for the One Year 70 Local Budget Work Sheet 72 Exercise: The Local Budget 74 Chapter 8: Running Effective Meetings & Using Parliamentary Procedure 77 Before the Meeting Begins: Planning, Agenda and Turnout 79 Parliamentary Procedure and Robert’s Rules of Order 80 Exercise: Parliamentary Procedure 82 Converting Group Member Functions Into Parliamentary Forms 84 All the Rules at a Glance 85 Chapter 9: Workplace Stewards 87 Stewards Make CWA Strong 89 The Role of CWA Stewards 89 CWA Strong Steward Training 90 Building a Steward Structure in your Local 91 How Can Local Officers Support Stewards to Build Power 93 Chapter 10: CWA Human Rights Program 95 Local Civil Rights & Equity and Women’s Committees 98 Training and Leadership Development Programs 98 Movement Building 100 Ways Local Officers Can Support CWA Human Rights Program 100 CWA Policy on Mutual Respect 101 vi Chapter 11: Occupational Safety and Health 103 What is The CWA Union Approach to Health and Safety? 105 Common Hazards CWA Members Face On-the-Job 106 Are All CWA Members Covered by OSHA? 106 13 Things Every Union Leader Should Know About Safety And Health* 107 Involving the Membership in Safety and Health Activities 109 The Dangers of Employer Behavior-Based Safety/ Blame-the-Worker Safety Programs 110 How to Identify, Evaluate, and Control Hazards 111 Bargaining and Health and Safety Contract Language 103 Chapter 12: Legislation and Politics 107 Why We Do Political/Legislative Work 109 Legislative and Political Action Teams 110 LPAT Structure and Definitions 110 Building Our Member Mobilization Teams 111 What Is a PAC? 112 Political Action Fund (CWA-PAF) — Funded by Individual Voluntary Contributions 112 Dos and Don’ts: CWA Political Action Fund (CWA-COPE PCC) Individual Funds 115 Do’s and Don’ts: Local Union Funds 116 Online Resources 117 Political Action Fund (PAF/PAC) Yeah…buts 117 EXERCISE: Possible PAF Objections 119 Chapter 13: Collective Bargaining 123 The Legal Context of Collective Bargaining 125 The Bargaining Timeline 126 Chapter 14: Local Union Committees 137 Local Union Committees 139 Committee: Meeting Information and Minutes 141 Chairing a Committee Meeting 141 Committee Responsibilities and Resources 142 Committee Meeting Minutes Form 146 vii Chapter 15: Organizing 147 Why Do We Need to Organize? 149 Who Should We Organize? 150 How to Begin Organizing 151 How Do I Handle an Organizing Inquiry? 153 What Do We Cover on the First Contact in an Organizing Drive? 154 Evaluating a Potential Project 156 Ten Common Mistakes to Avoid 156 Chapter 16: Internal Organizing 159 Contracts 161 Worksite Issues 163 Legislative Issues 163 Union Visibility at the Worksite 164 Responding to Common Misconceptions about the Union 166 Chapter 17: Welcoming New Workers 169 Access to New Hires 171 Differences Between a Union and Non-Union Workplace 172 I. Best Practices in New Worker Orientations 173 II. Develop a New Member Packet 174 How to Conduct a New Worker Orientation 176 Tips for Talking with New Workers 179 Chapter 18: Understanding Arbitration 181 Arbitration is Not the Final Step of the Grievance Procedure 183 How is a Grievance Different From Arbitration? 185 How Do We Decide Whether to Take a Grievance to Arbitration? 187 Factors Which the International Considers When Deciding Whether or Not to Take a Grievance to Arbitration 187 Chapter 19: Local President 189 Local President — Duties and Responsibilities 191 Getting Started as Local President 192 Membership Meetings 194 Basic Membership Meeting Agenda 194 Executive Board Meetings 196 viii Chapter 20: Treasurer 197 Local Treasurer — Duties and Responsibilities 199 The Duties and Responsibilities of the Treasurer are to: 200 Treasurer’s Checklist of Documents 201 Getting Started as the Local Treasurer 203 Handling Expenditures 204 Local Voucher Guidelines 205 CWA Dues Processing (Top-down) 207 Where to Send Top-down Checks 208 Local Dues Processing / “Bottom-up” 209 Dues Deduction 209 Financial Report to Membership 210 Financial Statement to International 211 Bank Accounts 212 General Ledger 213 How to Select an Accounting Firm 214 Bond Coverage 215 Sample Labor Department Letter Announcing Audit of a Local 217 Chapter 21: Local Secretary 219 Local Secretary — Duties and Responsibilities 221 Membership Dues Reports 222 How to Use Membership Reports 223 Minutes of Union Meetings 224 Order of Business 226 Local Filing System 227 Chapter 22: Enforcing Union Security Agreements and Agency Fee Objections 231 Definitions 234 Providing Notice of Employee Right to Object — Private Sector 237 Your Rights With Respect to Union Representation, Union Security Agreements and Agency Fee Objections 239 Fact Sheet Agency Fee Objector Policy — Private Sector Workers April 2013 243 Enforcing Union Security Language 246 Fact Sheet Enforcing Union Security/Agency Shop Agreements 251 Chapter 23: Retiree Activism 255 ix Chapter 24: Preventing Decertification 261 What is Decertification? 263 When can a Decertification Take Place? 263 What is the Decertification Election Process? 264 Exercise: Temco Case Study 265 Do’s and Don’ts — Preventing a Decertification 266 Chapter 25: Members’ Relief Fund 267 Members Relief Fund 269 Preparing for a Strike 269 Application of Fund Rules 271 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 273 Chapter 26: Sexual Harassment 277 Sexual Harassment 279 Why Does Harassment Occur? 281 How to Handle a Sexual Harassment Complaint 282 What About a Sexual Harassment Complaint Between Members? 283 Other Common Forms of Harassment 284 What Can You Do to Stop Harassment? 286 Chapter 27: The Union Operating Procedures Manual (UOPM) 287 Chapter 28: CWA Forms 291 Chapter 29: Checklist of Federal Government Required Forms and Reports 297 Chapter 30: Online Communications for Locals 303 UnionHall: Free Website Creation and Hosting 305 ActionNetwork: Free Email, Actions and Events Tool 306 Social Media 306 Connect with CWA 307 Chapter 31: CWA/NETT Academy 309 Chapter 32: Training Reaction Form 315 CWA Officer’s Participation Reaction Form 317 x CHAPTER 1: Primary Roles of Local Officers CWA participants in the Women’s March District 4 rallying against tax cuts for the wealthy 2 Primary Roles of Local Officers Please allow 15-20 minutes for a small-group conversation.