Cwa News-Fall 2016
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2 Communications Workers of America / fall 2016 Hardworking Americans Deserve LABOR DAY: the Truth about Donald Trump CWA t may be hard ers on Trump’s Doral Miami project in Florida who There’s no question that Donald Trump would be to believe that weren’t paid; dishwashers at a Trump resort in Palm a disaster as president. I Labor Day Beach, Fla. who were denied time-and-a half for marks the tradi- overtime hours; and wait staff, bartenders, and oth- If we: tional beginning of er hourly workers at Trump properties in California Want American employers to treat the “real” election and New York who didn’t receive tips customers u their employees well, we shouldn’t season, given how earmarked for them or were refused break time. vote for someone who stiffs workers. long we’ve already been talking about His record on working people’s right to have a union Want American wages to go up, By CWA President Chris Shelton u the presidential and bargain a fair contract is just as bad. Trump says we shouldn’t vote for someone who campaign. But there couldn’t be a higher-stakes he “100%” supports right-to-work, which weakens repeatedly violates minimum wage election for American workers than this year’s workers’ right to bargain a contract. Workers at his laws and says U.S. wages are too presidential election between Hillary Clinton and hotel in Vegas have been fired, threatened, and high. Donald Trump. have seen their benefits slashed. He tells voters he opposes the Trans-Pacific Partnership – a very bad Want jobs to stay in this country, u On Labor Day, a day that honors working people trade deal for working people – but still manufac- we shouldn’t vote for someone who and kicks off the final election sprint to November, tures his clothing and product lines in Bangladesh, manufactures products overseas. we should talk about Trump’s record on the issues China, Mexico and other overseas locations. He Want women to be paid equally for that affect working families, because so much is at says workers in states like Michigan are just going u stake. Hardworking Americans deserve to know the to have to accept lower wages if they want manu- their work, we shouldn’t vote for truth about a man who might become president. We facturing jobs back. someone who pays his male cam- paign staff 1/3 more than his female need the facts, not bluster, not attacks, not lies. In contrast, Clinton has stood with working families staff. It’s a challenge to keep track of all the outrageous and union families for decades. She walked the Want veterans to be treated with things Trump has said and done, but his business picket line with CWA members who were on strike u record speaks loud and clear about what kind of at Verizon. She supports bargaining rights and the respect and dignity, we shouldn’t president he would be. Trump’s companies have right to organize. She’s worked to expand family and vote for someone who insults a Gold been cited 24 times for failing to pay minimum medical leave, close tax loopholes that benefit the 1 Star family. wage or overtime. At the Trump Taj Mahal casino, percent at the expense of our communities and se- Want to move forward and not back- which went bankrupt twice, more than 250 sub- cure health care and retirement benefits and equal u ward, there’s just one choice. contractors weren’t paid in full or on time. pay. Clinton opposes the Trans-Pacific Partnership both now and in a possible lame-duck session of That’s Hillary Clinton for president. A USA TODAY investigation found hundreds of peo- Congress. She is the person that working families ple who say that Trump never paid them for their can believe in when looking for a candidate to ad- work, including construction workers and paint- vance their interests. ® CWA Women Mobilize for Political Power CWAnews for 2016 and Beyond Official Publication of the CWA News (ISSN 0007-9227) is published quarterly Jan/ A new CWA initiative, CWA Women for Political Power, has Communications Workers of America Feb/March, April/May/June, July/Aug/Sept, and Oct/Nov/ (AFL-CIO, CLC) Dec by Communications Workers of America, 501 3rd Street, hit the ground running, with CWA activists mobilizing women International Union Headquarters N.W., Washington, D.C. 20001-2797. Periodical Postage 501 3rd Street, N.W., Paid at Washington, D.C. and additional mailing offices. throughout the union. Washington, D.C. 20001-2797 Phone: (202) 434-1100 Postmaster: Send address changes to District 4 Vice President Linda Hinton, who chairs CWA’s www.cwa-union.org CWA News, 501 3rd Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20001-2797. Legislative and Political Committee, is leading the effort. Address changes: Printed by Kelly Press, Cheverly, Md. Members of CWA’s National Women’s Committee also will Inquiries or corrections for CWA News subscriptions should be addressed to CWA Executive Board • President Christopher M. mobilize support for the working women’s agenda and for CWA Membership Dues Dept. Shelton • Secretary-Treasurer Sara Steffens • Secretary Clinton. E-Mail: [email protected] Vice Presidents District 1, Dennis Trainor • District 2-13, Ed Mooney • District 3, Richard Honeycutt • Produced by District 4, Linda Hinton • District 6, Claude Cummings CWA women are a driving force behind the political revo- CWA Communications Department • District 7, Brenda Roberts • District 9, Tom Runnion • Telecommunications and Technologies, Lisa Bolton • lution in this country. By electing labor-friendly candidates Director/Executive Editor Public, Health Care and Education Workers, Brooks Sunkett into office, CWA women can make sure their issues get Candice M. Johnson • Broadcast and Cable Technicians, Charles Braico • NewsGuild, Bernie Lunzer • IUE-CWA Industrial Division, addressed. Senior Writer/Editor Jim Clark • Association of Flight Attendants, Sara Nelson Amy Fetherolf PPMWS Executive Officer, Dan Wasser • Martin O’Hanlon, Women make up a large percentage of CWA members and Director, CWA-SCA Canada • At Large Board Members: Technical Specialist Sarah Splitt Frank Arce, Local 9400; Anetra Session, Local 6327; Vera retirees, especially in the critical states of Ohio, Pennsylvania, Mikell, Local 2205; Carolyn Wade, president, Local 1040 ® Florida, California, and New Jersey, and will play a major role CWAnews in these elections. 3 Communications Workers of America / fall 2016 CWA VICTORY FOR VERIZON WORKERS Verizon strikers stood strong for 45 days in the largest people. It proves that when we stand together, we can raise up strike in recent history, fighting back against a greedy em- working families, improve our communities, and protect the ployer and gaining a contract that safeguards good, middle American middle class.” BARGAINING UPDATE class jobs. The agreements were overwhelmingly ratified in June by The 39,000 union workers and allies walked picket lines, CWA members in Districts 1 and 2-13. Verizon Wireless re- AT&T MOBILITY mobilized outside retail stores and call centers, worked to tail store workers in Brooklyn, NY, and Everett, Mass., over- build community and political support and, in the end, outlast- whelmingly approved the first-ever contract for VZW retail AT&T Mobility workers across the country vot- ed a company that had been determined to downgrade work- workers, providing for a first-ever grievance and arbitration ed to ratify a new contract covering health care ers’ standard of living and send more good jobs overseas. procedure, protections against arbitrary discipline and firing, and other benefits for 42,000 workers. restrictions on the company’s ability to subcontract work, the CWA District 1 Vice President Dennis Trainor Across CWA, activists joined the fight, “adopting” and right to swap schedules, and other gains. leafleting wireless stores, signing petitions, and contributing said CWA “accomplished our main goal, which to the Verizon Strikers Solidarity Fund. (See story pages 4-5). Workers at Verizon Connected Solutions also ratified a was to put health care benefits bargaining back separate four-year agreement that provides for the same ben- in the regional bargaining agreement process The agreement was reached with the help of Labor Sec- efit improvements as the core wireline agreement and main- and to make health care affordable for all Mo- retary Tom Perez, Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service tains a key job title that ensures that these workers will receive bility workers.” Director Allison Beck, and their entire teams. CWA President wage raises according to the negotiated pay scale. Chris Shelton called the fight “a victory for working families AT&T WEST across the country and an affirmation of the power of working Go to StandUpToVerizon.com for more details and photos. CWA District 9 Vice President Tom Runnion put AT&T on notice that it must get serious about bar- gaining, especially when it comes to health care costs and scope of work issues for premises tech- nicians. The CWA bargaining committee is holding the line, pushing AT&T to bargain the fair contract that our members deserve, and mobilization is ramping up. AFA-CWA AT UNITED: STRONGER TOGETHER, BETTER TOGETHER Maintenance splicers, members of CWA Local 9511 in Escondi- The Flight Attendants at United Airlines, mem- do, Calif., talk mobilization. bers of AFA-CWA, ratified a contract covering 25,000 Flight Attendants. Over 90 percent par- KALEIDA HEALTH CARE ticipated in the vote to ratify the agreement. This agreement was reached on June 24, 2016, with CWA Local 1168 members in Buffalo, NY, ratified assistance from the National Mediation Board. a new contract with Kaleida Health. The agreement At Los Angeles International Airport, AFA-CWA Flight Attendants covers three unions – CWA, IUOE 17, and 1199 “The high participation in this historic vote Candace Magoski, left, and Angela Elliott celebrate the contract vote.