Senate Confirms Five NLRB Members and Democratic Majority We

2CWA News / Fall 2013

WORKING Together

Trans-Pacific Partnership ‘It’s a race to the bottom and we need a race to the top’

or 130 million U.S. in the past 20 years, TPP isn’t concerned with U.S. We have built a strong coalition that’s working together working workers or jobs. Every other nation starts out with jobs and to get participation in these negotiations, and to stop fast Americans, the economy as priorities. The U.S. unfortunately has a dif - track if that doesn’t happen. No citizens groups have been Fthe Trans-Pa - ferent focus, and looks at trade in terms of national security involved to any extent so far in these negotiations but we cific Partnership is, as and global corporate interests, not ensuring the economic have been making our voices heard. Read more about our U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison well-being of working families. coalition work on page 3. described so well, the Here’s a good example. The minimum wage in Vietnam, “largest corporate one of the proposed member nations of TPP, is 25 cents an power grab you never hour. U.S. workers should not compete with workers who heard of.” earn 25 cents an hour. But multinational corporations, in “TPP is a punch After 19 rounds of this continuing race to the bottom, will be happy to send negotiations among jobs to Vietnam and every other subsistence-wage nation. in the face to the Larry Cohen, CWA President the United States, It’s not just manufacturing jobs. We’re talking service Australia, Brunei, sector work, including information technology and tech middle class of Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, support jobs. Buy American policies, call center legislation Singapore and Vietnam, TPP remains a mystery to everyone to keep good jobs here and to end taxpayer handouts to America.” except government trade negotiators and the corporate lob - companies that offshore jobs, environmental standards, and byists who get to read all the proposals. even public health efforts would be disallowed or dramati - Even Members of Congress have no real idea of what’s cally weakened. Unions, greens including Sierra Club and Greenpeace, involved in the negotiations. Foreign firms would be given equal access to bidding on consumer and citizen action groups like Citizens Trade Cam - Rep. Alan Grayson (D-Fla.), has seen some of the pro - U.S. federal government contracts, and private corporations paign and Public Citizen, public health groups, people of posals. TPP “is a punch in the face to the middle class of from other countries would be able to challenge U.S. laws faith, all are working for changes in or rejection of this deal. America, but I’m not allowed to tell you why,” he said. and regulations, including those dealing with telecom, We must pursue economic policies and trade policies for In addition to the secrecy, trade negotiators are counting health and the environment, if they think our laws limit their American workers, just as the Vietnamese and other nations on “fast track” authority, which blocks any changes or “expected future profits.” are pushing policies in their own interests. Clearly, we don’t amendments to the trade deal and only allows for an “up or Without a floor for wages and workers’ rights, U.S. have much in common with countries that pay workers 25 down” vote by Congress. Stopping or changing fast track is workers will again lose out. Our 20 years of experience in cents an hour, nor should we. Again, it’s time to stand up the only real way to change TPP. trade deals, going back to NAFTA, has proven that U.S. jobs and fight back. TPP is bad for working families, because, like nearly go offshore and the jobs that are created here are low wage, every other trade agreement that’s been negotiated by the no benefit jobs. That’s not the future Americans want for themselves or their children.

® CW Anews

Volume 73, No. 3 Fall 2013

Official Publication of the Communica - CWA News (ISSN 0007-9227) is published tions Workers of America (AFL-CIO, CLC) quarterly Jan/Feb/March, April/May/June, International Union Headquarters July/Aug/Sept, and Oct/Nov/Dec by Communica - 501 3rd Street, N.W., tions Workers of America, 501 3rd Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20001-2797 Washington, D.C. 20001-2797. Periodical Phone: (202) 434-1100 Postage Paid at Washington, D.C. and additional mailing offices Address changes: Postmaster: Send address changes to CWA Inquiries or corrections for CWA News News, 501 3rd Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. subscriptions should be addressed to CWA 20001-2797. Membership Dues Dept. Printed at Kelly Press, Cheverly, Md. E-Mail: [email protected] Design by Chadick+Kimball, Washington, D.C. CWA Executive Board I President Larry Cohen Produced by I Secretary-Treasurer Annie Hill I Vice Presi - CWA Communications Department dents District 1, Christopher M. Shelton I Dis - Director/Executive Editor trict 2-13, Edward Mooney I District 3, Judy Candice M. Johnson Dennis I District 4, Linda Hinton I District 6, Senior Writer/Editor Kendra Marr Chaikind Claude Cummings I District 7, Mary Taylor I I Editorial Specialist Alicia Nestor District 9, Jim Weitkamp Telecommunications and Technologies, Bill Bates I Public, Health Technical Specialist Sarah Splitt Care and Education Workers, Brooks Sunkett I Broadcast and Cable Television Workers, Jim Joyce I The Newspaper Guild-CWA, Bernie Lun - zer I IUE-CWA Industrial Division, Jim Clark I CWAers were a part of the March on Washington in 1963 and again 50 years later, as workers, civil Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, Veda rights activists, greens, students, people of faith and many more came together to support the dream Shook I PPMWS Executive Officer Dan Wasser of democracy and justice for all. We know we can’t do it alone. Building a movement of allies is how I At Large Board Members: Madelyn Elder, we will achieve economic and social justice. Nestor Soto, Carolyn Wade, Greg Wynn I Direc - tor TNG-SCA Canada, Martin O’Hanlon CWA News / Fall 2013 3 Working together for good jobs, strong communities We Got Five! On Capitol Hill Senate Confirms Five NLRB Members and Democratic Majority Fighting for Good e did it! For the first time in a decade, the National Labor Call Center Jobs WRelations Board has five Senate-confirmed WA activists are fighting to members. The three Demo - keep good call center jobs cratic members confirmed by here in the U.S., and one way CWA: No Fast Track for the Senate are Mark Pearce, Cto help make that happen is Nancy Schiffer, and Kent Hi - through legislation that takes away the rozawa. The Senate-confirmed rewards that U.S. companies now re - Trans-Pacific Partnership Republicans are Harry John - ceive for moving jobs offshore. son and Phil Miscimarra. The “U.S. Call Center and Worker CWA led this fight, as Protection Act of 2013,” H.R. 2909, ‘We need fair trade, not fast track’ e-mails and phone calls from was again introduced in Congress, thousands of CWA members and CWA members are pushing hard around the country called on the for its passage, with actions and Senate to restore the full enforce - events underway in October and to ment power of this critical agency. mark the global Call Center Action But we couldn’t have done it alone. Month that is focusing on compen - Progressive groups like the sation and professionalism. Democracy Initiative and Fix the The bi-partisan legislation is Senate Now, a coalition of more sponsored by Democratic Reps. Tim than 70 organizations, held lawmak - Bishop (NY-1), Mike Michaud (ME-2) ers’ feet to the fire with an ad cam - and Gene Green (TX-29), along with paign, rallies and letters. CWA and Republicans David McKinley (WVA- union, environmental, LGBT, good 1), Michael Grimm (NY-11) and Chris government and social justice ac - Gibson (NY-19). tivists pushed Democrats to break State legislative efforts have been the Republican minority’s obstruc - building over the past year with bills tion that has kept many of President introduced in Florida, Arizona, New Obama's executive nominations Mexico, New York and New Jersey, waiting for Senate action for as long and other states. as two years. “Press 1 For America,” a part of Allies like the Sierra Club, the bill, requires call center employ - NAACP, National Gay and Lesbian ees to identify their location and out - Hundreds of activits march through Task Force and Alliance for Justice downtown Minneapolis. side the United States, to offer spelled out how important the consumers the opportunity to be NLRB is to all working families in transferred back to a U.S. facility. The newspaper ads before the vote. bill also bars federal grants, loans he evidence just keeps United States and 11 other Pacific County, Va., to Minneapolis, CWA “Our path for change is the and subsidies to companies that mounting. The Trans-Pacific Rim countries are discussing what activists and allies are standing Democracy Initiative, an organiza - send call center jobs offshore. Partnership, a trade agree - could be the largest trade agreement strong against the secrecy and tion of unions, civil rights and com - About 3 percent of the U.S. work - Tment, is a bad deal that could in U.S. history. But only corporate greed of TPP. In August, District 7 munity groups, greens, people of force is employed at call centers, jeopardize U.S. jobs, wages, con - lobbyists and government officials CWA members and activists from faith and others. We will continue to making these jobs an important part sumer safety and environmental stan - are at the bargaining table. In fact, TakeAction Minnesota and the work together to fix the broken Sen - of our economy. But over the past dards, while pushing back workers’ most groups are permitted to view Minnesota Fair Trade Coalition ate rules, end the pervasive influ - five years, offshoring has hit this in - rights in other countries even more. just individual sections of the draft joined forces to make sure Con - ence of corporate money in our dustry hard, with half a million jobs Near-secret negotiations have text. Several members of Congress gress gets the message: “No fast politics, stop voter suppression and lost to offshoring and layoffs. been underway now for more than who were permitted to review docu - track and no more secrecy.” adopt a path to citizenship for immi - three years among govern - ments, but not discuss them publicly, CWA and allies also are calling grants,” said CWA President Larry ments. The next step will be say the proposals grant multinational for the suspension of trade discus - Cohen. Offshoring By the Numbers a push for “fast-track” au - corporations new political powers. sions until Vietnam ends its labor Right now, we’re continuing to thority, which would restrict “Having seen what I’ve seen, I would rights abuses, which have only press senators to confirm the lan - 1 million. The total number of U.S. Congress from making any characterize this as a gross abroga - worsened since the country en - guishing executive branch nomina - IT jobs that will have been offshored, changes to the deal, allowing tion of American sovereignty,” Rep. tered into the TPP talks. A new re - tions and judicial nominees who starting from the 1990s to 2016. only an “up-or-down” vote. Alan Grayson (D-Fla.) told The Huff - port, released by the Worker have also been victims of the bro - CWA and allies, including the ington Post. Rights Consortium titled “Made in ken Senate rules. With 60 votes re - 270,000. The number of U.S. IT jobs Sierra Club and Citizens This great video helps tell the Vietnam,” examined the manufac - quired for the Senate to move going offshore from 2012-2016. Trade Campaign, are fighting story. http://cwa-union.org/ turing sector and discovered forward on any business, and Re - hard to block “fast track” TPPVideo forced labor, child labor, pregnancy publicans determined to abuse the 500,000. The number of U.S. call center legislation in Congress. “We CWAers and allies have been and gender-based discrimination, filibuster to block key nominations, jobs sent offshore in past five years. have one message: No more protesting at the negotiation sites health and safety hazards, exces - it's no surprise that so little is ac - Fast Track. We need Fair and rallying communities to make sive working hours and miserable complished. But the NLRB fight Sources: Hackett Group study, Information Trade, not Fast Track,” said sure everyone knows what’s at stake. wages. Read more at proved we can change that. United, Week, 2012. Data from U.S. Bureau of Sta - CWA President Larry Cohen. From Dallas to Peace Arch Park in www.cwa-union.org/tpp . we can make democracy work tistics, American Teleservices Association TTP negotiators from the Washington State, from Loudoun again. 4CWA News / Fall 2013 Working together fo

We can’t do it alone. That’s why we’re uniting with people activists, neighborhood organizers, students, immigrant gr change and real programs benefiting workers’ goals of goo care and retirement security. We’re in this together, and we

50 Years Later, the March for Jobs and Freedom Goes On

It’s no mistake that the 1963 March on Washington’s official slogan was “For Jobs and Freedom.” The historic demonstration intertwined the goals of civil rights and economic justice, as people of all races demanded equality on the National Mall. This August, as tens of thousands commemorated the Police arrest CWA President Larry Cohen at a St. Lou 50th anniversary of the march, much of the movement’s work — such as a CWAers make their way to the 50th real living wage — remains unfin - anniversary March on Washington. ished. Nearly 2,000 CWAers joined CWA D4 Vice President Linda with their union brothers and sisters Hinton, center, Sonny Morgan, and civil rights activists to once again IUE-CWA, left, and Sylvia Ramos, assistant to D6 Vice President push for jobs, workers’ rights and eco - Claude Cummings, are at the nomic justice for all Americans. CWA Lincoln Memorial, and the march activists are fighting to ensure our ends at the Martin Luther King, Jr. democracy works for all Americans — monument. not just the wealthy 1 percent.

CWAers stand with UMWA workers and retirees.

The Time Is Now

The time is now for comprehensive immigration reform. CWA has joined with tens of thousands of labor, immigrant rights, faith, environmental, civil rights and community activists to take that message to Congress. In August, CWA Larry Cohen was among the immigration reform leaders who were ar - rested at a sit-down protest that focused on the failure of the House of Rep - resentatives to take action on a bill already passed by the Senate. The civil disobedience action sent a strong message to lawmakers that the fight for immigrant families will continue until there is a path to citizenship for 11 mil - lion undocumented immigrants. Over the summer recess, CWA activists join the largest caravan in California history to call on GOP Rep. Kevin McCarthy to pass a comprehensive bill. Earlier, CWA, Center for Community Change, National Immigration Law Coalition, AFL-CIO, Gamaliel, SEIU, Greenpeace, United Farm Workers, America’s Voice, US ACTION, CASA de Maryland and many others all rallied outside the U.S. Capitol chanting, “Si, se pude!” and “Time is now!” America needs to create an immigration process that works for all working people — not a system that benefits corporate employers at the expense of everyone else. Current U.S. immigration policies are a blue - print for employer abuse, and CWA workers are suffering the consequences CWAers joined 100,000 immigrant rights activists who rallied outside the U.S. Capitol, calling on of this race to the bottom. CWA Local 9416’s Rob England, who has been Congress for action now on immigration reform. raising awareness about the reform movement, said, “Once you educate them, then they get it. Education is key.”

CWA activists caravan to Rep. Kevin McCarthy’s (R-Calif.) office in Bakersfield. CWA News / Fall 2013 5 or good jobs, strong communities

e of faith, environmentalists, civil rights roups and many others, to win real Fighting for the Right to Vote od jobs, bargaining rights, and health When the Supreme Court struck down Section 4 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 in June, it dealt a major blow to ordi - nary citizens’ right to vote. Section 4 said states with a history of racial discrimination were required to get federal ap - e will win. proval before they make any changes to election law. As soon as the court issued its decision, Texas, Florida and other states announced their plans to make big changes in voting law, restricting early voting, limiting Demanding Fairness at Patriot polling places and implementing other punitive changes. North Carolina has enacted the nation’s For months, Patriot Coal has schemed to slash health most extreme voter suppression law to date. It care coverage for retired workers and shed that obli - eliminates same-day registration, bars students gation in bankruptcy court. But CWA members have from pre-registering to vote and slashes the early teamed up with the United Mine Workers of Amer - voting by an entire week. Led by the NAACP, thou - ica’s campaign for fairness, joining rallies and civil sands of activists, including many CWAers, have disobedience actions in Missouri, West Virginia and been rallying around “Moral Monday” civil disobe - Kentucky. CWAers in West Virginia have an especially dience demonstrations at the statehouse to protest strong partnership with UMWA miners who also are these attacks on the right to vote, along with plans standing with CWA members in their contract fight at to slash unemployment benefits and cuts to edu - Frontier Communications. Peabody had created Pa - cation and social programs that the state legisla - triot Coal in 2007 and gave that company 11 percent ture and governor are pushing. “Moral Monday” uis rally. of its assets, 43 percent of its retiree liability and protests have become more than just weekly some underwater coal contracts, the UMWA said. demonstrations, but a movement to fight for so - The overwhelming majority, some 90 percent, of re - cial, economic and environmental justice. tirees whose retiree health care will be cut never worked for Patriot. Then, in 2008, Patriot bought CWA members join the Moral Monday action outside Arch-spinoff Magnum Coal, and Arch saddled that the statehouse in Raleigh, N.C. company with 12 percent of its assets and 96 percent of its retiree health-care liabilities. It’s clear that this new company was designed to fail.

UMWA members have ratified a contract covering Launching the Democracy Initiative miners in West Virginia and Kentucky, but the fight goes on to secure the health care benefits that re - Early this year, CWA, along with the NAACP, Sierra Club and tirees were promised. Greenpeace, launched the Democracy Initiative to restore the core principle of political equality. Our democracy is under siege, and CWA and allies will continue to hold these corpora - it’s become impossible for any one group, whether it’s CWA or the tions accountable . AFL-CIO, the NAACP or Common Cause, to achieve our goals of economic and social justice. That’s why labor, civil rights, voting rights, environmental, good government and other like-minded or - ganizations with broad memberships are committing to build a movement to halt the corrupting influence of corporate money in politics, prevent the systemic suppression of voters, fix the broken In Richmond, Calif., 3,000 demonstrators marched to protest safety concerns and other issues at the Chevron Senate rules that allow a small minority (or even one senator) to refinery. CWAers joined more than 50 environmental, block action on legislation that working families need now, and labor, community, and religious groups at the action. more. Keep up with the latest at www.democracyforus.org .

Can’t Survive on $7.35

Across the country, CWA activists are supporting fast-food workers striking for a living wage and respect in their workplaces. In St. Louis, the United Media Guild organized staffers at STL 735, a group that supports fast-food work - ers’ fight for $15 an hour and the right to form a union without retaliation at more than 15 restaurant chains. And in a show of unity after a recent one-day strike, St. Louis faith and union leaders walked strikers back to their jobs. So far, there have been no firings. In New York City, CWA Local 1180 members call for immigration reform that CWAers supported fast-food workers — from McDonald’s, includes a path to citizenship for 11 million immigrant workers. Wendy’s, KFC and many other chains around the city — who also walked off the job in a mass protest for higher pay. And in New Jersey, CWA has focused on an upcoming In St. Louis, Mo., United Media Guild activists and allies took ballot initiative on Nov. 5 to raise the minimum wage from to the streets to support striking workers. The TNG-CWA local $7.25 an hour to $8.25. TNG-CWA represents workers at organized staffers at STL 735, a group that supports fair wages and the right of fast food workers to form a union three Dunkin Donuts locations in New York’s Penn Station. without retaliation at more than 15 restaurant chains. 6CWA News / Fall 2013 Working together for good jobs, strong communities IUE-IG Metall Partnership Grows

f IUE-CWA Local 84765 Presi - agement in Norwood. Just last year, dent Wayne Cupp ever needs Siemens, the Siemens Central Works IUE-CWA Local guidance on a concern at the Council, the German trade union IG 84765 Presi - Siemens plant in Norwood, Metall and the global industrial union dent Wayne I Cupp, Harold Ohio, he doesn’t hesitate to put in a IndustriAll signed an international call to German union leaders. framework agreement reaffirming the Kern, chairman of the Siemens “They really support us,” said company’s commitment to funda - Europe Com - Cupp, talking about workers in mental workers’ rights, such as equal mittee and a Siemens’s home country. “Whenever opportunity, freedom of association member of the there’s an issue at Norwood, I feel and collective bargaining. Now the Siemens Works very comfortable reaching across the goal is to ensure the principals em - Council, and IUE-CWA Presi - waters to our counterparts in Ger - bodied in the agreement apply to dent Jim Clark many and getting their advice.” U.S. workers. talk in Nurem - It’s a relationship that IUE-CWA Cupp would also love to duplicate berg, Germany. wants to grow and expand to other the apprentice program at Norwood’s manufacturing plants. Cupp has sister facility in Nuremberg, Germany. spent years forging international “At the apprenticeship school in union ties with IG Metall, the domi - Nuremberg, they not only teach work - nant metalworkers’ union in Ger - ers machining and welding skills, they many, and Siemens Central Works take the opportunity to teach these Linder visited the United States to other U.S.-German partnership be - ident Jim Clark. “We at the IUE-CWA Council — all of which has led to a same workers how important organ - tour Norwood and talk with IUE- tween CWA and ver.di. He also vis - have always prided ourselves on our cooperative and productive rapport ized labor is for the future,” Cupp said. CWA workers in Ohio. He met with ited Cablevision workers in New progressiveness and professionalism between the union and plant man - Over the summer, IG Metall’s Dirk T-Mobile workers to talk about an - York to learn more about CWA’s or - in our relationships with our busi - ganizing work. ness and labor partners. We share a “We are very excited about work - common vision with IG Metall, a vi - ing with IG Metall as we broaden our sion of unions cooperating to im - Standing Strong at Cablevision relationship with Siemens Corpora - prove all workers’ lives.” tion in the U.S.,” said IUE-CWA Pres - Cablevision technicians in Brooklyn aren’t backing down

hey use every opportunity to talk about their fight for re - spect, and for a fair contract. Live From TFrom building a strong coali - tion of community and civil right ac - tivists and elected officials in New Times Square … York, to carrying that message to the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, to testifying on Capitol Hill, Cablevi - Clarence Adams sion workers are fearless in fighting for their union and very first contract. Go to www.cwa-union.org/ multimedia for their latest video, Cablevision rappers at the Lincoln Memorial. “Dear Mr. Dolan.” Check out www.thecablevision99.org for the latest news in this fight. hours a day, to defend their illegal ac - of every American would be pro - In January 2012, 280 Cablevision tions. In fact, the company has spent tected. I never thought that I would workers in Brooklyn voted for CWA more on union busting than it would see the day that I, as an American cit - Local 1109. Just about a year later, cost to settle a fair contract. izen, would have my basic rights when workers tried to take advantage In DC, Cablevision technician trampled on and no one would do of the company’s “open door” policy Clarence Adams resently testified be - anything about it. I never thought to talk about stalled contract negotia - hen Keith Olbermann returned to ESPN2 this summer with fore the House Subcommittee on that a big corporation could violate tions with a manager, Cablevision il - his highly anticipated late night talk show, NABET-CWA Health, Employment, Labor and Pen - my rights and the government would legally fired and “permanently members staffed Times Square Studios, the site of the pro - sions. Adams, a U.S. Marine Corps let them get away with it. replaced” the 22 workers. The mas - Wgram. NABET-CWA Local 51016 signed an agreement veteran who served in the Iraq War, “I am proud that my 21 co-work - sive support of religious leaders, which provides that the technical crew for the Keith Olbermann show be has worked as a Cablevision field ers and I who were fired stayed NYC mayoral candidates and union covered under the union’s master agreement with the ABC Television technician in Brooklyn for more than strong through this ordeal. We had and community activists forced the Network. 14 years. He and his co-workers de - faith in our union. And when we company to rehire all 22 workers a NABET-CWA Local 51016 President Art Mazzacca said, “This agree - serve the respect and fair treatment a walked back in the door, we showed few weeks later. ment will provide a tremendous amount of work, 52 weeks out of the union contract brings. He told the our fellow workers that this is still a That and other illegal actions and year, to our members, and will provide them with the benefits of a good committee: fight that we can win. Workers who unfair labor practices by Cablevision union contract.” “Ten years ago, I put my life on dream of reaching the middle class are the focus of a National Labor Re - Olbermann is no stranger to working with NABET-CWA crews. His the line 6,000 miles away from home and who hope for some job security lations Board hearing underway in MSNBC show, “Countdown with Keith Olbermann” was produced at 30 in the name of protecting the basic shouldn’t have to endure months New York. Cablevision has hired Rockefeller Center in New York City and was covered by a NABET-CWA rights of American democracy. I be - and even years of fear and intimida - more than 50 lawyers, working 10 agreement with NBC. lieved I was fighting so that the rights tion at work.” CWA News / Fall 2013 7

f you haven’t joined CWA’s monthly telephone town hall call, you’re missing a lot. The I30-minute calls are held the third Thursday of every month, at 7:30 ET. Register at http://cwa- union.org/cwacall . Any CWA member who regis - ters for the remaining calls this year will be entered in a drawing for a personalized iPad mini. The winner will be announced in the CWA News and e-newsletter.

Jobs with Justice: 25 Years, 25 Voices

obs with Justice is celebrating its silver anniversary with a new book: “Jobs with Jus - Jtice, 25 Years, 25 Voices.” A series of moving interviews and first-person stories, the book gives voice to the community, labor, immi - grant, student, and faith activists that have built JwJ. On each page, ac - tivists tell us why the organization’s core principal — the power of soli - darity between unions, community groups, and immigrant, student, and faith organizations — continues to drive its victories at the local, na - tional, and international levels. They tell us how the belief in solidarity leads not only to short-term al - liances, but also to transformed rela - tionships and permanent coalitions. They tell us how it has led — and will lead — to concrete victories for so - cial and economic justice. Thinking of Adding Some New Skills? It includes an introduction from JwJ founder and CWA President Larry Cohen, as well as perspectives CWA/NETT Academy’s new website, $110 each and each has six weeks of sands of CWAers have taken advantage from CWA activists Margaret Butler, www.cwanett.org, showcases an ex - instructor-led, online instruction. of the top flight instructors and courses John Ryan and Mattie Stegall, a for - panded platform of courses and pro - Another CWA/NETT program, offered through CWA/NETT. mer Texas State Employees Union- gram options. There are now more than Lynda.com, offers instruction in the lat - “The Final Cut Pro Class from CWA leader and activist. It also features the stories of newcomers 100 courses, covering everything from est software programs from webware to CWA/NETT started it all, and provided like Ai-Jen Poo of the National Do - professional development in computer excel. Create your log-in today and me with the opportunity and motivation I mestic Workers Alliance and of the technology, finance and administration check out the latest. needed to help launch a new career,” working people who have helped to personal development in creative From telecom techs gaining Cisco said Mara Becker of CWA Local 59051. build JwJ from the ground up. Get your own copy at arts, language programs and more. certifications to broadcast technicians http://www.jwj.org/book These new classes are priced $99- and editors taking Final Cut Pro, thou - 8CWA News / Fall 2013

MetroPCS –T-Mobile US Workers ver.di Members Protest in New York City Vote CWA T-Mobile US Attacks on Workers About 20 ver.di activists sneaked into a Deutsche Telekom -sponsored event ‘When we stick together we win’ in Berlin called “Long Night of Startups.” When incoming CEO Timotheus Höttges took the microphone, activists stood up to reveal t-shirts reading, “We Are All Josh. We Are Not Disposable.” During the main event, a light etail store employees at the Julian Gonzalez, Dany show lit up the room with “TU, CWA and ver.di” and “We Expect Better.” Lexington Ave Metro PCS Cardenas and Stephen store in Harlem voted for a Arnaud celebrate their union election win at the Watch this great video of the light show. http://youtu.be/KC9NGZceS00 union voice and CWA repre - R MetroPCS store in Harlem. sentation. The vote was 7-1. The number may seem small, but it’s a huge victory for these workers and for thousands more across T-Mobile US who want representa - tion to address their issues on the CWA Local 1039’s union bus rolls up outside the store. job. Metro PCS merged with T-Mobile US earlier this year. ing and many seats on the company Jose Ortiz, one of the Metro PCS supervisory board, have taken on workers, said: “This has been a U.S. workers’ cause and are protest - David versus Goliath struggle and ing their company’s treatment of I'm beyond thrilled to say that David US CEO John Legere and other top T-Mobile US employees. Recently, won. We look forward to bargaining executives trekked from Bellevue, their union, ver.di, sent a letter to DT, a fair contract that gives MetroPCS Wash., headquarters to the Harlem the parent company of T-Mobile US, workers a real voice at work. When store. telling the company it should cease we stick together we win!” The vote ensures representa tion the captive audience meetings that At a store with nine employees, on issues and fairness on the job. workers were forced to attend as the T-Mobile US executives kept up an Thousands of union members at workers had requested. intense campaign on workers who T-Mobile and Deutsche Telekom in Read more at www.weworkbetter are looking for representation on Germany, who have a significant together.org and www.tmobile - their issues and fairness. T-Mobile voice on the job, collective bargain - workersunited.org ‘We Are All Josh’ Huge, Nationwide Action by German Telekom Workers Protests T-Mobile USA Firing, Intimidation

n a tremendous display of soli - years of capitalism and unworthy of a the factories there were many good darity, Deutsche Telekom work - modern German company with opera - discussions with our colleagues. These ers, members of ver.di, tions in more than 50 countries discussions were marked by horror at IGermany’s biggest union, held a around the world,” said Lothar the behavior of T-Mobile US manage - nationwide Day of Action today at 20 Schröder, member of the Executive ment and of great solidarity with their T-Mobile locations. The German work - Board of the United Services Union colleagues in the United States.” ers are shocked by the unjust termi - (ver.di). “I urge the (DT) Executive nations and mistreatment of workers Board: Allow US workers to have a at T-Mobile US, and they are support - voice in the workplace through CWA!” T-Mobile workers in Germany have formed strong city-to-city partnerships ing their U.S. colleagues who want German workers are protesting the with T-Mobile activists in the U.S. Workers communicate on Facebook and Worker to Worker union representation. escalating attacks against T-Mobile social media, in conference calls and through email. The goal: To stand up Partnerships Actions took place in Berlin, at US employees who actively support for each other’s fights and build a strong trans-Atlantic union, TU. corporate headquarters and the of - CWA representation, as well as the fice port in Bonn, in Brüehl, Dort - anti-union attitude from upper man - mund, Duesseldorf, Dresden, agement of the company, a subsidiary Dusseldorf Nashville Kempten (and Schweinfurth), of DT. Workers who want union repre - Leipzig, Ludwigshafen, Schwerin, sentation face sanctions up to and in - Berlin Charleston Heilbronn, Koblenz, Mainz, cluding dismissal, ver.di pointed out. Mannheim, Munich, Saarbruecken, One victim of this practice was Josh Bavaria Albuquerque Stuttgart, Trier and other locations. Coleman, a customer service represen - The scale of this action was unprece - tative and union activist who was fired Dortmund Wichita dented; 10,000 workers participated despite having won several awards and in distributing leaflets, wearing but - praise for his outstanding job perform - North Rhine Westphalia tons, taking photos and most impor - ance. German workers have taken Texas tant, promising to join in even more Josh’s case on as their own, wearing t- solidarity actions. shirts that say “We Are All Josh” and North Rhine Westphalia “Unions and employees in the hanging “Josh” signs in call center lo - United States must be treated with re - cations. ver.di members say that Josh East Coast spect, dignity and fairness. Arbitrari - has to be reinstated, otherwise the ness, threats and dismissals are protests will be extended and ex - ‘management tools' from the early panded. ver.di also reported, that “In 8 CWA News / Fall 2013 Nov. 5 New Jersey Votes! New Jersey Governor Race

ISSUES & W HERE THEY STAND

Barbara Buono was first elected to the New Jersey State Senate in 2001 and was Chris Christie was elected governor named Senate Majority Leader in 2010, the first woman to hold that position. of New Jersey in November 2009.

Public Worker BARBARA BUONO: In 2011 — as Christie made a deal with conservative Democrats to CHRIS CHRISTIE: Determined to strip bargaining rights for health care and Bargaining Rights attack the bargaining rights, health care and pensions of 500,000 public workers — pensions from public workers and signed the bill into law. Democratic Party bosses came to then-State Senate Majority Leader Buono for her support. They gave her this choice: Support the attacks or lose the leadership position. Buono responded by spearheading the floor fight against the bill and then leading all 16 senators who supported union workers to the rally outside the state house. It’s a rare politician who will stand up to the bosses and do the right thing at the expense of her political career. But that’s exactly what Buono did.

Changes in Civil Stood up for public workers, veterans, women, people of color, union activists, and others Developed a scheme to allow political bosses to promote their cronies in by voting to keep politics out of promotions in civil service jobs. civil service jobs without qualifications or any oversight. His system would Service Regulations have gutted veterans’ preference — a slap in the face to those in harm’s way protecting our country.

Believes the wealthiest must pay their fair share. Will restore the state’s Earned Income Pushed a huge corporate income tax cut, and now wants to triple it. Has Fair Taxes Tax Credit and protect property tax relief for the families who need it most. handed out $3 billion in taxpayer-funded incentives and sweetheart deals to companies that aren’t creating jobs in New Jersey.

Eliminating Supports legislation to ensure equal pay for equal work. In 2012, vetoed three bills that would have promoted equal pay for women. Gender-Based Wage Discrimination

Stood up for CWA jobs. She fought the privatization of NJN and the New Jersey Lottery. Attacked CWA members by selling NJN to one of his political cronies, and Fighting for Our Jobs She is fighting to keep developmental centers open to provide high-quality care to our then sold sales and marketing functions of the New Jersey Lottery to a state’s most vulnerable citizens. Buono supported legislation that would stop public work politically-connected foreign corporation. Wants to close all of New Jersey’s from being privatized and awarded to politically-connected companies. And she developmental centers without a plan to care for the clients. And he vetoed championed legislation to stop giving taxpayer-funded handouts to corporations shipping legislation that would have stopped taxpayer dollars going to corporations call center jobs overseas. shipping New Jersey call center jobs overseas.

CWA ENDORSEMENTS VOTE YES ON QUESTION #2 1st DISTRICT: Albano & Andrzejczak RAISE THE Albano and Andrzejczak are tireless advocates for working families in South Jersey. In 2011, Albano was MINIMUM WAGE! the only South Jersey legislator to stand up to the powerful bosses of both parties and protect the bar - gaining rights, health care and pensions for 500,000 New Jersey public workers. Andrzejczak wasn’t in the legislature then, but he believes in collective bargaining and will stand with Albano. Albano and An - Did you know … drzejczak understand the importance of developmental centers providing services to New Jersey's vul - I This ballot measure would nerable citizens, as well as fueling the economy of our communities, and they will fight Christie’s increase the minimum wage in New attempts to close them. Both voted to stop Christie from letting political bosses make decisions about Jersey from $7.25 an hour to $8.25 Re-Elect Re-Elect promotions in the civil service, instead of picking the most qualified candidates, and they supported a bill Assemblyman Assemblyman an hour. It would also provide an to bar companies that ship call center jobs overseas from receiving taxpayer money. Albano has been a Nelson Albano Bob Andrzejczak annual cost of living increase, member of the Food and Commercial Workers union for 28 years, and Andrzejczak is a decorated helping working class families earn a Iraq War veteran who was injured by a grenade while fighting for our country. better living in one of the most expensive states in the country. 7th DISTRICT: Catrambone, Conaway & Singleton I Raising the minimum wage would boost the paychecks of 429,000 working New Jerseyans, or 11 Catrambone , Conaway and Singleton support legislation to ensure any civil service pro - motion goes to the most qualified worker, instead of to the one who is the most politically percent of the state’s workforce. I connected. All three support ending taxpayer-funded subsidies for companies that ship It’s good for the economy. Working Gary Catrambone Re-Elect Re-Elect New Jersey call center jobs overseas. They will fight to make sure millionaires pay their families will have more money to for State Senate Assemblyman Assemblyman fair share of taxes to keep property taxes low for working families and seniors. And they spend on food, clothing and house – Herb Conaway Troy Singleton are all campaigning in favor of an initiative that would boost New Jersey’s minimum putting those additional earnings wage to $8.25 an hour with annual cost of living increases to keep up with inflation. back into their local communities. 8 CWA News / Fall 2013 Nov. 5 New Jersey Votes! New Jersey Governor Race Barbara Buono Chris C hristie ISSUES & W HERE THEY STAND

Eliminating Supports legislation to ensure equal pay for equal work. In 2012, vetoed three bills that would have promoted equal pay for women. Gender-Based Wage Discrimination

CWA ENDORSEMENTS VOTE YES ON QUESTION #2 DISTRICT 13: Allison Friedman, CWA member & shop steward RAISE THE

Friedman is a union steward for CWA Local 1037. She will fight to rehabilitate New Jersey in the wake of Superstorm Sandy, MINIMUM WAGE! and believes current legislators are not working hard enough to ensure working families and seniors can rebuild their homes and lives. She supports investing in New Jersey's public school system, so that all children have the opportunity to succeed. Did you know … She will work to close corporate tax loopholes and thinks it’s time we end sweetheart tax breaks and subsidies for companies I This ballot measure would that are shipping New Jersey jobs overseas. increase the minimum wage in New Allison Friedman Jersey from $7.25 an hour to $8.25 for State Assembly DISTRICT 14: Greenstein, DeAngelo and Benson an hour. It would also provide an annual cost of living increase, helping working class families earn a Greenstein , DeAngelo and Benson are some of the most dedicated supporters of better living in one of the most middle class and union members of any elected officials in the state. They stood expensive states in the country. strong against pressure from both parties to attack the bargaining rights of CWA I Raising the minimum wage would members, and fought against proposals to raise our health care costs and de - boost the paychecks of 429,000 crease our pensions. When Verizon workers went out on strike in 2011, Green - working New Jerseyans, or 11 stein, DeAngelo and Benson walked picket lines with us. They voted this year to percent of the state’s workforce. keep politics out of promotions and to protect veterans’ preference in the civil serv - I It’s good for the economy. Working ice. And they championed legislation to protect our jobs by requiring private com - families will have more money to Re-Elect Re-Elect Re-Elect panies to pay workers a fair wage and provide the same level of services if they are spend on food, clothing and house – State Senator Assemblyman Assemblyman awarded privatization contracts to do public work. Linda Greenstein Wayne DeAngelo Dan Benson putting those additional earnings back into their local communities. 8 CWA News / Fall 2013 Nov. 5 New Jersey Votes! New Jersey Governor Race

ISSUES & W HERE THEY STAND

Eliminating Supports legislation to ensure equal pay for equal work. In 2012, vetoed three bills that would have promoted equal pay for women. Gender-Based Wage Discrimination

CWA ENDORSEMENTS VOTE YES ON QUESTION #2 DISTRICT 16: Corfield RAISE THE MINIMUM WAGE! Corfield , a hardworking public school teacher and New Jersey Education Association union member, wants to increase education funding for public schools and universities, so all New Jersey students can succeed. She vows to restore the Earned Income Tax Did you know … Credit to help families make ends meet. She also wants to help grow jobs in the district I This ballot measure would by promoting workforce retraining programs and making it easier for entrepreneurs to increase the minimum wage in New launch businesses. Marie Corfield Jersey from $7.25 an hour to $8.25 for Assembly an hour. It would also provide an annual cost of living increase, DISTRICT 18: Barnes& Diegnan helping working class families earn a better living in one of the most Barnes and Diegnan are two of the strongest advocates for working families anywhere expensive states in the country. in New Jersey. Pinkin is running for the legislature for the first time to join them. They I Raising the minimum wage would strongly opposed Christie’s attacks on the bargaining rights, health care and pensions boost the paychecks of 429,000 of public workers, and all three support keeping New Jersey’s developmental centers working New Jerseyans, or 11 open to protect our most vulnerable citizens. They know it’s time to stop sending tax - percent of the state’s workforce. payer dollars to companies that are shipping our call center jobs overseas. And when it I It’s good for the economy. Working comes to protecting our jobs, no legislative team has been stronger: They fought for families will have more money to Re-Elect Assemblyman legislation to stop Christie from privatizing CWA jobs and led the fight against Christie’s spend on food, clothing and house – Assemblyman Peter Barnes plan to sell New Jersey’s lottery to a politically-connected foreign corporation. Pat Diegnan for State Senate putting those additional earnings back into their local communities. 8 CWA News / Fall 2013 Nov. 5 New Jersey Votes! New Jersey Governor Race

ISSUES & W HERE THEY STAND

Eliminating Supports legislation to ensure equal pay for equal work. In 2012, vetoed three bills that would have promoted equal pay for women. Gender-Based Wage Discrimination

CWA ENDORSEMENTS VOTE YES ON QUESTION #2 DISTRICT 38: Gordon, Eustace & Lagana RAISE THE MINIMUM WAGE! Gordon , Eustace and Lagana are tireless advocates for working families in North Jersey. They will continue to fight to win passage of legislation, which they authored, that Did you know … would end tax breaks and loopholes for companies that I This ballot measure would ship call center jobs overseas. They vigorously opposed increase the minimum wage in New Jersey from $7.25 an hour to $8.25 Re-Elect Re-Elect Joseph Lagana Christie’s attacks on the bargaining rights, health care and State Senator Assemblyman for Assembly an hour. It would also provide an Bob Gordan Tim Eustace pensions of more than 500,000 public workers in New Jer - annual cost of living increase, sey. When CWA members went on strike at Verizon in helping working class families earn a 2011, Gordon and Eustace walked our picket lines. Lagana better living in one of the most is running for the state legislature for the first time and has expensive states in the country. I pledged to join them. All three will fight to make sure the Raising the minimum wage would boost the paychecks of 429,000 wealthy pay their fair share of taxes to stop cuts to services working New Jerseyans, or 11 and education. And they will fight for us by fighting at - percent of the state’s workforce. tempts to privatize our jobs and standing up to Christie’s I It’s good for the economy. Working plan to hand out civil service promotions to the politically families will have more money to connected, instead of the most qualified. spend on food, clothing and house – putting those additional earnings back into their local communities. 8 CWA News / Fall 2013 Nov. 5 Virginia Votes! Virginia Governor Race

ISSUES & W HERE THEY STAND MCAULIFFE CUCCINELLI

Terry McAuliffe is a businessman and entrepreneur. He headed the Democratic National Ken Cuccinelli was sworn in as state Committee from 2001-2005 and served as co-chairman of President Bill Clinton’s 1996 attorney general in 2010. He served in re-election campaign and as chairman of Hillary Clinton's 2008 presidential campaign the Virginia Senate from 2002-2010.

On Good Jobs TERRY McAULIFFE: McAuliffe wants to help create good jobs in KEN CUCCINELLI: Cuccinelli says “we’ve got to get the Virginia by supporting efficient government, education and the best government out of the process of creating jobs.” in transportation.

On Workers’ Rights McAuliffe supports workers’ bargaining rights. “We have to make Cuccinelli says, “I do not support collective bargaining for sure our public safety officers and public workers have good wages public employees or private employees in the state of and I would do meet and confer from day one.” Virginia.”

Cuccinelli has criticized Terry McAuliffe, for working “hand-in-hand” with CWA.

On Education McAuliffe wants to restore funding for K-12 education, spend more Cuccinelli wants to cut funds from public schools and on community colleges and boost teacher salaries. redirect those resources to charter and private schools.

On Equal Pay McAuliffe supporters harsher penalties for employers that don’t Cuccinelli refuses to say whether he supports equal pay provide equal pay for equal work. for equal work.

Why Ken Cuccinelli shouldn’t be elected the governor of Virginia

Cuccinelli has a zero percent Opposed expanding 1rating from the Virginia AFL- 4unemployment benefits even at CIO, starting in 2003. the severe recession that hurt many Virginia families. Supported efforts to deregulate 2telecom in Virginia, affecting As a state senator, opposed the jobs of CWA members. 5raising the minimum wage from $5.15 to $6.50 an hour. As Attorney General, worked 3with business interests to create a private prison near Farmville, VA. This undermines CWA members’ jobs at the Department of Corrections.