In Sympathy
COVID-19 Funeral Assistance
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought overwhelming grief to many FEMA, our mission is to help people before, during and after disasters. We are dedicated to helping ease some of the financial stress and burden caused by the virus.
Under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, FEMA is providing financial assistance for COVID-19 related funeral expenses incurred on or after January 20, 2020.
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Worker Power Update
- Monday - February 27, 2023
Apple Workers Speak to Members of the Congressional Labor Caucus About Their Organizing Journey, Fight Against Union-Busting
Apple workers and CWA members Michael Forsythe and Kirsten Civick met with members of the Congressional Labor Caucus to share their experiences as members of the organizing committee during their campaign to form a union at Apple. Last October, their store became the second certified union at Apple. While the victory was rewarding, Forsythe shared with the members of the Congressional Labor Caucus that "management made it a more hostile, intimidating, and divisive place than you could even imagine." "Our workplace has been flooded with raw sewage multiple times and my coworkers and I were responsible for cleaning up messes without any hazard gear," Civick added, "I never saw myself becoming a part of a union organizing effort, but my years at Apple have shown me that all workers, no matter what sector, face injustice in the workplace and deserve a union to make their working conditions better."
Earlier this month, CWA filed an unfair labor practice (ULP) charge against Apple for violating federal labor law. The charge alleges Apple's Jordan Creek location in Des Moines, Iowa, mandated illegal captive audience meetings and issued threats to workers if they unionized. CWA also filed a ULP against Apple’s Fifth Avenue location in New York City. In addition to flagging illegal captive audience meetings at the store, the charge alleges management illegally suggested workers would lose their ability to have one-on-one conversations with their manager if employees chose to form a union.
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CWA-Endorsed Candidate Wins Primary Election for Wisconsin Supreme Court Seat
CWA activists, along with a coalition of other pro-labor and pro-democracy activists, have been mobilizing to build support for a CWA-endorsed candidate for the open Wisconsin Supreme Court seat, Judge Janet Protasiewicz. Thanks to their efforts, Judge Protasiewicz won the primary election held on Tuesday. CWAers will continue to raise support for our endorsed candidate as she heads into the general election.
CWA activists participated in a phone bank ahead of the primary election for a Wisconsin Supreme Court Seat in support of CWA-endorsed candidate Judge Protasiewicz, who won the race.
Organizing Update
- Monday - February 27, 2023
Alphabet (Google)
In solidarity with YouTube Music workers, contracted with Cognizant Technology Solutions, who have been on the first ever strike at Google since the beginning of this month, dozens of Google workers and members of the Alphabet Workers Union-CWA (AWU-CWA) held rallies against Google union-busting in Austin and New York City on Tuesday. On the same day as the rally, Representative Greg Casar of Texas's 35th Congressional District, who joined the workers’ action in Austin, and Senator Bernie Sanders sent a letter to Google CEO Sundar Pichai, YouTube CEO Neal Mohan, and Cognizant Technology Solutions CEO Ravi Kumar calling on the executives to end the retaliation against workers organizing at YouTube Music. Currently, the workers are awaiting a critical ruling from the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) regarding their union election. They will continue to organize and maintain their strike until their demands are met. A strike fund has been set up to offer additional support to the striking workers.
Dozens of Google workers and supporters, including Congressman Greg Casar and CWA District 1 Vice President Dennis Trainor, participated in rallies in Austin and New York City in solidarity with striking YouTube Music workers.
On Wednesday, AWU-CWA published a comprehensive survey of Alphabet vendor workers in a report titled, "Every Google Worker: An Examination of Alphabet's US Shadow Workforce." The report found that thousands of workers are denied the minimum standard of benefits set by Alphabet and inequities among vendors are exacerbated by race, gender, sexual orientation, and ability, resulting in thousands of dollars in wage gaps. Alphabet employs an estimated 50,000 U.S.-based vendors, who are workers employed via subcontractors to complete critical services for Alphabet.
CWA District 4 Vice President Linda L. Hinton Honored for Black History Month
- Monday - February 27, 2023
February is Black History Month. The AFL-CIO featured CWA District 4 Vice President Linda L. Hinton as part of its yearly Black History Month celebration, honoring leaders who are actively making Black history across the labor movement and beyond. Vice President Hinton started her career at Ohio Bell in 1970. Not long after, she was elected Vice President and later President of CWA Local 4310. She went on to be a CWA District 4 Staff Representative, Administrative Director, and Assistant to the Vice President. She is the first woman to be Vice President for CWA District 4. She is a member of several AFL-CIO constituency groups including the Coalition of Labor Union Women, the A. Philip Randolph Institute, the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists, and the NAACP. She also leads the CWA Women’s Political Power Program and is a member of the CWA Minority Caucus.
This year, the CWA Human Rights Department is honoring Black History Month by focusing on Black Health and Wellness with newsletters covering mental, physical, and social health that you will hopefully find informative and motivational. Click here to sign up to receive the newsletter and other human rights updates.
CWA Members Host Vice President Kamala Harris at New Flyer Electric Bus Plant
- Monday - February 20, 2023
Last week, CWA Local 7304 members hosted Vice President Kamala Harris for a tour of the New Flyer electric bus manufacturing plant in St. Cloud, Minn.
After the tour, in a televised speech at the facility, the Vice President highlighted how the Administration’s investments in electric vehicles are creating a clean energy economy that works for all and good-paying, union jobs. Wade Walvatne, a maintenance technician at New Flyer and vice president of CWA Local 7304, introduced Vice President Harris and thanked her and President Biden for their commitment to rebuilding the middle class in the U.S. by investing in good, union jobs. “Electric buses are key to the future of public transportation in America -- which is why, since taking office, together with Democrats and Republicans, we have invested over $5.5 billion to put thousands of new electric transit buses on the streets of our nation," Harris told the crowd. “And we've also done that to create jobs – so people can have decent work hours and have good-paying, union jobs.”
In a statement, CWA President Chris Shelton recognized the Administration’s efforts to secure funding for “job-creating infrastructure projects, like modernizing our nation’s aging fleet of buses” and ensuring that states are using those funds as intended to create good jobs. Alluding to Joe Biden’s 2009 visit to the St. Cloud New Flyer facility, CWA District 7 Vice President Susie McAllister added, “Back then, we were helping with the transition to hybrid buses, and today it’s the transition to electric. The future of our economy is in green jobs and it is in union jobs.”
Following the event, Veronica Puentes, one of the members who accompanied the Vice President on the tour, appeared on the Symone Sanders show on MSNBC and discussed how being a part of the event made her and her co-workers feel proud about their jobs. “Hearing what she had to say, it brought hope. [S]he made it to our company to speak to us, union members, and let us know that they are doing their best to make a difference. It was amazing to me...it brought me a lot of hope” said Puentes, who spoke on the show as part of a panel of workers.
CWA Local 7304 Vice President Wade Walvatne introduced Vice President Kamala Harris at an event at the New Flyer electric bus manufacturing plant in St. Cloud, Minn.
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CWA Local 7304 members took Vice President Kamala Harris on a tour of the New Flyer plant and discussed their work manufacturing electric buses and the importance of investing in good, union jobs.
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Following the event, Veronica Puentes, one of the members who accompanied the Vice President on the tour, appeared on the Symone Sanders show on MSNBC.
Bargaining Update
- Monday - February 20, 2023
AT&T Mobility and DirecTV (Black)
CWA members at AT&T Mobility have reached a tentative agreement for a new contract covering over 7,000 workers in the Southeast region. The new proposed 4-year contract includes substantial raises to base wages with adjustments for inflation, job title upgrades, paid parental leave, improved overtime language, new stipends for work-from-home agents, enhanced job security protections, additional commuter benefits, increased severance payments, and more improvements. Building on gains from the previous contract, the new agreement also includes an increase in call center call volume guarantees, sets a minimum percentage for company-owned retail stores, and extends job security protections to all job titles covered by the agreement. A ratification vote will be held once the members have an opportunity to review the details of the agreement. Click here for more details on the tentative agreement.
CWA District 3 members at DirecTV are working without a contract after a 72-hour extension expired on Monday. However, the bargaining committee continues to negotiate to reach a final agreement with the company. While there has been some progress, the company is refusing to meet the workers’ reasonable demands on critical issues such as wages and benefits. The members are continuing to mobilize to build power and reach a fair contract that recognizes the hard work and commitment they bring to the company.
On Wednesday, CWA District 3 members at DirecTV held informational pickets to demand a fair contract that includes the wages and benefits they deserve.
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Liberty Latin America Ltd.
Members of CWA Local 3010 at Liberty Latin America Ltd., which took over AT&T’s operations in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands in 2020, held a rally ahead of the beginning of negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement. The current agreement expires on February 24, 2023. For the past several months, the workers and the bargaining committee have been preparing to address the issues that impact the members and their families including fair compensation, job security, and keeping their benefits intact. CWA represents over 700 workers at Liberty, including call center representatives, network employees, and retail sales representatives spread around different locations in Puerto Rico. For more bargaining updates, click here.
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American Airlines
Passenger Service Agents at American Airlines, members of the CWA-IBT Association, are continuing to negotiate for a fair contract. The bargaining committee is determined to address critical issues that impact members and their families including wages, benefits, and working conditions. Members at stations across the country are continuing to mobilize to strengthen their power at the bargaining table. This week, the members showed some Valentine's Day love to their bargaining team by sharing their solidarity selfies and group pictures on social media.
Organizing Update
- Monday - February 20, 2023
American Red Cross
A group of employees who work as part of the mobile blood collections team at the American Red Cross have voted unanimously to join CWA Local 2204. The workers are part of a growing movement of American Red Cross workers who are joining CWA to have a voice in the workplace. Last year, American Red Cross employees in Roanoke, Salem, Lynchburg, and Blacksburg, Va., unanimously voted to join CWA Local 2204.
Worker Power Update
- Monday - February 20, 2023
CWA Activists in Kentucky Build Power
Activists from IUE-CWA, CWA District 3, and United Campus Workers (UCW-CWA) participated in a lobby day in Kentucky, along with labor allies such as Kentuckians for the Commonwealth. Nearly 60 union members from across the state came to meet with their State Representatives and Senators, discuss what is going on in their respective districts, and advocate for pro-worker policies. They focused on the protection and expansion of voting rights and other critical issues that impact working families. Volunteers from the Kentucky State AFL-CIO and other supporters contributed to making the lobby day a success.
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IUE-CWA prioritized the recruitment of new activists to build the Union’s Political Action Committees across the state and ensure that pro-labor Democratic Governor Andy Beshear stays in office during this 2023 election cycle. During the lobby day, several members from the newly formed Political Action Committee at IUE-CWA Local 83761 met with the Governor. For most of the activists, this was their first opportunity to meet their State Representatives.
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As part of the lobby day, a group of CWA activists including CWA Local 3310 Broadband Brigade member Jason DeValdivielso met with Gov. Beshear to solidify his commitment to high labor standards and a fiber preference in broadband expansion using federal funds.
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The UCW-CWA Kentucky union continues to grow and so does their political power. The UCW-CWA members who participated in the lobby day also had the chance to meet the Governor and their Representatives to discuss legislation that will impact higher education and advocate for their priorities in the upcoming election cycle.
CWA Members at AT&T Wireless Reach a Tentative Agreement for a New Contract Covering 7,000 Workers Across the Southeast
- Monday - February 13, 2023
NATIONWIDE —Wireless workers at AT&T represented by the Communications Workers of America (CWA) have reached a tentative agreement for a new contract that covers over 7,000 employees across 9 states in the Southeast region. The new proposed 4-year contract includes substantial raises to base wages with adjustments for inflation, job title upgrades, paid parental leave, improved overtime language, new stipends for work-from-home agents, enhanced job security protections, additional commuter benefits, increased severance payments, and more improvements. During the negotiations, the workers actively mobilized to build power, support their bargaining committee and secure a fair contract that sets new standards for wireless retail workers, call center employees and technicians.
“From the pandemic to rising inflation, climate disasters and more, our members have been faced with an onslaught of challenges the last few years. Since day one, our members were prepared to fight for a new contract that permanently addresses these difficulties and reflect the valuable contributions and sacrifices they make to ensure our communities stay connected even through the toughest of times. The protections and standards included in this contract are an embodiment of their determination, solidarity and hard work,” said CWA District 3 Vice President Richard Honeycutt.
Building on gains from the previous contract, the new agreement also includes an increase in call center call volume guarantees, sets a minimum percentage for company-owned retail stores, and extends job security protections to all job titles covered by the agreement. Details of the proposed contract are being provided to local leadership, and a ratification vote will be held once the members have an opportunity to review the details of the agreement.
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About CWA: The Communications Workers of America represents working people in telecommunications, customer service, media, airlines, health care, public service and education, manufacturing, tech, and other fields.
cwa-union.org @cwaunion
Vice President Kamala Harris Visits Union-Represented New Flyer Facility in St. Cloud, Minn.
- Monday - February 13, 2023
St. Cloud, Minn: Today Vice President Kamala Harris visited workers and members of the Communications Workers of America (CWA) and toured New Flyer’s electric bus manufacturing plant in St.Cloud, Minnesota.
After the tour, the Vice President spoke to New Flyer workers, highlighting how the Administration’s investments in electric vehicles are creating a clean energy economy that works for all and good-paying, union jobs. Wade Walvatine, a maintenance technician at New Flyer and vice president of CWA Local 7304, introduced Vice President Harris and thanked her and President Biden for their commitment to rebuilding the middle class in the U.S. by investing in good, union jobs. (A copy of Walvatne’s remarks as prepared is available here.)
“Electric buses are key to the future of public transportation in America -- which is why, since taking office, together with Democrats and Republicans, we have invested over $5.5 billion to put thousands of new electric transit buses on the streets of our nation," Harris told the crowd. “And we've also done that to create jobs – so people can have decent work hours and have good-paying union jobs.”
Over 500 New Flyer workers in St. Cloud are represented by CWA Local 7304 and manufacture and supply buses for cities across the country, and are currently working on electric buses for municipal transit systems.
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that President Biden and Vice President Harris championed authorizes more than $5 billion for state and local governments to purchase or lease of zero-emission and low-emission transit buses, and the Inflation Reduction Act provides numerous grants and tax credits that will make it easier for state and local governments to invest in electric buses for years to come.
“President Biden and Vice President Harris have worked effectively with Congress to authorize funding for job-creating infrastructure projects, like modernizing our nation’s aging fleet of buses,” said Communications Workers of America President Chris Shelton. “Not only that, but after the bills have passed, their administration has followed through to do everything possible to ensure that these funds are being used as Congress intended, to create good, family-supporting union jobs like those at New Flyer in Minnesota.”
As vice president, Joe Biden visited the St. Cloud New Flyer facility in 2009 to promote the Obama Administration’s economic stimulus package and the role of federal investment in creating good, union jobs and to lay a foundation for growth in green manufacturing.
“When Joe Biden visited New Flyer fourteen years ago, he said the work our members were doing was an ‘example for the future’ and he was right,” said Susie Mcallister, Vice President of CWA District 7. “Back then we were helping with the transition to hybrid buses, and today it’s the transition to electric. The future of our economy is in green jobs and it is in union jobs. President Biden and Vice President Harris have always understood the critical role that union members play in strengthening our communities and our democracy.”
“We are so excited to have met with Vice President Harris today about the importance of our work manufacturing electric vehicles, and we thank her and President Biden for showing their support for our good, union jobs,” said Matt Lelou, a welder at New Flyer in St. Cloud and President of CWA Local 7304. “The workers at our New Flyer facility in St. Cloud are highly-trained and essential to driving our country into the future of electric buses. Thanks to our union and the ability it gives us to have a voice on the job, we are also well-paid and maintain a good work-life balance. As our country modernizes its public transportation fleet, it’s critical we create more good union jobs in the process and ensure professionally trained workers are leading the way.”
With a union and a seat at the table, workers at New Flyer’s St. Cloud facility last year successfully secured a contract that included fair wage increases, 401(k) matching, paid maternity leave, time off to observe Juneteenth and religious holidays, hazard pay for those who worked during the COVID shutdown, reduced mandatory overtime and more. The workers’ contract win followed months of hard negotiating and numerous member-led actions, including rallies outside of the New Flyer manufacturing plant and an overwhelming strike authorization vote.
CWA also represents New Flyer workers at the company’s Crookston, Minn. plant and its Jamestown, N.Y. facility, where workers voted to form a union in August 2022.
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