CWA Releases Broadband Report Card

With the AT&T Southeast contract scheduled to expire on August 3, hundreds of CWA members, retirees, and their supporters rallied in Atlanta this past weekend.

Addressing the crowd, CWA President Claude Cummings Jr. said, “This is what it’s about: getting our fair share. It’s not about breaking the company. It’s not about taking what we don’t deserve. It’s about getting our fair share! And I believe if we stick together, if we mobilize like we have here, I believe in the end you will come out with a fair contract that the members will be able to ratify. I believe when we fight, we win!” He continued, saying, “It’s not just about money. It’s about wire techs and other techs having a work-life balance, being able to see their family, being able to take time off when they want to.”

CWA President Claude Cummings Jr. (left) and CWA District 3 Vice President Richard Honeycutt fired up the crowd as members gathered to rally and march in Atlanta, Ga., in support of their AT&T Southeast bargaining team.

CWA District 3 Vice President Richard Honeycutt acknowledged members of the bargaining committee and subcommittees for their hard work and dedication. He also highlighted the work of CWA District 3 Campaign Lead Joey Barker and nearly two dozen state coordinators and trainers who, together, have trained over 2,000 members for tactical escalation.

Rep. Hank Johnson (D-Ga.) also gave remarks at the rally.

Wages and scheduling for wire techs are key issues at the bargaining table. Last week, CWA released a report, “Wiring Failure: How Low Pay and Overwork Undermine AT&T Technicians and Customers,” which exposes how AT&T is driving away its experienced and skilled technicians with low pay and abusive job practices, making it harder for customers to get the high-quality service they deserve.

One Wire Technician in Georgia reported, “Not having enough pay or time to build a family or provide for a family…they wonder why turnover rates are so high; it’s because you have to have a roommate or second job to be able to afford to live.”

CWA members took to the streets in support of their bargaining teams as they seek a fair contract for AT&T Southeast workers.

Last week, CWA released its first-ever study on the public benefit of more than a dozen broadband projects around the country, all built using funding from the Biden-Harris Administration’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). The 14 county-level projects across 10 states were evaluated on union representation, use of a directly employed workforce, and other labor standards; measures of public transparency; and equity, including counties’ ability to drive additional funding from private companies to match ARPA funds and whether the projects offered and advertised a low-cost plan for low-income households.

A project from Kenton County, Ky., which sits outside of Cincinnati, earned the top ranking and a perfect score of 20 out of 20 points. CWA Local 4400 members at Cincinnati Bell’s Altifiber are leading the broadband build, and Local 4400 President Jason Ballman says that they are “proud to be setting a higher standard for broadband projects that are long-lasting and stimulating our local communities. As states prepare to receive billions in federal dollars from BEAD [the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program] to help close the digital divide, decision-makers need to ensure accountability from the companies they choose to work with, prioritizing transparency, equity, and the creation of good, local union jobs.” Kenton County officials’ decision to make the project agreement publicly available online and provide frequent updates on its status during public meetings also contributed to their high score.

In Beaver County, Pa., a suburb of Pittsburgh, a project contracted with Verizon also scored high, thanks to Verizon’s commitment to using their CWA Local 13000-represented workforce and to investing more than the county into the project. “At Local 13000 in Pennsylvania, we know what it means to build broadband the right way, and that starts with a highly-qualified local workforce. Thanks to Beaver County’s close collaboration with Verizon and their joint effort to prioritize union workers, we’ve been able to ensure that the federal dollars from ARPA are going towards a high-quality buildout,” said CWA Local 13000 President Jim Gardler in Pennsylvania. “We hope policymakers are taking note of our project and paying attention to what real accountability and integrity looks like and how this has translated into positives for us in Beaver County.”

Earlier this week, CWA joined with Unite the Country to launch “Delivering for America,” an ad campaign featuring CWA members highlighting how the Biden-Harris administration has rebuilt the economy through union labor and the role of CWA members in expanding affordable internet service.

In the ad, CWA Local 4009 member James Dennis says, “When the Biden and Harris team got to work rebuilding our economy, they knew who they could turn to: American workers.”

Watch the ad here.

In the midst of ongoing contract negotiations with United Airlines and the recent Crowdstrike meltdown, United executives have issued a scheduling alert email that AFA-CWA is calling “offensive” and “accusatory.”

“This blanket requirement of all Flight Attendants is a violation of the contract and the law,” said AFA-CWA in a news release. United’s new policy, issued last week, will require absence certificates for Flight Attendants who call out sick between Friday and Sunday.

AFA-CWA Legal has been in contact with the Department of Labor, which just announced that it is looking into this attempt to deny workers sick leave rights. United AFA will take a strike authorization vote starting today, August 1.

The NewsGuild has been working hard, and this month, they are celebrating a milestone—more than 90 first contracts won in the last three years!

Recent first contract wins include Repair the World, a non-profit dedicated to service, Jewish engagement, and social change represented by The Washington Baltimore News Guild (TNG-CWA Local 32035). Last week, workers ratified their first contract and won improved floating holidays for religious and cultural observances, extended parental leave, and wage increases. TNG-CWA Local 32035 also celebrated fresh contracts for workers at Common Cause, Duke University Press, and RAICES, including guaranteed wage increases, grievance and arbitration procedures, enhanced benefits, and more.

Journalists at The Salt Lake Tribune, another non-profit newsroom, received voluntary recognition from management one week after going public with their campaign. Workers at the Tribune are represented by the Denver Newspaper Guild (TNG-CWA Local 37074).

Workers at The Palm Beach, The Palm Beach Daily News, The News-Press, and Naples Daily News (TNG-CWA Local 3108) won their first collective bargaining agreements with owner Gannet after nearly four years of negotiations. The agreements guarantee raises for every member in each newsroom. The agreements also freeze healthcare premiums and lock in existing 401(k) matches for members at a time when healthcare costs are skyrocketing.

Congratulations to our newest members, dedicated organizers, and skilled negotiators!

Members of The Palm Beach News Guild and Southwest Florida News Guild, represented by TNG-CWA Local 3108, are celebrating reaching a tentative agreement after four years of negotiating with owner Gannet.

Members of the Personnel Association of Lawrence (PAL-CWA Local 6400) voted overwhelmingly two weeks ago to ratify a new contract with the school district. PAL-CWA made headlines in February during their mobilization against school closures.

The new contract includes a raise for all classified employees, including paraeducators, custodians, and other support staff. Workers have also won the ability to use “personal business” leave to cover inclement weather closings instead of going unpaid for that time. Also included in the contract is updated language and recognition of a broader scope of gender identities.

CWA Local 6400 Vice President and PAL-CWA Bargaining Chair Ashley Eicholtz said, “PAL-CWA negotiated with the school board to raise the minimum wage to the livable wage of $19.87/hour. Although the district initially offered a 46-cent raise, the union pushed back and proposed a 99-cent increase, which the school board accepted. We are optimistic about the progress and remain focused on advocating for better funding for public education.”

Congratulations to all the PAL-CWA members and supporters on their momentous win!

The bargaining team for the PAL-CWA Workers of CWA Local 6400 won a new contract, including raises and better vacation and leave options.