The CWA News | Building a Political Movement: ‘We Can Now Count on Members Who Will Immediately Volunteer’

CWA locals in Maryland used political activism to fight Verizon’s efforts to raise telephone rates and reduce service quality standards for thousands of Maryland residential customers. 

The campaign had members of CWA Locals 2100, 2101, 2105, 2107 and 2108 meeting with state representatives in Annapolis, making phone calls, leafleting and urging the state Public Service Commission to do the right thing. And CWA ran radio and newspaper ads to make sure the public realized what was at stake.

“For many of our members, it was their first taste of direct involvement in a union campaign,” said Local 2100 President Mark Balsamo, a Verizon technician. Hundreds of CWAers attended PSC hearings and rallies and spread the word about Verizon’s looking to pull a fast one on Maryland consumers.

“Many more members are now active, especially on the political side,” Balsamo said. “We can now count on at least a dozen members who will immediately volunteer, and even taking unpaid paid, when we need people to turn out for an important hearing or visit a lawmaker on a issue that means jobs.”