Building a Political Movement: 'We Showed that Politics Can Be About Creating Jobs'

Political action can lead to the creation of good union jobs as well as the election of pro-worker representatives in office.

Today in Indiana, high-speed broadband is available to 80 percent of households because of political activism by members of CWA Local 4900 and other locals.

The result: 1,650 additional CWA jobs installing AT&T’s U-Verse package of TV, Internet, and phone service since 2007, and a new AT&T 400-person call center in Evansville.

These new jobs came about because Local 4900 worked together with AT&T for legislation to provide tax incentives and other support for companies that build out broadband. Before the measure was passed, there was broadband access in just 45 percent of the state.

Hundreds of CWAers got involved in the campaign that took nearly three years, making phone calls and writing letters to the state’s lawmakers.

Without CWA’s involvement, the legislation probably wouldn’t have been passed, or would have been delayed, said Local 4900 Vice President Jane Phillips. “I think our working together is what got the legislation enacted. We are frequently at odds with AT&T, but this shows what we could accomplish when management decides to work cooperatively.”

“We showed that politics can be about creating jobs.”