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Communications Workers President Bahr on Vote By IUE to Merge with CWA: 'Merger of IUE with CWA Stre
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Communications Workers of America hailed today's vote by convention delegates of the International Union of Electronic Workers to merge the 113,000-member IUE with CWA.
The merger, effective this Oct. 1, creates a new IUE-CWA Industrial Division within the union and boosts CWA's total representation to more than 740,000.
"This merger strengthens the ability of both unions to bargain effectively with the large, global corporations that employ our members, and it opens the door to a revitalized industrial organizing thrust in both the traditional and the new high-tech manufacturing sectors," said CWA President Morton Bahr.
IUE President Ed Fire told IUE delegates at the union's 27th constitutional convention in Cleveland today: "You can't bargain unless you are strong, and you can't get stronger without organizing. Now, with CWA, we'll be able to do both." Fire declared that, "The
greatest union achievement today is winning card check recognition, and CWA showed the way with its historic settlement at Verizon. When we bargain in the future, CWA will be the 800-pound gorilla right beside us, and employers will take note."
CWA's Bahr stressed that IUE's identity and traditions will be preserved within CWA's organization, noting: "We don't see this merger as the end of IUE, but instead as the opening chapter that begins a new and great history for the IUE."
CWA already represents some 30,000 manufacturing workers at Lucent Technologies, General Dynamics and other corporations, and CWA locals representing those members will be able to participate in the new Industrial Division, which will be headed by Fire.
CWA currently represents some 630,000 employees in telecommunications, information technology, journalism, broadcasting, cable TV, publishing, airlines, health care and the public sector.
Other unions that have merged with CWA over the past decade include the International Typographical Union, the National Association of Broadcast Employees and Technicians, and The Newspaper Guild.
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The merger, effective this Oct. 1, creates a new IUE-CWA Industrial Division within the union and boosts CWA's total representation to more than 740,000.
"This merger strengthens the ability of both unions to bargain effectively with the large, global corporations that employ our members, and it opens the door to a revitalized industrial organizing thrust in both the traditional and the new high-tech manufacturing sectors," said CWA President Morton Bahr.
IUE President Ed Fire told IUE delegates at the union's 27th constitutional convention in Cleveland today: "You can't bargain unless you are strong, and you can't get stronger without organizing. Now, with CWA, we'll be able to do both." Fire declared that, "The
greatest union achievement today is winning card check recognition, and CWA showed the way with its historic settlement at Verizon. When we bargain in the future, CWA will be the 800-pound gorilla right beside us, and employers will take note."
CWA's Bahr stressed that IUE's identity and traditions will be preserved within CWA's organization, noting: "We don't see this merger as the end of IUE, but instead as the opening chapter that begins a new and great history for the IUE."
CWA already represents some 30,000 manufacturing workers at Lucent Technologies, General Dynamics and other corporations, and CWA locals representing those members will be able to participate in the new Industrial Division, which will be headed by Fire.
CWA currently represents some 630,000 employees in telecommunications, information technology, journalism, broadcasting, cable TV, publishing, airlines, health care and the public sector.
Other unions that have merged with CWA over the past decade include the International Typographical Union, the National Association of Broadcast Employees and Technicians, and The Newspaper Guild.
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