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CWA e-Newsletter: July 2, 2015

CWA e-Newsletter

Send tips to blog@cwa-union.org or @CWANews. Follow the latest developments at www.resistancegrowing.org.

Bargaining Update

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Newspaper Guild Members Rally, Win Agreement in Philadelphia

Members of The Newspaper Guild of Greater Philadelphia, CWA Local 38010, rallied for a fair contract outside the Philadelphia Inquirer and the Philadelphia Daily News last week. Their solidarity paid off with a tentative two-year agreement that has rejected management demands for health care cost shifting and furloughs, and restores "added responsibility" pay for weekend work, provides for increased severance pay and the first-ever wage scale for Philly.com employees.

The workers will vote next week, July 7-8, on the new contract.

Journalists and staff at the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Daily News and Philly.com pushed back hard against demands that could have quadrupled their health care costs and stripped their seniority rights. More than 300 members and allies came out for an informational picket last Thursday ahead of the expiration of their contract.

Joining TNG-CWA members at the rally, Bernie Lunzer, President of the NewsGuild, said, "They promised health care, and you deserve your health care paid for. We're going to fight for that, and we're going to fight the hold back on the seniority, which is a crazy request. It just is extreme."

CWA District 2-13 Vice President Ed Mooney told workers: "There'll be no more givebacks, there'll be a contract that respects worker's rights and respects seniority."

Labor union allies joined Guild members at the picket, which drew up to 400 people. "You are not alone, we will fight and we will fight with you," said Jerry Jordan of the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers.

With just a day until contract expiration, TNG-CWA negotiators, working with a federal mediator, reached a tentative agreement.

Read more here.
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National Red Cross Bargaining

For the first time, unions representing Red Cross workers are bargaining nationally for new contracts covering 5,000 health care workers in 24 states. The American Red Cross Union Coalition includes CWA, American Federation of Teachers, AFSCME, Food and Commercial Workers, SEIU, Steelworkers, Teamsters and the UAW.

Bargaining representatives from eight unions make up the American Red Cross Union Coalition. Here CWA members of the coalition discuss issues.

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Stand Up to Verizon

Verizon members in D1 and D2-13 are mobilizing as contract negotiations continue. Keep up with the latest here.

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AT&T Southeast Bargaining

As negotiations continued, CWA's bargaining team called on CWA AT&T members in D3 to "show our solidarity in order to remind the company that it's our turn."

Left: On the opening day of bargaining, members of CWA locals throughout Louisiana rally in Baton Rouge. Right: Above, members of Local 3805 in Knoxville, Tenn., held mobilization training and signed red envelopes showing their support for the bargaining team. Members of Local 3806 in Memphis also gathered signed envelopes in mobilization actions across the city.


AFL-CIO Ends Ban on Campaign Donations

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The AFL-CIO Executive Council voted to discontinue the ban on PAC donations to members of Congress. The Council voted unanimously to continue the ban on all PAC donations to those who voted against us on Fast Track authority.

CWA will follow suit.

Below is a list of Senators who voted wrong:

Lamar Alexander (R-TN)
Kelly Ayotte (R-NH)
Barrasso (R-WY)
Michael Bennet (D-CO)
Roy Blunt (R-MO)
John Boozman (R-AR)
Richard Burr (R-NC)
Maria Cantwell (D-WA)
Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV)
Thomas Carper (D-DE)
Bill Cassidy (R-LA)
Dan Coats (R-IN)
Thad Cochran (R-MS)
Christopher Coons (D-DE)
Bob Corker (R-TN)
John Cornyn (R-TX)
Tom Cotton (R-AR)
Mike Crapo (R-ID)
Ted Cruz (R-TX)
Steve Daines (R-MT)


Joni Ernst (R-IA)
Diane Feinstein (D-CA)
Deb Fischer (R-NE)
Jeff Flake (R-AZ)
Cory Gardner (R-CO)
Lindsey Graham (R-SC)
Chuck Grassley (R-IA)
Orin Hatch (R-UT)
Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND)
Dean Heller (R-NV)
John Hoeven (R-ND)
James Inhofe (R-OK)
Johnny Isakson (R-GA)
Ron Johnson (R-WI)
Tim Kaine (D-VA)
Mark Kirk (R-IL)
James Lankford (R-OK)
Mike Lee (R-UT)
John McCain (R-AZ)
Claire McCaskill (D-MO)
Mitch McConnell (R-KY)
Jerry Moran (R-KS)
Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)
Patty Murray (D-WA)
Bill Nelson (D-FL)
David Perdue (R-GA)
Rob Portman (R-OH)
James Risch (R-ID)
Pat Roberts (R-KS)
Mike Rounds (R-SD)
Marco Rubio (R-FL)
Ben Sasse (R-NE)
Tim Scott (R-SC)
Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH)
Daniel Sullivan (R-AK)
John Thune (R-SD)
Thom Tillis (R-NC)
Patrick Toomey (R-PA)
David Vitter (R-LA)
Mark Warner (D-VA)
Roger Wicker (R-MS)
Ron Wyden (D-OR)

And the list of House members:

Ralph Lee Abraham (R-5th LA)
Rick W. Allen (R-12th GA)
Brad Ashford (D-2nd NE)
Brian Babin (R-36th TX)
Lou Barletta (R-11th PA)
Andy Barr (R-6th KY)
Joe Barton (R-6th TX)
Dan Benishek (R-1st MI)
Ami Bera (D-7th CA)
Donald Beyer Jr., (D-8th VA
Gus Bilirakis (R-12th FL)
Mike Bishop (R-8th MI)
Rob Bishop (R-1st UT)
Diane Black (R-6th TN)
Marsha Blackburn (R-7th TN)
Rod Blum (R-1st IA)
Earl Blumenauer (D-3rd OR)
John Boehner (R-8th OH)
Suzanne Bonamici (D-1st OR)
Mike Bost (R-12th Illinois)
Charles Boustany (R-3rd LA)
Kevin Brady (R-8th TX)
Susan Brooks (R-5th IN)
Vern Buchanan (R-16th FL)
Larry Bucshon (R-8th IN)
Bradley Byrne (R-1st AL)
Ken Calvert (R-42nd CA)
Earl “Buddy” Carter (R-1st GA)
John R. Carter (R-31st TX)
Steve Chabot (R-1st OH)
Jason Chaffetz (R-3rd UT)
Mike Coffman (R-6th CO)
Tom Cole (R-4th OK)
Barbara Comstock (R-10th VA)
Michael Conaway (R-11th TX)
Gerald Connolly (D-11th VA)
Jim Cooper (D-5th TN)
Jim Costa (D-16th CA)
Ryan Costello (R-6th PA)
Kevin Cramer (R-At Large ND)
Erick Crawford (R-1st AR)
Ander Crenshaw (R-4th FL)
Henry Cuellar (D-28th TX)
John Abney Culberson (R-7th TX)
Carlos Curbelo (R-26th FL)
Susan Davis (D-53rd CA)
Rodney Davis (R-13th IL)
John Delaney (D-6th MD)
Suzan DelBene (D-1st WA)
Jeff Denham (R-10th CA)
Charles Dent (R-15th PA)
Ron DeSantis (R-6th FL)
Scott DesJarlais (R-4th TN)
Mario Diaz-Balart (R-25th FL)
Robert Dold (R-10th IL)
Sean Duffy (R-7th WI)
Renee Ellmers (R-2nd NC)
Tom Emmer (R-6th MN)
Sam Farr (D-20th CA)
Steven Fincher (R-8th TN)
Michael Fitzpatrick (R-8th PA)
Charles Fleischmann (R-3rd TN)
Bill Flores (R-17th TX)
J. Randy Forbes (R-4th VA)
Jeff Fortenberry (R-1st NE)
Virginia Foxx (R-5th NC)
Trent Franks (R-8th AZ)
Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-11th NJ)
Bob Gibbs (R-7th OH)
Bob Goodlatte (R-6th VA)
Trey Gowdy (R-4th SC
Kay Granger (R-12th TX)
Tom Graves (R-14th GA)
Garret Graves (R-6th LA)
Sam Graves (R-6th MO)
Glenn Grothman (R-6th WI)
Frank Guinta (R-1st NH)
Brett Guthrie (R-2nd KY)
Richard Hanna (R-22nd NY)
Cresent Hardy (R-4th NV)
Gregg Harper (R-3rd MS)
Vicky Hartzler (R-4th MO)
Joseph Heck (R-3rd NV)
Jeb Hensarling (R-5th TX)
Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-3rd WA)
Jody Hice (R-10th GA)
French J. Hill (R-2nd AR)
James Himes (D-4th CT)
Ruben Hinojosa (D-15th TX)
George Holding (R-13th NC)
Richard Hudson (R-8th NC)
Tim Huelskamp(R-1st KS)
Bill Huizenga (R-2nd MI)
Randy Hultgren (R-14th IL)
Will Hurd (R-23rd TX)
Robert Hurt (R-5th VA)
Darrell Issa (R-49 CA)
Lynn Jenkins (R-2nd KS)
Bill Johnson (R-6th OH)
Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-30th TX)
Sam Johnson (R-3rd TX)
Trent Kelly (R-1st MS)
Mike Kelly (R-3rd PA)
Derek Kilmer (D-6th WA)
Ron Kind (D-3rd WI)
Steve King (R-4th IA)
Peter King (R-2nd NY)
Adam Kinzinger (R-16th IL)
John Kline (R-2nd MN)
Stephen Knight (R-25th CA)
Doug LaMalfa (R-1st CA)
Doug Lamborn (R-5th CO)
Leonard Lance (R-7th NJ)
Rick Larsen (D-2nd WA)
Robert Latta (R-5th OH)
Billy Long (R-7th MO)
Barry Loudermilk (R-11th GA)
Mia Love (R-4th UT)
Frank Lucas (R-3rd OK)
Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-3rd MO)
Kenny Marchant (R-24th TX)
Tom Marino (R-10th PA)
Kevin McCarthy (R-23rd CA)
Michael McCaul (R-10th TX)
Tom McClintock (R-4th CA)
Patrick McHenry (R-10th NC)
Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-5th WA)
Martha McSally (R-2nd AZ)
Patrick Meehan (R-7th PA)
Gregoy Meeks (D-5th NY)
Luke Messer (R-6th IN)
John Mica (R-7th FL)
Jeff Miller (R-1st FL)
Candice Miller (R-10th MI)
John Moolenaar (R-4th MI)
Markwayne Mullin (R-2nd OK)
Tim Murphy (R-18th PA)
Randy Neugebauer (R-19th TX)
Dan Newhouse (R-4th WA)
Kristi Noem (R-At Large SD)
Devin Nunes (R-22nd CA)
Beto O'Rourke (D-16th TX)
Pete Olson (R-22nd TX)
Steven Palazzo (R-4th MS)
Erik Paulsen (R-3rd MN)
Scott Peters (D-52nd CA)


Robert Pittenger (R-9th NC)
Joseph Pitts (R-16th PA)
Ted Poe (R-2nd TX)
Jared Polis (D-2nd CO)
Mike Pompeo (R-4th KS)
Tom Price (R-6th GA)
Mike Quigley (D-5th IL)
John Ratcliffe (R-4th TX)
Tom Reed (R-23rd NY)
David Reichert (R-8th WA)
James Renacci (R-16th OH)
Reid Ribble (R-8th WI)
Kathleen Rice (D-4th NY)
Tom Rice (R-7th SC)
Scott Rigell (R-2nd VA)
Martha Roby (R-2nd AL)
David Roe (R-1st TN)
Mike Rogers (R-3rd AL)
Harold Rogers (R-5th KY)
Todd Rokita (R-4th IN)
Thomas Rooney (R-17th FL)
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-27th FL)
Peter Roskam (R-16th IL)
Dennis Ross (R-15th FL)
David Rouzer (R-7th NC)
Edward Royce (R-39th CA)
Paul Ryan (R-1st WI)
Matt Salmon (R-5th AZ)
Mark Sanford (R-1st SC)
Steve Scalise (R-1st LA)
Kurt Schrader (D-5th OR)
David Schweikert (R-6th AZ)
Austin Scott (R-8th GA)
James Sensenbrenner (R-5th WI)
Pete Sessions (R-32nd TX)
Terri Sewell (D-7th AL)
John Shimkus (R-15th IL)
Bill Shuster (R-9th PA)
Michael Simpson (R-2nd IN)
Jason Smith (R-8th MO)
Adrian Smith (R-3rd NE)
Lamar Smith (R-21st TX)
Elise Stefanik (R-21st NY)
Chris Stewart (R-2nd UT)
Steve Stivers (R-15th OH)
Marlin Stutzman (R-3rd IN)
Glenn Thompson (R-5th PA)
Mac Thornberry (R-13th TX)
Patrick Tiberi (R-12th OH)
Scott Tipton (R-3rd CO)
David Trott (R-11th MI)
Michael Turner (R-10th OH)
Fred Upton (R-6th MI)
David Valadao (R-21st CA)
Ann Wagner (R-2nd MO)
Tim Walberg (R-7th MI)
Greg Walden (R-2nd OR)
Mark Walker (R-6th NC)
Jackie Walorski (R-2nd IN)
Mimi Walters (R-45th CA)
Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-23rd FL)
Randy Weber (R-14th TX)
Brad Wenstrup (R-2nd OH)
Bruce Westerman (R-4th AR)
Ed Whitfield (R-1st KY)
Roger Williams (R-25th TX)
Joe Wilson (R-2nd SC)
Steve Womack (R-3rd AR)
Rob Woodall (7th GA)
Kevin Yoder (R-3rd KS)
David Young (R-3rd IA)
Todd Young (R-9th IN)
Ryan Zinke (R-At Large MT)

Members of CWA Local 1104's Legislative-Political Action Team delivered 300 flip flops with comments from constituents written on them to Rep. Kathleen Rice (D-N.Y. 4th district) this week. Activists from Moveon.org, Long Island Progressive Coalition, CSEA and other unions have planned additional flip flop deliveries to Rice.

In January, Rice wrote a letter to President Barack Obama saying she opposed fast-track trade authority because it would send American jobs offshore and push down wages. In April, she said it again. But then she flip-flopped and voted against U.S. workers, jobs and communities by supporting Fast Track.


Supreme Court Rules Ban on Same-sex Marriage Unconstitutional

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Read CWA's Statement on the Ruling by the Supreme Court of the United States in Obergefell v. Hodges.

"Last week the Supreme Court issued a historic ruling in the case of Obergefell v. Hodges, permitting same-sex marriage in all 50 states.

LGBTQ activists and their allies fought for years to gain the right for LGTBQ couples to marry. These couples and families were not asking for special rights, or different rights. They were simply asking for the same rights afforded to all other couples.

Today, the Supreme Court enshrined that right. Same-sex couples are now treated equally under the law and CWA is proud to stand behind our brothers and sisters who worked so hard to achieve equality.

As a union, CWA is proud to join this fight for equal rights in the workplace and in society. Today, we can finally celebrate, knowing that we are one step closer to achieving equality and opportunity for all."

CWAer Joe McCue was at the U.S. Supreme Court as the court ruled that same-sex couples in all 50 states had the right to marry.


The Fight to Restore Voting Rights

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Last week's rally in Roanoke, Va., marked the second anniversary of the Supreme Court's decision that gutted the Voting Rights Act. Hundreds of activists from these Democracy Initiative partners turned out:

AFL-CIO, AFSCME, Alliance for Justice, Amalgamated Transit Union, America Votes, American Postal Workers Union, Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC, Campaignfor America's Future, Common Cause, CWA, Demos, Every Voice, Greenpeace, Jobs With Justice, Lawyers' Committee, League of Conservation Voters, National Action Network, NAACP, National Coalition of Black Civic Participation, National LGBTQ Task Force, National People's Action, People for the American Way, Project Vote, Public Citizen, ReThink Media, SEIU, Sierra Club, and United States Student Association.

Watch some of the media coverage here.


Obama Administration Proposes New Rules on Overtime Pay

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The Obama administration's proposed rules to update the requirements for determining workers' overtime pay are an important first step toward improving the lives of millions of working families. When finalized, the new rules will mean a pay increase for at least 5 million workers who now work more than 40 hours a week but are denied overtime pay.

Currently under the Fair Labor Standards Act, non-hourly workers who earn less than $23,660 a year are paid a time and a half if they work more than 40 hours per week. This limit is way out of date; in 1975, 62 percent of the workforce qualified for overtime but today it's fewer than 12 percent. The new threshold would be $50,440 a year or about $970 a week.

In addition, too many workers are subject to employers' efforts to intentionally misclassify them as "professionals" to deprive them of the overtime pay they have earned, or use other means to force workers to put in extra hours without compensation.

CWA will continue to advocate for full and effective bargaining rights for workers as the most effective way for working families to improve incomes and their standard of living.


Supreme Court Takes Up Case Attacking Bargaining Rights

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Read CWA's statement on the Supreme Court Agreeing to Hear Friedrichs vs. California Teachers Association.

"Today's decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to hear Friedrichs vs. California Teachers Association shows how extreme the assault on workers' bargaining rights has become. The Friedrichs case is an attack on public sector workers, financed by anti-worker and corporate education supporters. These groups have been working for years to stifle the voices of teachers and other public servants in the workplace and strip them of their rights.

Labor law requires that a union must represent all workers in the bargaining unit. That's why the "fair share" system makes sense. Workers who choose not to join the union that the majority has approved still benefit from union representation. Under fair share, these workers who choose not to join may be required to pay their fair share of the costs of the representation from which they benefit. Friedrichs seeks to encourage free-riding by outlawing the fair share system for the public sector workforce, thereby making union representation more difficult to sustain.

The public sector workforce is predominantly female and benefits from the ability to bargain collectively. The wealthy special interests behind this lawsuit want to make it harder for public workers to sustain union representation.

We hope that the Supreme Court sees through this attack on workers' rights and deals with the issues in the Friedrichs case fairly and promptly."


Organizing Update

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AT&T Mobility South Carolina Workers Join CWA

The 71 AT&T Mobility (formerly Alltel) retail store employees in South Carolina now have CWA representation, with a majority indicating that they want a CWA voice in the workplace and bargaining rights. CWA Local 3716 President Jason LaPorte and Local 3719 President Phillip Williams played a big role in the organizing effort.