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CWA @ Sixty: 1998 Convention Honors Past, Prepares for the Future
CWA marked its 60th anniversary by returning for this year’s convention to Chicago, where the union’s founding President, Joseph A. Beirne, made the motion on June 15, 1938, "that a national union be formed."
In his keynote speech this year, CWA President Morton Bahr recounted the 630,000-member union’s evolution from a union of primarily telephone workers to the union for the information age, embracing workers in television, print and electronic news media, public and health care sector, as well as law enforcement and airline employees.
Acknowledging the union’s debt to Beirne, who originated the "CWA Triangle," Bahr charted a course for CWA’s future growth and development through organizing, collective bargaining and political action.
"Today we are wiser, we are stronger, we are more experienced — and certainly tougher — than any of us could have imagined just 10 years ago," he told the convention’s more than 2,600 delegates, alternates and guests.
To overwhelming applause, Bahr announced a settlement in CWA’s strike against U S West, praising workers who walked the picket line and leaders — he later singled out District 7 Vice President Sue Pisha — who persisted in a tough round of bargaining.
"I fear that the damage that has been inflicted on U S West may linger for a while, at least until we see a change of attitude on the part of management," Bahr said.
The hall again went wild with Bahr’s announcement of a National Labor Relations Board decision that would return more than 2,000 locked out workers to their jobs — with back pay — at the Detroit News and Detroit Free Press.
Bahr also acknowledged and pledged support for CWA public workers in New Jersey fighting privatization, of Alltel workers struggling to win fair health benefits and of Southern New England Telephone employees, then on strike against a two-tier system of pay and benefits.
Cohen Succeeds Nichols as EVP
A highlight of the Aug. 31-Sept. 1 convention was the election of a new Executive Vice President to succeed M.E. Nichols, who retired after 18 years in the post.
In balloting at the close of the first day’s session, delegates elected Larry Cohen, formerly assistant to the president and director of organization, over Vice President Pisha by a margin of 225,375 to 206,260.
In an emotional statement after being sworn-in as EVP, Cohen immediately called for solidarity among all who had participated in the election process.
"It is a privilege to serve you, it is a privilege to work with you, it is privilege to stand with you, it is a privilege to fight the fight with you," said Cohen, calling upon delegates to speak with at least one other person who had participated in the opposing campaign and to respect all points of view within the union.
Cohen started his CWA career nearly 20 years ago as a member and organizer of state worker Local 1085 in New Jersey. He was appointed a CWA staff representative in New Jersey in 1979 and in 1986 and came to Washington to lead CWA’s organizing program.
Bahr also administered the oath of office to Vice President John Clark, who was reelected as the head of CWA’s Broadcast and Cable Television Sector.
Importance of 1998 Elections
Delegates gave this year’s featured speaker Vice President Al Gore six standing ovations as he reaffirmed a partnership between labor and the Clinton administration to pass and protect laws to benefit working families and urged CWA members to build on that partnership by helping to elect a pro-worker Congress.
Praising CWA for 60 years of "outstanding leadership," he stressed, "Today, we must build on the successes of a re-energized labor movement. I call upon you to use your grassroots energy and activism to work for a Congress that reflects the values of CWA, and work hard for progressive change in this country."
CWA Secretary-Treasurer Barbara Easterling, calling for grassroots political education and mobilization, exhorted the delegates, "We must arm every CWA member with information about where candidates stand and why this election matters. And then, we must get every CWA member to the polls."
She cited as key issues a true "Patients’ Bill of Rights," protecting Social Security and blocking the importation of cheap, high-tech labor from other countries.
Noting that the percentage of CWA members contributing through payroll deduction continues to grow and that their political contributions in 1997 exceeded $1,575,000, Easterling urged continued support for CWA-COPE, the union’s political education fund and its goal of "$2 million by 2000."
Power of Voting
In a surprise appearance before the convention, the Rev. Jesse Jackson, president of the Rainbow Coalition, credited CWA and the entire labor movement for consistent efforts to close the gap between the rich and poor in this nation.
He urged members to turn out at the polls in force in November: "Let democracy inform those who have the capital that you shall vote, and you shall vote intelligently and vote for those who stand for you."
"We must build a train and put Newt Gingrich on the midnight train to Georgia," he urged. "That is our job. Put him on the midnight train to Georgia."
Other Convention Actions
The delegates upheld the Appeals Committee recommendation for denials in four of five appeals but voted that the CWA Executive Board should arbitrate the case of Dolores Cook-Adams, a 10-year veteran operator dismissed from Southwestern Bell Telephone in 1995. Cook claims the company did not give her the opportunity to improve her attendance record upon her return to work after a valid disability.
They also approved the Constitution Committee’s interpretation that the CWA Constitution requires consultation with and within bargaining committees, both during bargaining and prior to the announcement of tentative agreements.
The delegates passed resolutions to:
In his keynote speech this year, CWA President Morton Bahr recounted the 630,000-member union’s evolution from a union of primarily telephone workers to the union for the information age, embracing workers in television, print and electronic news media, public and health care sector, as well as law enforcement and airline employees.
Acknowledging the union’s debt to Beirne, who originated the "CWA Triangle," Bahr charted a course for CWA’s future growth and development through organizing, collective bargaining and political action.
"Today we are wiser, we are stronger, we are more experienced — and certainly tougher — than any of us could have imagined just 10 years ago," he told the convention’s more than 2,600 delegates, alternates and guests.
To overwhelming applause, Bahr announced a settlement in CWA’s strike against U S West, praising workers who walked the picket line and leaders — he later singled out District 7 Vice President Sue Pisha — who persisted in a tough round of bargaining.
"I fear that the damage that has been inflicted on U S West may linger for a while, at least until we see a change of attitude on the part of management," Bahr said.
The hall again went wild with Bahr’s announcement of a National Labor Relations Board decision that would return more than 2,000 locked out workers to their jobs — with back pay — at the Detroit News and Detroit Free Press.
Bahr also acknowledged and pledged support for CWA public workers in New Jersey fighting privatization, of Alltel workers struggling to win fair health benefits and of Southern New England Telephone employees, then on strike against a two-tier system of pay and benefits.
Cohen Succeeds Nichols as EVP
A highlight of the Aug. 31-Sept. 1 convention was the election of a new Executive Vice President to succeed M.E. Nichols, who retired after 18 years in the post.
In balloting at the close of the first day’s session, delegates elected Larry Cohen, formerly assistant to the president and director of organization, over Vice President Pisha by a margin of 225,375 to 206,260.
In an emotional statement after being sworn-in as EVP, Cohen immediately called for solidarity among all who had participated in the election process.
"It is a privilege to serve you, it is a privilege to work with you, it is privilege to stand with you, it is a privilege to fight the fight with you," said Cohen, calling upon delegates to speak with at least one other person who had participated in the opposing campaign and to respect all points of view within the union.
Cohen started his CWA career nearly 20 years ago as a member and organizer of state worker Local 1085 in New Jersey. He was appointed a CWA staff representative in New Jersey in 1979 and in 1986 and came to Washington to lead CWA’s organizing program.
Bahr also administered the oath of office to Vice President John Clark, who was reelected as the head of CWA’s Broadcast and Cable Television Sector.
Importance of 1998 Elections
Delegates gave this year’s featured speaker Vice President Al Gore six standing ovations as he reaffirmed a partnership between labor and the Clinton administration to pass and protect laws to benefit working families and urged CWA members to build on that partnership by helping to elect a pro-worker Congress.
Praising CWA for 60 years of "outstanding leadership," he stressed, "Today, we must build on the successes of a re-energized labor movement. I call upon you to use your grassroots energy and activism to work for a Congress that reflects the values of CWA, and work hard for progressive change in this country."
CWA Secretary-Treasurer Barbara Easterling, calling for grassroots political education and mobilization, exhorted the delegates, "We must arm every CWA member with information about where candidates stand and why this election matters. And then, we must get every CWA member to the polls."
She cited as key issues a true "Patients’ Bill of Rights," protecting Social Security and blocking the importation of cheap, high-tech labor from other countries.
Noting that the percentage of CWA members contributing through payroll deduction continues to grow and that their political contributions in 1997 exceeded $1,575,000, Easterling urged continued support for CWA-COPE, the union’s political education fund and its goal of "$2 million by 2000."
Power of Voting
In a surprise appearance before the convention, the Rev. Jesse Jackson, president of the Rainbow Coalition, credited CWA and the entire labor movement for consistent efforts to close the gap between the rich and poor in this nation.
He urged members to turn out at the polls in force in November: "Let democracy inform those who have the capital that you shall vote, and you shall vote intelligently and vote for those who stand for you."
"We must build a train and put Newt Gingrich on the midnight train to Georgia," he urged. "That is our job. Put him on the midnight train to Georgia."
Other Convention Actions
The delegates upheld the Appeals Committee recommendation for denials in four of five appeals but voted that the CWA Executive Board should arbitrate the case of Dolores Cook-Adams, a 10-year veteran operator dismissed from Southwestern Bell Telephone in 1995. Cook claims the company did not give her the opportunity to improve her attendance record upon her return to work after a valid disability.
They also approved the Constitution Committee’s interpretation that the CWA Constitution requires consultation with and within bargaining committees, both during bargaining and prior to the announcement of tentative agreements.
The delegates passed resolutions to:
- Support Telephone Workers in Puerto Rico. Acknowledging the violence and abuse suffered by members of the Independent Brotherhood of Telephone Workers and the Independent Union of Telephone Workers during a bitter 41-day strike and CWA’s influence in helping end it, the delegates resolved to encourage closer relationships with the two unions and to provide expertise, support and solidarity in support of negotiations, should the Puerto Rico Telephone Co. be taken over by GTE.
- Fund Union-to-Union in Support of International Solidarity. Mindful of the exploitation of workers in developing countries and the use of prison and child labor, locals will voluntarily fund at 10 cents per member per year, Union-to-Union, a new program to encompass the old Project South America, to aid in the development of independent unions. CWA districts will choose their own union-to-union project based on consultation between headquarters and Communications International or the AFL-CIO Solidarity Center. Priority will be given to projects aimed at organizing and empowering women workers.
- Support Striking Han Young Workers. CWA will go on record in support of workers striking the Han Young maquiladora plant in Tijuana, Mexico, and endorse efforts of the Cross Border Labor Organizing Committee to end the strike. Han Young is a parts supplier to Hyundai Corp. Han Young has refused to recognize three union representation elections in the last year, which took place amid threats, violence, bribery and disinformation.
- Correct Pension Fund Inequities. CWA will use pension funds to build a more secure future for unionized workers and exert its influence as a shareholder to prevent inequities such as the payment of pensions to non-employee board members of corporations. Further, it will strive to have pension fund equities voted in the long term interests of plan participants, consistent with AFL-CIO guidelines.
- Support Sound Economic Policy. The union will continue to be active in communities nationwide and to support Jobs with Justice in the quest for good, family-friendly jobs for the future and to restore the 40-hour week.
- Bolster NABET-CWA Drive for Disney/ABC Contract. CWA will actively support mobilization drives in New York, Washington, Hollywood, San Francisco and Chicago and delegates will participate in a Federal Communications Commission public file postcard campaign on the workers’ behalf.
- Provide Affiliation Details to Convention. As CWA continues to grow, copies of all merger and affiliation agreements approved by the Executive Board will be provided to the convention, along with a report detailing the financial relationship and any debts, assets and liabilities CWA has agreed to assume.