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CWA STRONG: What We Can Do

International Executive Board

  • Make internal organizing a priority for all District/ Sector employees and review results monthly.
  • Hold a staff meeting to review CWA STRONG , the crisis we face and the need to prioritize and support internal organizing.
  • Present and discuss CWA STRONG at all meetings and conferences. Schedule workshops or panels and recognize locals and staff working the program and achieving results.
  • Visit work locations with a local officer to hear about issues and talk union with members and non-members.
  • Continue to encourage movement building and work with allies.

Staff

  • Collect internal organizing survey form each local assigned.
  • Attend an internal organizing training in your district/sector.
  • Attend local Executive Board meetings to review current crisis and CWA STRONG Plan and get commitment from locals to work the plan.
  • Help locals get non-member data from employers and electronic reporting.
  • Verify that locals have copies of membership cards.
  • Visit work locations with local officers to hear about issues and talk about the union with members and non-members.
  • Ask to meet with local organizing committee. Review current crisis and CWA STRONG Plan. Get committee to commit to internal organizing.
  • Review your locals' online communications capacity and recommend that they use Action Network for e-mail and LaborWeb for their websites if they do not already have a system in place.
  • Bargain to achieve model language for access to new hires and existing employees, on the job union orientation and other proposals that support internal organizing.
  • Encourage locals to make sure that all bargaining is strategic and coordinated.
  • Encourage locals to share information and strategies throughout our union and to fight giveback demands.
  • Encourage locals to build partnerships with allies.

Local Presidents/Officers

  • Return internal organizing survey to your staff.
  • Invite Staff to review current crisis and CWA STRONG plan with your local Executive Board, organizing committee and at membership meetings.
  • Communicate with members about crisis and CWA STRONG by posting on website, sending out emails and including in local newsletters.
  • Reach out to District Internal Organizing Coordinator and design a systematic plan to increase members by 10 percentage points if local is at or below 80 % organized.
  • Make internal organizing a priority and review nonmember numbers at every local Executive Board meeting.
  • Divide up worksites among local board members and visit each to talk with members and sign up nonmembers.
  • Work to collect at least 50% of member’s emails and communicate regularly with members via e-mail. A request for email addresses should be on all materials distributed in the workplace, on bulletin boards and local websites.
  • Use the CWA STRONG materials at stewards and membership meetings to help members better understand the crisis and challenges we face how and it affects our contracts and rights.
  • Set up a website and Facebook page for your local and keep it up-to-date with information on events, activities and how the local supports members.
  • Have a diverse, trained local organizing committee.
  • Have a systematic program for asking for PAF contributions.
  • Have a functioning Human Rights Committee
  • Identify allies that the local can work with on issues and develop a deeper longer term partnership.

Take the CWA STRONG Pledge

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