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60,000 Urge FCC to Reject T-Mobile/Sprint Merger CWAers, along with several other public interest groups, delivered a petition to the FCC on Tuesday with more than 60,000 signatures opposing the potential T-Mobile/Sprint merger, saying that the merger would lead to lost jobs, higher prices for consumers, and less competition. The merger would particularly harm low-income consumers and communities of color. “Many T-Mobile and Sprint workers have signed a petition expressing their concern about the jobs impact of this merger,” said Vice President of CWA Local 2222 Sharita Bryant of Northern Va. who is a wireless retail worker, at the petition delivery. “The merger will lead to the loss of 30,000 jobs, mostly at retail stores like the one I work at. The FCC should deny this merger as currently structured because it is bad for workers and bad for consumers.” Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal reported this week that the proposed merger is in doubt, saying T-Mobile and Sprint have been told by Justice Department staff that the merger is unlikely to be approved as currently structured. Dozens of members of Congress and several Democratic candidates for president have also registered their opposition to the deal. CWAers, along with several other public interest groups, delivered a petition to the FCC on Tuesday with more than 60,000 signatures opposing the potential T-Mobile/Sprint merger, saying that the merger would lead to lost jobs, higher prices for consumers, and less competition. — Apr 18
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The Next Generation of CWA Leaders This month, five CWA Next Generation Lead Activists led a Reversing Runaway Inequality training at the CWA national headquarters. Participants from CWA and allied organizations, including SEIU and Working America learned about the fundamental causes of income inequality and how working people can fight back. Lead Activists then met with Telecommunications & Technologies Vice President Lisa Bolton, who leads the CWA Next Gen program, to develop a training curriculum for young CWA members. Leads will conduct trainings in several districts later this spring. To learn how to get involved with CWA NextGen, visit CWANextGen.org! — Apr 18
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NewsGuild-CWA and Teamsters Call on Gannett Shareholders to Reject Hedge Fund’s Takeover Leaders of the NewsGuild-CWA and Teamsters unions issued a call to Gannett shareholders this week to reject a “hopelessly conflicted” board takeover effort by vulture hedge fund Alden Global Capital, owner of Digital First Media newspapers. The unions represent thousands of employees at Gannett and DFM. “We believe that hedge funds in general and Alden in particular have had a destructive impact on the news industry,” the unions’ letter stated. “They have slashed staff and sold real estate to extract cash from the news organizations without regard to the role news organizations play in communities.” Alden, which owns the DFM chain of nearly 200 publications, has been called a “destroyer of newspapers” for its voracious pillaging of its papers’ staff, real estate and resources, with little to no reinvestment. The full letter is on the SEC website here. — Apr 18
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Bargaining Update University of California UPTE-CWA Local 9119 Healthcare, Research, and Technical members went on a one-day solidarity strike on April 10 in response to UC's Unfair Labor Practices against AFSCME 3299 to show UC executives that their illegal intimidation and other underhanded tactics won't be tolerated against any UC workers. Although Wednesday's strike was in response to UC's illegal intimidation tactics against AFSCME 3299 and is unrelated to UPTE-CWA negotiations, UPTE-CWA members continue to fight for a fair contract. The University of California's so-called "Last, Best, and Final Offer" for Research and Technical members contains unnecessary and unacceptable cuts including eliminating step increases for pay, no daily overtime or protections for full-time work, putting pension benefits in jeopardy by pushing new hires to choose a risky 401(k), and more. The offer would also limit the right to file a grievance in cases of sexual harassment and sexual violence. UPTE-CWA Healthcare, Research, and Technical members went on a one-day solidarity strike in response to UC's Unfair Labor Practices against AFSCME 3299 to show UC executives that their illegal intimidation and other underhanded tactics won't be tolerated against any UC workers. ### Cornerstone Staffing Solutions, Inc. (RightStone) CWA members at Cornerstone Staffing Solutions ratified an agreement with RightStone with a 100% yes vote. The agreement contains a 3% retroactive general wage increase across the board, while preserving all the benefits at the current levels and maintaining all other terms and conditions of the agreement. — Apr 11
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TSEU-CWA Members Lobby for Long-Overdue Raises for State Workers Hundreds of Texas state workers, members of the Texas State Employees Union-CWA Local 6186, gathered in Austin on Wednesday for a huge lobby day to take a stand for economic and social justice for state workers and all Texans. TSEU-CWA members from across the state were there to tell state legislators that they are ready to fight to restore funding for public services, to protect state employee benefits, and to win a real across-the-board raise. Currently, a pay raise for state employees and retirees is not included in draft budgets created by legislators. The last time state workers saw an across-the-board raise, in the 2015 legislative session, lawmakers approved a 2.5% raise that was completely wiped out by a 2.6% increase in state employees' contributions to the ERS pension fund. On top of that, employees saw big cost increases in dependent health care coverage, meaning state employees actually saw their take home pay decrease. With turnover rates at state agencies higher than they've been since 1990, TSEU-CWA members are calling for legislators to give all state agency and university workers a long-overdue $6,000 raise. Read more about the lobby day here. Hundreds of Texas state workers, members of the Texas State Employees Union-CWA Local 6186, gathered in Austin for a huge lobby day to take a stand for economic and social justice for state workers and all Texans. — Apr 11