CWA Next Generation Takes on Student Debt

On August 12th and 13th, CWA Next Generation in partnership with Jobs with Justice tackled student loan debt head on by organizing five student debt clinics across New York and New Jersey. The clinics were organized to teach CWA members how to significantly lower or even eliminate their student loan payments through federal income-driven repayment plans and the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. Attendees included CWA members struggling with  and workers who have co-signed student loans for their children.   CWA Next Generation is championing the issue of student debt as an important issue that not only affects young workers, but also working families. Student debt is one of the biggest financial hurdles workers face. It is the second-highest consumer debt in the nation surpassing both auto and credit card debt. More and more employers are requiring applicants to have a college degree. Student loans once borrowed as financial assistance to gain access to a career and higher standard of living are now pushing graduates into financial fear. After finishing school, many graduates do not even consider renting, purchasing a home or making life decisions all together because of burdensome student loans. Every month, borrowers struggle with whether they are going to be able to afford their monthly student loan payment on top of making ends meet.  “I am proud that my union is taking on this issue as one of the first unions to lead the charge against student debt as a part of a broader progressive working people’s agenda,” said Next Generation Lead Activist Victoria Fisher. “CWA Next Generation has been successful because of the collaboration of our locals.”  The student debt clinics were organized also as a part of CWA Next Generation’s broader Service-to-Action Pipeline mission of servicing members while looking to identify young worker activists to build the Next Generation network.  As CWA’s young members program, Next Generation Network is aimed at connecting young workers aged 35 and under with member-mentors over the age of 35 to form a network of union activists committed to the task of advancing economic and social justice. The clinics were the latest in CWA Next Generation-led actions this year. In New Jersey, Next Gen-ers have been building a strong alliance with progressive allies, including LGBTQ activists. In June, the Local 1037 Next Gen members marched in the Garden State Equality Pride March in Asbury Park, NJ. In April, members joined hundreds of fast-food workers and a broad coalition of organizations and local unions in Newark in a massive Fight for 15 Day of Action calling for livable wages and union rights for low-income workers.    CWA Next Generation will continue to tackle the issue of student debt and roll out the clinics to worksites and in after-work programs. For more on the information presented at the clinics visit forgivemystudentdebt.org. To join CWA Next Generation Network visit cwanextgen.org.

On August 12 and 13, CWA Next Generation, in partnership with Jobs with Justice, tackled student loan debt head on by organizing five student debt clinics across New York and New Jersey. The clinics were organized to teach CWA members how to significantly lower or even eliminate their student loan payments through federal income-driven repayment plans and the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program.  

CWA Next Generation is championing the issue of student debt as an important issue that not only affects young workers, but also working families. As governments have slashed aid for public higher education, a college degree is increasingly becoming something only the wealthy can afford.  Student debt is one of the biggest financial hurdles workers face. It is the second-highest consumer debt in the nation surpassing both auto and credit card debt. More and more employers are requiring applicants to have a college degree. Student loans once borrowed as financial assistance to gain access to a career and higher standard of living are now pushing graduates into financial fear. After finishing school, many graduates do not even consider renting, purchasing a home or making life decisions all together because of burdensome student loans. Every month, borrowers struggle with whether they are going to be able to afford their monthly student loan payment on top of making ends meet. 

.@CWANextGen kicked off Day 2 of its NJ Student Debt Clinics in Trenton! #DebtFreeFuture@jwjnationalpic.twitter.com/b4CFfBLg4z

— CWA New Jersey (@CWA_NJ) August 13, 2015

“I am proud that my union is taking on this issue as one of the first unions to lead the charge against student debt as a part of a broader progressive working people’s agenda,” said Next Generation Lead Activist Victoria Fisher. “CWA Next Generation has been successful because of the collaboration of our locals.” 

The student debt clinics were organized also as a part of CWA Next Generation’s broader Service-to-Action Pipeline mission of servicing members while looking to identify young worker activists to build the Next Generation network.  As CWA’s young members program, Next Generation Network is aimed at connecting young workers aged 35 and under with member-mentors over the age of 35 to form a network of union activists committed to the task of advancing economic and social justice. The clinics were the latest in CWA Next Generation-led actions this year. In New Jersey, Next Gen-ers have been building a strong alliance with progressive allies, including LGBTQ activists. In June, Local 1037 Next Gen members marched in the Garden State Equality Pride March in Asbury Park, NJ. In April, members joined hundreds of fast-food workers and a broad coalition of organizations and local unions in Newark in a massive Fight for 15 Day of Action calling for livable wages and union rights for low-income workers. 

CWA Next Generation will continue to tackle the issue of student debt and roll out the clinics to worksites and in after-work programs.

For more on the information presented at the clinics visit forgivemystudentdebt.org. To join CWA Next Generation Network visit cwanextgen.org.