CWA Human Rights Committee in District 1

“The ultimate tragedy is not the oppression and cruelty by the bad people but the silence over that by the good people.”

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

 

Human Rights are under attack—and we won't stand for it! We can no longer afford to allow systems of oppression and hatred to create division between us while greedy corporations and the ultra-rich reap the benefits of our hard work. 

Throughout our union's history, CWA activists have been champions and protectors of democracy and human rights. We've fought for the abolishment of child labor, for equal voting rights for African Americans and for women, and we've been there throughout countless great movements in this nation's history to build a more just and inclusive society for people of all races, genders, sexual orientation, nationalities, religious beliefs, and socio-economic statuses. 

But there is always more work to be done - and we encourage everyone to be a part of it! 

The cornerstone of unions is to ensure just and equal treatment on the job and in society. CWA's Human Rights Committee aims to create space for CWA activists to come together and ensure that Human Rights issues are central to CWA’s work on all three sides of the triangle: bargaining, organizing and political/legislative work.

Our Core Principles & Priorities

  • Hold elected officials accountable to the people by supporting public and small donor financing initiatives and increasing our Political Action Fund contributions.
  • Make sure everyone is treated fairly at work by negotiating contracts that protect working people against discrimination based on gender identity.
  • Protect the right to vote by challenging voter suppression legislation and advocating for the reinstatement of voting privileges to disenfranchised citizens.
  • Secure good, family and community supporting jobs by actively opposing the outsourcing and offshoring of American jobs.
  • Improve healthcare access by advocating for legislation providing quality health care and a secure retirement for American workers.
  • Protect working people from the threat of deportation by urging Congress to pass legislation that provides a path to citizenship for immigrants.
  • Decriminalize marginalized communities by collaborating with grassroots organizations to pass criminal justice reform.

Program Goals

  • Work to fully integrate Civil Rights and Women’s issues within the core work of the union
  • Expand CWA’s network of Human Rights Activists by creating a structured, national network of socially conscious union and community organizers
  • Increase grassroots activity on Civil Rights and Women’s issues directly impacting the working class
  • Increase visibility of CWA Civil Rights & Equity and Women’s Committee in communities
  • Provide support to grassroots community organizations actively engaged with members on campaigns related to CWA’s broader goals for social and economic justice