From the Desk of the Vice President of CWA District 1

A battle over which social services to cut—healthcare, food access, education, retirement support—is a race to the bottom.

As a leader of this great union, I am incredibly proud of how our members have stepped up in recent months to support our communities. From food, clothing, and school supply drives to fundraisers and public forums, our members are filling not just gaps, but gaping holes left by federal budget cuts to essential services. They’re showing up—organizing, educating, and rallying—to draw attention to proposed cuts to programs like Medicaid and Social Security that will have long-lasting and disastrous effects on all of us. The work of Locals 1040, 1103, 1120, 1180, and many others is a powerful reminder of what unions can accomplish when we stand together.

As a member of this nation, it is deeply troubling to watch our communities be undermined by relentless funding cuts—cuts made to fund tax breaks for corporations and CEOs who already hold immense wealth. Programs like SNAP, Medicaid, and Social Security are not just lifelines for individuals; they are pillars of healthy, stable communities and a functioning economy.

At a time when costs for groceries, housing, and healthcare continue to soar, these programs help bridge the growing gap between wages and reality. Slashing them will hurt far more than those who directly rely on them—entire communities will feel the impact, and working families will be left more vulnerable.

We must demand that our leaders protect these services at the federal level and close funding gaps at the state level. In the meantime, we will continue to step up—supporting our neighbors, raising awareness, and strengthening our communities together.