Political Action Updates: Building our Political Power, and Fighting for Broadband Built with Union Labor

Fighting for Good Union Jobs in Broadband Deployment

Over the past year, CWA members fought for and helped secured billions of dollars of federal funding for States to build out broadband to unserved and underserved areas as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill.

But with big funding dollars comes out of state, fly-by-night contractors looking to make a quick buck with cheap labor - undercutting our union workforce and putting the public at risk with shoddy work. New York State is about to submit its plan to the Federal Government on how to spend this funding, and we need to make sure our recommendations are included so that this work goes to highly-trained, unionized broadband technicians - us!

We’re fighting for:

• Fiber-optic technology wherever and whenever possible!
• Prioritization of high-road employers who have:
  • A directly-employed workforce
  • Robust in-house training
  • Locally based workforce
• Transparent and enforceable workforce plans

>>Sign the petition to help ensure that New York State’s plan on how to spend our broadband dollars includes these proposals!

Alongside the petition signing, CWAers have been speaking with elected officials about the ongoing need to expand broadband throughout our communities and how to ensure that this work is done by union labor.

On September 27th, CWA Local 1170 met with New York State Senator Jeremy Cooney

New Jersey CWAers Build Power with Political Action Bootcamp Trainings

CWA's Political Action Bootcamp is one of the foundational trainings of CWA’s Political Activist Training Program, which was launched in 2014 to build more political power for the union with stronger Legislative Political Action Teams that can advocate for pro-worker laws and regulations, as well as elected officials who stand with workers and help us advance our rights.

The Bootcamp is designed as a two-day training with twenty members, providing a mix of organizing skills and political education, and serves as an intro to further political action education. Bootcamps are member-led, and a team of CWAers from locals throughout District 1 have been hard at work this year to revamp and update the Bootcamp program.

Last month, we launched our Bootcamp series in New Jersey with trainings on September 12th and 13th (with Locals 1014, 1038, and 1084), and 19th and 20th (with Locals 1033, 1037, and 1040). Member trainers from Locals 1101, 1104, 1106, and 1109 walked participants through a packed agenda covering labor history, the power of labor solidarity in fighting for pro-worker legislation, how corporate powers have used racism to try to divide the working class, and how we fight back.

September 12-13 with Locals 1014, 1038, and 1084

September 19-20 with Locals 1033, 1037, and 1040

Several participants are continuing their political action training in October and early November with a six week long Political Intensive Training, leading up through Election Day on November 7th.