In a previous copy of this email, the date for the national series of “No Kings” actions was listed incorrectly. The correct date is Saturday, October 18th. Click here to find a rally in your area!
Look out for the Communications Workers of America, District 1 newsletter every other week to see what CWA members have been up to.Follow us on Instagram ► Like us on Facebook ►
Read on the web:
- From the Desk of the Vice President of CWA District 1
- CWA, NewsGuild-CWA, and NYC City Councilmembers Fight for Free and Fair Press
- Local 1170 Rallies Against Outsourcing and Union-Busting
- ACTION ALERT – Local 1168 Fights Back Against Hospital Closures; You Can Help
- CWAers Meet with Legislators to Fight for Working Families — And Demand Accountability from Those Who Prioritize Corporate Handouts
- CWA Local 1180 — Our Union’s First Public Sector Local — Celebrates Its 60th Anniversary
- Clara Allen Leadership School Back in Action for the Second Year in a Row
- AWU-CWA Members Speak Out Against Rollbacks to International Workers’ Rights
- CWAers Working to Make History in the 2025 Elections
- CWA Local 1123 Expands their Legislative & Political Action Work to Build Our Political Power
From the Desk of the Vice President of CWA District 1
We’re in the Midst of a Generational Fight for Our Freedoms; Our Solidarity Matters Now More Than Ever
During this year’s CWA National Convention — the 80th in our union’s great history — Delegates voted overwhelmingly to pass Resolution 80A‑25‑06, a commitment to stand together and fight back against the forces attempting to chip away at our rights (or remove them wholesale).
Throughout history, unions have been at the forefront of fighting not just for our own rights and our own livelihoods, but fighting back against the rising tides of tyranny and consolidations of power; against those individuals who believe their own desires to be greater than the needs of our society as a whole; fighting for human rights, safety, and wellbeing as a whole.
As a lifelong union man, this is a legacy that I’m very proud to hold. It’s also one that puts a target squarely on our backs whenever bullies and wannabe-dictators rise to power and seek to make themselves even more powerful. And we’re seeing those tides rise once again.
- Stripping millions of federal workers of their unions; firing millions more
- Gutting minimum wage protections and overtime pay regulations
- Dismissing members of the National Labor Relations Board and weakening the board, making it harder for us to organize or to enforce our contracts
When unions are strong, this country is strong; when our power is stripped and our ranks are reduced and our solidarity is broken, it’s that much easier for the ultra-rich and those wannabe-dictators to build their own power, hoard wealth, and punish anyone who stands in their way.
We cannot stand by and allow our rights and freedoms to be stripped away. As Resolution 80A-25-06 states, “We cannot put our heads in the sand and hope that this authoritarian movement just blows over in the next few years.” The resolution resolves that we will stand strong together, educate one another, grow our union membership, strengthen our political power, defend free speech and the press, and defend human rights for all.
This is not an abstract or rhetorical mission — we can take concrete steps together each and every day, and I encourage every CWA member to get involved, on whatever level you’re able to. Talk to one another, read about the rising attacks on unions, get more involved with your CWA Local. Join a march or rally to add your voice to the millions calling out attacks on our freedoms.
- On Saturday, October 18th, hundreds of marches are being organized across the country. Click here to find one near you!
Let us meet this historic moment as one union, strong and ready to fight for our rights!
Dennis G. Trainor,
Vice President, CWA District 1
CWA, NewsGuild-CWA, and NYC City Councilmembers Fight for Free and Fair Press
For three years, NewsGuild-CWA members at the New York Daily News, one of the oldest news outlets in New York City, have been fighting for a first union contract that would ensure:
- Fair wage floors and guaranteed annual cost-of-living raises amidst skyrocketing inflation in one of the nation’s most expensive cities
- Job protections and fair benefits for part-time workers
- Job-security provisions that protect their work from being subcontracted permanently
- Maintaining standard benefits like time off, sick time, parental leave and 401(k) match
But they’re being stonewalled by Alden Global Capital, the destructive hedge fund that owns the Daily News and many other news outlets throughout the country. Their playbook? Buy up newspapers and other local news outlets and cut costs, cut staff, and roll back production and news coverage.
NewsGuild-CWA members have been fighting back at the bargaining table as well as through actions, rallies, and press conferences to call attention to Alden’s predatory practices and the dire consequences of the loss of reporters and local news coverage.
On September 29, CWA District 1 joined NewsGuild of NY leaders and Daily News workers in testifying before the New York City Council in support of Resolution 1015 put forth by Councilmember Carmen de la Rosa condemning Alden’s predatory practices and refusal to agree to a fair contract.
“This resolution necessarily and urgently calls out Alden for its hostile and predatory actions against every day New Yorkers who count on the Daily News to stay informed,” said NewsGuild of NY President Susan DeCarava. “We are all here today to put the hedge fund on notice that New York City stands united against greed harming one of its newspapers and recognizing that a fair contract ensures that the work of unionized journalists can continue. At no point in our history has the Daily News’ work been more important. Defending the Daily News ensures that a vitally important source of information continues to not only cover the story of New York but also preserves our democracy in New York.”
This resolution represents perhaps the most consequential rebuke of Alden Global Capital since the hedge fund was created in 2007 and began acquiring — and destroying — newspapers across the country.
Photos by Gerardo Romo / NYC Council Media Unit
“When I speak about the New York Daily News, I do so as someone who has spent most of my life being a part of what I sincerely believe to be the greatest city newspaper in the country,” said Michael Sheridan, a Daily News video and photo editor and Unit Chair for the New York Daily News Union. “But Alden Global Capital doesn’t seem to care about its employees, or investing in its newspapers. They don’t seem to care about journalism, despite owning hundreds of newspapers across the country. The only papers that seem to actually care about are the dollars they take away from the men and women who cover this city, and many other towns and cities throughout the United States.”
Watch video of the testimonies here!
Local 1170 Rallies Against Outsourcing and Union-Busting
On September 29, after months of stagnant negotiations, CWA Local 1170 members rallied alongside other labor and community allies to demand a contract with Frontier Communications.
CWA Local 1170 members, who live in the communities they serve and are well-trained on the jobs they perform, are seeing their work taken by low-wage, out-of-state contractors hired by the company. This not only undermines the Frontier employees’ collective bargaining agreement and takes work — and jobs — from Rochester’s hometown, union workforce, it also puts the quality of service for this community at risk. Meanwhile, the company is continuing to stonewall negotiations, demanding massive cuts to worker and retiree healthcare.
“Frontier is turning its back on the very people who built and maintain its network,” said Local 1170 President John Pusloskie. “Our active members have devoted their lives to this community. Our retirees helped build Frontier into the company it is today. Every single one of them have earned a fair contract, job security, and the ability to retire with the healthcare they’ve earned.”
CWA Local 1170 is calling on Frontier to put a stop once and for all to outsourcing, respect the current contract and the efforts of the union workers who have devoted their careers to the Rochester community, and return to the bargaining table ready to bargain in good faith in order to settle a contract that benefits both the workers and Frontier customers.
Meanwhile, in Connecticut, members of CWA Local 1298 voted overwhelmingly this month to ratify their own contract with Frontier. In the face of tough bargaining, attempts to outsource our members’ work, and repeated delay tactics, 1298 members held strong and mobilized with rallies, member trainings, and community events to show their solidarity and commitment to winning a contract.
The new three-year contract guarantees wage increases, including retro pay going back to September 2024. The bargaining team was also able to maintain retirement benefits and call center worker protections.
“After more than a year of bargaining, and with the patience and support of our members, the CWA Local 1298 bargaining committee was able to deliver a contract that secures jobs, maintains affordable healthcare and pensions and increases wages, including one year of retro pay,” said Local 1298 President David Weidlich. “It was critically important to maintain our job security as we continue to prepare for a transition to Verizon.”
“It’s absolutely critical that we have strong contracts in place for each and every member working for Frontier as we prepare for the sale to Verizon to be finalized and for those members to join our Verizon membership,” said Billy Gallagher, Assistant to the Vice President for CWA District 1. “I couldn’t be more proud of the work being done by these locals to fight for their members and retirees and to make sure that the transition to a new company is as seamless as possible, and to continue fighting for work in all of our areas to be done by trained, skilled, union professionals.”
ACTION ALERT – Local 1168 Fights Back Against Hospital Closures; You Can Help!
The Federal government’s massive giveaway to CEOs and corporations is costing working people.
As a result of the so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” Kaleida Health, one of CWA’s largest healthcare employers, announced the closure of several clinics due to federal funding cuts. This isn’t just a blow to the communities these clinics serve and a dangerous sign of things to come for the rest of our communities; it means over one hundred CWA members are losing their jobs.
Local 1168 is already stepping up to fight back against these cuts. On September 22nd the Local rallied along with Congressman Tim Kennedy as well as other Western New York labor leaders and elected leaders to address the looming healthcare funding crisis resulting from these funding cuts:
- Job losses for healthcare workers
- Cuts in essential services for our neighbors
- Strain on remaining facilities that puts patients at risk
“The CEO of Kaleida, who makes more $3 million per year, put our community’s access to care on the chopping block rather than reduce his own salary or fight back against Congress’s cruel Medicaid cuts,” said Denise Abbott, ER nurse at Degraff Memorial Hospital, Health and Safety Director, CWA 1168, and President of the Western NY Area Labor Federation. “Workers everywhere are being forced to reckon with higher costs and local closures, like this facility here in Amherst, so that billionaires and CEOs can take another tax break.”
“[The ‘One Big Beautiful Bill Act’] was a betrayal to the commitment we have made as a nation to care for those in need, to ensure healthcare for all, and to keep costs in check,” said Rep. Kennedy. “I stood with many of the people here today and all across our community and rang the alarm bell. We made it clear in no uncertain terms that the bill would close hospitals and nursing facilities and clinics; premiums would skyrocket; there would be a degradation of services across our country; and millions of people would lose their health insurance. And today, we’re here because sadly those predictions are becoming a reality. This is just the tip of the iceberg.”
Watch the full press conference here.
We need action from our elected leaders now to put a stop to the consequences of these federal funding cuts!
CWAers Meet with Legislators to Fight for Working Families — And Demand Accountability from Those Who Prioritize Corporate Handouts
Hudson Valley, NY – Local 1120
CWA Local 1120 members joined representatives from 1199 SEIU, the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA), the Public Employees Federation (PEF), the New York State United Teachers (NYSUT), the Hudson Valley Area Labor Federation, and other unions on September 23rd for a roundtable discussion with Congressman Pat Ryan on the so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The discussion focused on the harmful impact of the bill on the Hudson Valley’s working families, and how Rep. Ryan can work with area unions to prepare for the impact of federal funding cuts and fight back.
Putnam County, NY – Local 1103
CWA Local 1103 continued to help lead the charge in holding our elected officials accountable to their constituents as 1103 Secretary/Treasurer Joe Mayhew joined a rally outside of Congressman Mike Lawlor’s office in Carmel, NY on September 26th.
“Rep. Mike Lawler voted to cut Medicaid and Medicare. He has one last chance to fix that vote by standing up in Congress and refusing to vote for a budget that does not restore those cuts and the advance ACA tax credit. It’s time Rep Lawler listens to his constituents!”
CWA Local 1180 — Our Union’s First Public Sector Local — Celebrates Its 60th Anniversary
2025 marks the 60th Anniversary of CWA Local 1180’s, and sixty years since the initial 2,000 members of the Municipal Management Society (MMS) voted to affiliate with CWA. This year’s Annual Scholarship Dinner was a special event honoring the Local’s legacy and decades of leadership and advocacy.
MMS was formed in 1954 as the first union of New York City supervisory and administrative employees. In the early 1960s, when public sector organizing exploded and other City workers were making significant gains through collective bargaining, MMS members rededicated themselves to strengthening their collective bargaining and signed up a majority of workers before voting in 1965 to join CWA, becoming CWA’s first public sector local.
Today, Local 1180 remains one of the largest public sector locals of CWA, representing more than 9,000 active members and 6,200 retirees, and has expanded beyond City workers to represent workers at several non-profit organizations including the Trevor Project, the Audubon Society, the LGBTQ Center, StoryCorps, and more.
“CWA Local 1180 had its origins in the Municipal Management Society and when they affiliated with CWA in 1965, Local 1180 became CWA’s first public sector Local,” said CWA District 1 Vice President Dennis Trainor, one of the event’s Distinguished Career Achievement honorees. “Mind you, this was just years after public employees were granted collective bargaining rights. This tells you a lot about the fighting spirit in this Local. Today, as we celebrate Local 1180’s 60th anniversary, we are honoring all your important and historic contributions to the labor movement and the advancement of workers’ rights. Your dedication, courage, and profound fighting spirit continue to inspire us all.”
Clara Allen Leadership School Back in Action for the Second Year in a Row
After several years off due to the COVID-19 pandemic, CWA leaders brought back the Clara L Allen Leadership School last year, and followed up 2024’s strong and productive session with another week-long school this September.
The training, held at the campus of Cornell University in Ithaca, NY, brought together dozens of CWA activists from locals throughout District 1 to hone their leadership skills and learn from one another. Sessions covered topics including:
- Internal organizing
- Bargaining in the public and private sectors
- Leadership development
- Grievances and arbitration
- The impact of politics on our union and the labor movement
AWU-CWA Members Speak Out Against Rollbacks to International Workers’ Rights
On September 22nd, members of the Alphabet Workers Union-CWA Local 9009 (AWU-CWA) condemned a recent proclamation by the Trump Administration, “Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers,” which would impose a $100,000 fee for workers applying for an H-1B visa in the United States.
The surprise proclamation caused unnecessary fear and chaos for workers and does not address any concerns about employers’ abuse of the H-1B program, which is designed to allow US employers to hire workers of other nationalities in specialty occupations. H-1B visa holders are typically allowed an initial three-year stay in the US with a maximum of six years of physical presence in H-1B status.
“We call on Google to use its immense power to take a meaningful stand for its H-1B workers and for all immigrant workers at the company,” said Parul Koul, President of AWU-CWA Local 9009 and Google software engineer. “Google workers make this company run, and immigrants are a crucial part of that workforce. We deserve to have dignity and respect and to have our contributions valued.”
“This constant job insecurity doesn’t just hurt visa holders,” said Lu Liu, AWU-CWA Local 9009 member and software engineer at Google. “It deeply affects our American colleagues too. The instability makes it harder for all of us to do our jobs and keep Google innovative and competitive. This shared sense of insecurity is what prompted us to launch our job security campaign earlier this year, where Googlers, regardless of their nationality or immigration status, came together to demand greater job security from the company leadership.”
CWAers Working to Make History in the 2025 Elections
Members throughout New York City and New Jersey have been hitting the pavement in droves over the past several weeks to help make a difference in major elections this year that will directly impact millions of workers.
New Jersey is one of just two states in the country with an election for Governor this year, so all eyes have been on the Garden State as we get closer to November 4th. CWA members have risen to the task, with hundreds turning out for several Saturdays in a row to knock on doors and speak with voters about Mikie Sherrill for Governor, and the importance of this election overall. CWA represents over 35,000 workers for the State of New Jersey, who bargain with the Governor’s office for our contract and our working conditions — making this race even more critical and every door knocked by our members even more important. CWAers have also been getting out the vote for State Assembly candidates who have committed to working with us to tackle the healthcare cost crisis and overall affordability in New Jersey.
Across the river in New York City, similarly, CWA represents roughly 9,000 workers for the City of New York who will bargain with the office of the Mayor, and CWAers have been hard at work since September to talk with voters and help elect Zohran Mamdani as Mayor, as well as City Council candidates throughout the city.
CWA Local 1123 Expands their Legislative & Political Action Work to Build Our Political Power
The most important work we do as a union is at the bargaining table, gaining better wages, working conditions, and terms of employment for our members. But again and again, we see how advances made at the bargaining table can be lost through a single action of Congress or a state legislature. Other times, we can’t win what we need at the bargaining table alone — we need to work with pro-labor champions in elected office and win pro-worker legislation.
That’s where the years of dedicated work by our Legislative & Political Action Team (LPAT) members comes in, helping shape the democratic process and the laws that directly impact our lives, jobs, and contracts. Last November, CWAers helped send one of our own, former Local 1123 President Chris Ryan, to the New York State Senate, and now the Local is building on that political action momentum and expanding their LPAT as we gear up for another big legislative year in 2026 followed by Midterm Elections at the end of next year. The newly expanded LPAT held their first big meeting on September 23rd, making plans for wider member recruitment and trainings over the next year.
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