Read on the web:
- CWAers Throughout New Jersey Say: It’s Time to Put a STOP to Skyrocketing Healthcare Costs!
- Three Big Victories at the Bargaining Table, Including a First Union Contract!
- WE BUILD IT BEST! Local 1298 Workers Aim to Put a Stop to Outside Contractors
- Political Action Update: Fighting for Elected Leaders Who Stand with Workers!
- Organizing Updates – Two Big Victories
- Cuts to Medicaid Will Impact ALL Americans—CWAers Are Fighting Back
- Action Alert! No Kings in America: National Rallies and Day of Action
- Legislative Updates – Major Progress in NYS Legislature As Session Winds Down
- NewsGuild of New York-CWA President Susan DeCarava Makes History as First NewsGuild of New York President Honored with NYC CLC Visionary Award
- CWA Human Rights Committee: Celebrating and Acknowledging Several National Awareness Month Events
CWAers Throughout New Jersey Say: It’s Time to Put a STOP to Skyrocketing Healthcare Costs!
On June 4 thousands of CWA members working in State and Local Government public sector positions braved the soaring heat to turn out for a massive rally at the New Jersey State House Annex in Trenton to deliver a message to state lawmakers: we need action NOW to stop and contain healthcare costs for New Jersey’s public sector workforce!
Since 2022, healthcare premiums for State workers have increased by 40% while local government workers have seen a 59% compounded increase. At the bargaining table, CWA has worked to protect members from the full impact of these increases, but we need legislative action to contain costs for State workers, gain parity for Local Government workers, and make New Jersey more affordable for all.
CWA members were joined by a coalition of other unions including the New Jersey State AFL-CIO, AFSCME NJ, AAUP-AFT, AFT New Jersey, The Council of New Jersey State Colleges, URA-AFT, HPAE, IFPTE, as well as NJ State Assemblymembers Cody Miller and Verlina Reynolds-Jackson at the rally, filling the Annex square and speaking about the growing crisis of affordability for working families in New Jersey
“I have something to say to this state and to this country,” said Billy Gallagher, CWA District 1 Assistant to the Vice President, addressing the massive crowd. “Anyone who thinks unions are going away, take a picture of today, ‘cause we’re not going away! We’re fighting for our rights, and we’re gonna keep fighting!”
The rally was part of a larger campaign spearheaded by CWA to fight for common-sense cost control and solutions like claims auditing, enforcing existing contracts with insurance carriers, and fair pricing that would rein in the costs of care overall, generating enormous savings for the State, local governments, and workers.
“When we get a raise, they take a higher percentage of our pay and pretty much leave some of our members wondering, ‘Did we even get a raise at all?'” said Tammy Carr, CWA Local 1084 Vice President. “A promotion should NEVER equate to a decrease in pay! A transformational contract should include healthcare that avoids price-gouging. We should NOT be penalized for needing healthcare!”
Three Big Victories at the Bargaining Table, Including a First Union Contract!
The Trevor Project (Local 1180)
More than two years since they first went public with their campaign to join CWA Local 1180, works at The Trevor Project, a nonprofit suicide-prevention organization offering counseling and assistance to LGBTQ youth, ratified their first union contract!
Although the organization voluntarily recognized CWA as the representative for unionized staff in 2023, the road to a first contract has been a long and tough one, requiring strong mobilization bringing the predominantly remote staff together to fight for improved wages and working conditions. As attacks on the LGBTQ community have increased in recent months, the organization’s work has become especially important–as has the need for strong protections for the workers.
Highlights of the contract include:
- Equitable annual raises for all workers
- Guaranteed increases to salary bands
- Paid time for rank-and-file union representatives
- Protections for immigrant workers
- Guaranteed remote work rights
- Fair shift-bidding process that prioritizes workers with ADA accommodations
Camden County Board of Social Services (Local 1084)
After more than a year of bargaining and massive mobilization efforts that included multiple worksite rallies and powerful testimony before the Camden County Board, Local 1084 members won a new strong new contract retroactive to January 2024.
Highlights include:
- Significant wage increases – the highest in 17 years
- Increased flexibility on union leave
- Right to use sick time for parent teacher conferences, or for circumstances resulting from domestic or sexual violence
- Expansion of bereavement leave allowances
- Juneteenth added as paid holiday
- Improvements on progressive discipline
- Improved language on trainings
- Parity on the number of vacation days employees get, resulting in all employees getting 25 days of vacation after 18 years of service regardless of one’s date of hire
- Some improvements on healthcare costs – though more must be done on the legislative level, which is why CWA has launched a massive campaign to address rapidly increasing costs for public sector workers in New Jersey
Local 1084 members at a Practice Picket outside of the Camden County Board of Social Services in April
Graduate Student Employees Union (Local 1104)
Graduate workers at State University of New York (SUNY) campus won a new contract this month after over a year of tough bargaining and strong mobilization across multiple campuses that included several rallies, op-eds in local news, and a massive petition delivered to the Governor’s office.
The contract, which is retroactive to 2023 and expires in 2026, includes significant improvements on both economics and non-economics, with NO concessions
Highlights include:
- Salary increases
- Signing bonuses
- Increase to contractual salary minimums
- Professional development fund expansion
- Specific assistance to International workers
- Creation of a best-in-industry system of paid parental leave
- Stronger grievance and contract enforcement
- Improved health and safety standards
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CWA 1104-GSEU members deliver a petition to the New York Governor’s office
WE BUILD IT BEST! Local 1298 Workers Aim to Put a Stop to Outside Contractors
On June 6th CWA Local 1298 members rallied (along with Scabby the Rat) to tell Frontier Communications that WE BUILD IT BEST!
For years, Frontier has been shifting work away from union workers to outside contractors, many of whom reside out of state and perform low-quality work. In the midst of bargaining and with their contract extended to the end of June, 1298 members – along with members of CWA Locals 1111, 1115, and 1170 in New York, also bargaining with Frontier – are fighting for a fair contract that puts an end to the use of outside contractors once and for all.
Political Action Update: Fighting for Elected Leaders Who Stand with Workers!
Buffalo, NY
The race for Mayor of the city of Buffalo is on, and CWA members have been turning out over the last several weeks to help elect a longtime legislative friend to CWA, Sean Ryan.
On June 7th members of CWA Locals 1122, 1133, and 1168 joined Senator Ryan and other union members from throughout Western NY to rally and then knock on doors to talk to voters about a candidate who has never wavered in his dedication to union members.
Among Senator Ryan’s accomplishments in the NYS Senate and Assembly, he’s led the fight to pass several major pieces of legislation that have had a direct impact on our members:
- Shortening the waiting time for striking workers to receive Unemployment from seven weeks to just two (the first group of strikers to benefit from this new law? CWA Local 1133 members on strike at Mercy Hospital in 2021)
- Protecting call center jobs from outsourcing
Primary Election Day is coming up on Tuesday, June 24.
New Jersey
As one of only two states in the country with elections for statewide offices this year, all eyes are on New Jersey, and CWA members have already turned out in droves to fight for candidates who have proved that they will fight for us – especially critical in the midst of CWA’s campaign to stop and contain rising healthcare costs.
Over the last several weeks leading up to yesterdays Primary Election Day, CWA members have hit the pavement up and down the state to knock on doors and speak with voters about candidates in the NJ State Assembly and ensure that we have a State legislature that will prioritize our needs.
CWAers were instrumental in helping every one of our primary candidates winning their elections last night!
Organizing Updates – Two Big Victories
SUNY-Binghamton Research Assistants (Local 1104)
Earlier this month, 292 research assistants at the State University of New York (SUNY)-Binghamton’s Research Foundation won their union election by a landslide. They will join CWA Local 1104, which represents 4,700 graduate student workers and 1,062 research assistants at SUNY campuses.
The majority of these workers are international students conducting scientific research, prime targets for President Trump’s mass deportation and research defunding schemes. Despite the inherent danger of organizing and the added danger of incarceration or deportation, these brave workers courageously accepted those risks to help protect one another.
“I’m pro-union because international students are more vulnerable, particularly today,” said Turan, a Binghamton History Department research assistant. “Building the union is about securing protections for international workers as well as ensuring that all RAs have the pay and benefits we need. We can get that through a union contract.”
CWA Local 1104 President Mike Ippoliti played a key role in supporting these workers, as did organizers from CWA Locals 1104,1123, and 1180. “We’re happy to welcome these workers into the CWA family,” said Ippoliti. “Despite considerable time constraints, we pulled together in an ‘all-hands-on-deck’ effort over the last few months. This win would not have been possible without everyone involved. We are looking forward to bargaining a first contract in the coming months.”
Hearst Connecticut Media Group (NewsGuild of New York-CWA)
Also last week, media workers at Hearst Connecticut Media Group (HCMG) voted decisively to join the NewsGuild of New York (TNG-CWA Local 31003). The reporters, photographers, editors, and digital producers working for Connecticut’s largest print/digital news organization have united with TNG-CWA-represented newsrooms across the country to have a say in their workplace.
“Good unions make for good journalism, and good journalism is a foundation of a free and open society,” said Ethan Fry, a breaking news reporter. “I’m so thrilled that my colleagues and I affirmed our commitment to forming a union—the first one I am fortunate enough to be a member of after more than 20 years in the profession. I look forward to meeting management to bargain for a fair contract that ensures good local journalism in Connecticut for years to come.”
Workers cited stagnant wages, shifting job responsibilities, and a mandate to report to offices far from the communities they cover as reasons for forming their union.
Cuts to Medicaid Will Impact ALL Americans—CWAers Are Fighting Back
In addition to providing healthcare access for millions of Americans, including several million children, Medicaid is a backbone of funding for hospitals throughout the country. The $800 Billion in cuts proposed in Congress’s tax and spending bill would be a financial disaster for our State budgets, and have a direct impact on both CWA member jobs and the healthcare that we all receive.
Cuts to Medicaid will result in hospital funding and budget cuts, leading to:
- Increased patient loads for already overstretched CWA nurses and healthcare workers
- Increased insurance premiums for everyone
- States being forced to gut vital services like mental health and addiction services, crisis response teams, public education, transportation, and safety
- Jeopardized rural healthcare access, leaving entire communities without access to care and the loss of these crucial jobs
- Limited options for safe, quality care for seniors
Throughout the country, CWA members have been rallying, calling their members of Congress, writing letters, and more to put a stop to Medicaid cuts before it’s too late.
Local 1103 – New York
Members of CWA Local 1103 have been turning out for near-weekly events throughout Westchester County, NY to hold Congressman Mike Lawlor accountable to his constituents and say NO CUTS TO MEDICAID! During last year’s election, Rep. Lawlor made promises that he would stand with the people and not to vote for any legislation that would cut Medicaid–yet he recently voted in favor of the $800 Billion in cuts.
On May 31, CWA Local 1103 spearheaded a rally in Ossining, NY alongside several other labor and community groups to spread the word about these cuts and about who Rep. Lawlor really stands with (spoiler alert: not us).
“I wear two hats,” said Local 1103 Secretary/Treasurer Joe Mayhew, speaking at the rally. “I wear the union hat, and I wear another one, of a United States Air Force Veteran. And I’m here to tell you that you most certainly cut fraud, waste, and abuse after you fire tens of thousands of government employees in violation of their union contract–many who are veterans whose jobs ARE to weed out fraud, waste, and abuse!”
Watch video of Joe’s speech here.
Local 1040 – New Jersey
CWA Local 1040 Legislative and Political Action Coordinator Tameeka Chang joined a chorus of CWA members demanding “Hands Off Medicaid!” and visiting Congressional offices to demand action from our representatives.
Local 1091 – New Jersey
On June 3 CWA Local 1091 Mobilizer Dan Bazarian testified at the Ocean County Commissioners meeting as the Commissioners discussed a Resolution to oppose Medicaid cuts. This comes after several weeks in which residents of Ocean County have been petitioning County Commissioners to intercede on constituents’ behalf with Congressmen Chris Smith and Jeff Van Drew—both of whom voted “Yes” to cutting Medicaid, Medicare, and SNAP.
CWA Local 1091, which represents nurses at several New Jersey hospitals, joined the fight to speak out about the direct impact of these cuts to hospitals, nursing homes, in-home healthcare providers.
“The impact of looming cuts to Medicaid on our state can’t be overstated. Hospitals rely on Medicaid funding to keep their doors open. By providing coverage, Medicaid decreases the number of uninsured patients which takes pressure off hospitals and keeps hidden costs from getting passed on to the rest of us through higher insurance premiums. We urge you to consider the impact that these cuts will have.”
Watch video of Dan’s testimony here.
Action Alert! No Kings in America: National Rallies and Day of Action
On Saturday, June 14, CWA is joining with national unions and organizations all across the country for a day of protest to continue the fight back against the broad attacks on workers’ rights we have seen from this administration.
We have to keep standing up and saying loud and clear:
- No cuts to our jobs, our essential programs, services, and our funding!
- Hands off our rights, hands off our healthcare!
- We are the many – they are the few!
Click here to find a march or rally near you here. There are over 1,500 events registered throughout the country, with more being added every day.
If you’re in the New York City area, we’ll be meeting at the New York City Public Library in midtown Manhattan at the Patience Lion beginning at 1:30pm, ready to step off for the march at 2pm.
Legislative Updates – Major Progress in NYS Legislature As Session Winds Down
As the New York Legislative Session gets close to wrapping up later this month, our priority bills are moving quickly through legislative committees and votes in the Assembly and Senate. After months of good work by the New York Legislative and Political Action Team (LPAT), making repeated trips to Albany to speak with legislators and spearheading mobilization activities, we’re doing well on our priorities:
- One Week Unemployment Insurance Striking Workers [Bronson A3654]
- What we’re fighting for: reducing the waiting period for striking workers to receive unemployment to one week.
- PASSED in both the Assembly and Senate!
- Keep Police Radio Public Act (S416 Gianaris / A3516 Reyes):
- PASSED in both the Assembly and Senate!
- Anti-OTMR Enforcement Bill (S6997 C. Ryan / A7544 Magnarelli):
- What we’re fighting for: robust enforcement of legislation blocking harmful “One Touch Make Ready” regulations to stop unsafe make-ready work and violations of CBA protections by creating a dedicated complaint form and penalty structure for contractors who violate the law.
- PASSED in the Senate on June 6
- We expect it to pass in the Assembly this week, but it’s not over yet, so please take action now to send a quick email to your Assemblymember telling them to pass this bill
- Codifying Graduate Student Worker Fees Phase Out (S3458 Stavisky / A5457 Solages):
- What we’re fighting for: In 2022, we won a commitment to fund phasing out mandatory broad-based fees for SUNY graduate student workers, the backbone workforce of the SUNY system. While we’ve successfully obtained the first two installments, we need to codify this language to ensure graduate students are protected in perpetuity.
- PASSED in the Senate
- We expect it to pass in the Assembly this week
- Tower Climber Safety Bill (S2709 May / A4938 Levenberg):
- What we’re fighting for: Tower climbing is an essential yet dangerous industry, where tower climbers work on towers between fifty and two hundred feet tall. However, there are few regulations and safety standards in place. The State must use its procurement power to demand better labor standards and subcontractor transparency.
- PASSED in both the Assembly and the Senate!
Members of the Local 1109 Legislative and Political Action Team (LPAT) with NYS Assemblymember Michael Durso during a Lobby Day in Albany in May
NY NewsGuild-CWA President Susan DeCarava Makes History as First NY NewsGuild President Honored with NYC CLC Visionary Award
On May 13 Susan DeCarava, President of the NewsGuild was honored with the NYC Central Labor Council Visionary Award—the first-ever president of The NewsGuild of New York to receive the prestigious award in its nearly 60-year history.
During her presidency, the NewsGuild of New York has been on an organizing and bargaining tear, doubling its number of new members and winning standard-setting contracts, including for Times Tech, the largest unit of tech workers in the country—and has never been willing to back down from a fight, holding a number of powerful actions and winning strikes at several media outlets.
“I am so honored to receive the NYCCLC’s Visionary Award,” said Susan. “Especially in the company of all the dedicated labor leaders working to improve what it means to work and live in our great city. As someone who comes from the rank-and-file of our union, it is one of the greatest privileges of my professional life to work collectively with NYGuild members to build a deeply organized, worker-powered union.”
Watch video of Susan’s speech here.
Susan DeCarava with District 1 Assistant to the Vice President Billy Gallagher, Local 1180 President Gloria Middleton, and other District 1 leaders at the awards ceremony
CWA Human Rights Committee: Celebrating and Acknowledging Several National Awareness Month Events
As we welcome the month of June, CWA District 1 proudly recognizes and uplifts the communities and causes honored this month: Pride Month, Men’s Health Awareness Month, and Juneteenth. Each reflects our shared commitment to justice, equity, and solidarity—the foundation of the labor movement.
Pride Month
CWA District 1 celebrates the strength, resilience, and contributions of our LGBTQIA+ members. Pride is not just a celebration, it’s a call to action for inclusive workplaces and a union that champions the rights of all workers. Throughout June, we’ll be featuring Pride Month Spotlights to highlight the stories and voices of LGBTQIA+ members across our district. If you or a fellow member would like to be featured, please submit your nomination here. Your voice is essential.
Men’s Health Awareness Month
Men’s health is a labor issue. Men across our workforce often face stigma and silence around mental and physical health challenges. This June, CWA District 1 is committed to breaking that silence. We’re asking: How can we support our members’ well-being, both on and off the job? We encourage locals to hold conversations, share resources, and promote policies that prioritize men’s health. If you have a story, resource, or idea to share, let us know—this is a conversation we must continue.
Juneteenth & the Walk With Opal Lee
Juneteenth reminds us of our nation’s history and the ongoing fight for racial and economic justice. In partnership with Opal Lee, the “Grandmother of Juneteenth,” we are calling on members to join Opal Lee’s Virtual Walk for Freedom on June 19th. CWA District 1 is seeking volunteers to walk in solidarity and help amplify this national movement. Walking virtually is a powerful symbol of unity, and we encourage all members to take part. Click here to register for the walk and use the discount code N4JGFMDS. Team name CWA Human Rights.
All of these causes reflect the struggles that workers—especially those from marginalized communities—face every day. They are labor issues. CWA District 1 stands committed to using our collective power to advocate for safe, inclusive, and just workplaces.
This June, let us continue to lead with our values, lift each other up, and move forward together.