1910-1919

Early Organizing Efforts in the Telephone Industry

Unionization of the telephone industry during the first three decades of this century was confined to a few scattered pockets of organized workers. The first union to attempt to organize telephone workers — the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) — achieved limited success during these years. These early organizing efforts did not include women who worked in the telephone industry. It was not until 1912 that the IBEW accepted telephone operators — generally women — as members. In 1919, IBEW’s telephone department claimed 200 telephone locals with 20,000 members.

1918-1923

World War I—The Government Takes Control of the Telephone System

During World War I, on July 22, 1918, under a Presidential order, the telephone and telegraph system was placed under the control of the federal government and the Postmaster General Albert S. Burelson. In 1919, Burelson was faced with a strike by the IBEW that virtually tied up phone service in New England and threatened to become nationwide. In an attempt to end the strike, Burelson issued a government bulletin acknowledging the rights of workers to bargain through committees “chosen by them, to act for them.”

1920-1935

The Growth of Company Unions in the Telephone Companies

Frightened by the prospect of legitimate unionism on a large scale as a result of Burelson’s statement, AT&T encouraged employees to form and join company dominated unions (usually called associations or committees).

The company associations succeeded in virtually destroying the existing IBEW telephone locals. By 1923, IBEW had been ousted in every location except Montana and the Chicago Plant. Company associations dominated the telephone industry until 1935.

1935

The Congress Declares Company Unions Illegal

In 1935, with the passage of the National Labor Relations Act (more commonly known as the Wagner Act), the situation changed dramatically for telephone workers. The Wagner Act did several things:

1. It prohibited the employer from engaging in certain activities which were defined as unfair labor practices (this included setting up and promoting company unions).
2. It protected union and collective activity. In addition to organizing, it protected workers who take part in grievances, on the job protests, picketing and strikes.
3. It established an agency, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), to enforce the above provisions.

1938

Growth of Independent Telephone Unions and the Creation of the National Federation of Telephone Workers

Strengthened by the new rights gained under the Wagner Act, new independent unions began to spring up across the country. As the number of independent unions grew, their leaders recognized the desirability of joining together in an organization where they could exchange ideas and coordinate national activities.

After preliminary meetings in St. Louis and Chicago, representatives of 31 telephone organizations, representing a total combined membership of 145,000, assembled in New Orleans in November, 1938, and adopted a constitution and established the National Federation of Telephone Workers (NFTW). The preamble of the NFTW Constitution clearly stated the reason for creating the union:

“We, the Telephone Workers of America, mindful of the fact that many conditions necessary to our economic security and general welfare can best be effectively secured by united, cooperative and continuous action on a nationwide scale, do hereby combine and organize under the name of the National Federation of Telephone Workers.”

NFTW was never a national union, rather it was a federation of sovereign local independent unions. NFTW’s lack of authority over the affiliated local unions left it at a serious disadvantage in dealing with a single-headed giant like AT&T.

1941-1946

World War II and the National War Labor Board

In December 1941, following the attack on Pearl Harbor, the AFL and CIO voluntarily gave no-strike pledges to the federal government for the duration of the war. In January, 1942, President Roosevelt created the National War Labor Board (NWLB). The NWLB was charged with settling all disputes between labor and management that threatened war production.

The NWLB and twelve Regional War Labor Boards were composed of an equal number of representatives from management, labor and the private sector. All of the labor representatives appointed to the Board came out of the AFL and CIO. This was a great concern to the NFTW which was not affiliated with the AFL or CIO and felt that the National War Labor Board and Regional Boards would not effectively protect the interests of telephone workers and that the wages of telephone workers would suffer greatly during the war.

The concerns of the NFTW were borne out by events. The average real wage of a telephone worker dropped from 83 cents an hour in 1939 to 70 cents an hour in 1943. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, telephone workers in 1939 occupied the twenty-second place on a list of average weekly earnings of workers in 123 industries; by early 1945, they had fallen to eighty-sixth place on this list.

At hearings before the War Labor Board, NFTW’s Ohio Federation presented a report revealing the starting and top rates of telephone operators in 17 Bell System companies. The report showed that in 1944, starting operator rates varied from a low of $16 a week to a high of $23 with top rates ranging from $26 a week to $34. A Wisconsin operator starting at $16 a week could not reach the top rate of $27 in less than 16 years!

As a result of these wage disparities, telephone unions brought numerous cases before the National War Labor Board and the Regional Boards. Response to these appeals was exceedingly slow, and by mid-1944, there were 85 cases brought by telephone unions still waiting to be ruled upon.

1944

The Dayton, Ohio Strike and the Establishment of the National Telephone Panel

The continuation of inadequate wages and the failure of the Boards to respond to union appeals led to increasing dissatisfaction on the part of telephone workers. These feelings came to a head in November, 1944, when the Dayton telephone workers went out on strike. Within 3 days the strike had spread to 25 cities in Ohio and within 6 days to Washington, D.C., Chicago and Detroit. At that point the government capitulated and agreed to establish a national board modeled on the NWLB that would only handle the cases of telephone workers.

On December 29, 1944, the National Telephone Panel (later to be renamed the National Telephone Commission) was established. It had two members each from the public, industry and telephone labor sectors. Its mandate was to hear and adjudicate all telephone cases and to formulate basic telephone wage policy.

The Telephone Panel was much more effective that the National War Labor Board. By the end of 1945, when it was terminated, it had heard 55 disputes involving 180,000 workers.

1946

The First National AT&T Agreement

When the war ended in August, 1945, the wages of telephone workers remained below those of many industries. Contract negotiations stalled and the presidents of the NFTW affiliates authorized the Union’s Executive Board to call a nationwide strike at 6:00 a.m., March 7, 1946. In the early morning hours of March 7, workers around the country prepared to walk the picket lines.

At 5:30 a.m., after 20 hours of bargaining, NFTW President Joseph Beirne and Cleo Craig, AT&T Vice- President in charge of negotiations, signed the Beirne-Craig memorandum. A strike had been avoided and for the first time in history, AT&T had negotiated a national agreement with the Union and committed its associated companies to that agreement.

While a major victory was won in the 1946 negotiations, the basic weakness of the NFTW had revealed itself. During negotiations, 34 of 51 affiliated unions broke away and signed separate agreements.

1947

The Strike That Brought An End to the NFTW

This weakness in the NFTW structure was exposed with devastating consequences in the 1947 strike. In 1946, AT&T was not prepared for a strike. But in 1947, AT&T was not only prepared for a strike, it forced NFTW into strike action. AT&T was determined not to repeat the Beirne-Craig type of national settlement. It flatly refused to bargain on an industry-wide basis. AT&T approached bargaining with a divide and conquer strategy. The company did not make a wage offer until three weeks into the strike and made the offer contingent upon the affiliates agreeing not to clear it with NFTW’s policy committee. Five weeks after the strike began, seventeen contracts had been signed. The strike collapsed and the NFTW was finished.

During the 1947 strike, AFL and CIO unions lent their moral and financial support despite the fact that NFTW was not affiliated with either the AFL or the CIO at the time. International unions in both the AFL and the CIO aided the strikers with contributions totaling $128,000. This support was very important in helping NFTW workers survive the strike and regroup into a strong and truly national union.

1947

Coming Together in One National Union: The Founding of The Communications Workers of America

In June, 1947, a truly national union, the Communications Workers of America, came into being. The first CWA convention took place that month in Miami with 200 delegates representing 162,000 workers.

The delegates adopted the first CWA constitution which converted the former autonomous organizations of the NFTW into a three-level union: the National Union, 39 Divisions and the Locals. Joseph Beirne was elected President; Carlton Werkau, Secretary-Treasurer.

1948

CWA Debates Affiliation With the AFL or CIO

At the 1948 convention, President Beirne told the delegates, “I think the time has arrived for us to submit the question (of affiliation) to our members so they can establish in a free manner and by secret ballot what their thoughts are on this question.”

Those who were in favor of affiliation were clearly in favor of affiliating with the CIO rather than the AFL. This was because the AFL could only offer CWA status within an existing international union, the IBEW. Then too, the CIO stood for Industrial Unionism—one union for one industry. In February of 1949, CWA’s Executive Board recommended affiliation with the CIO and in a referendum, the membership approved the CIO affiliation.

1949

CWA Restructures — Moves to a 2 Level Structure

At the 1949 Convention there was general agreement that the structure of the union needed to be changed to a more coordinated approach to the telephone companies. The three-level structure established under the 1947 Constitution created 39 Divisions and 39 different ways of bargaining, striking and handling finances. The 1949 convention mandated that the Executive Board establish a special Constitution Committee to investigate the possibility of setting up a two-level structure.

Organizational Structure 1938-1993

1938 National Assembly Executive Board Affiliated Organizations

1947 Convention Executive Board 39 Divisions Chartered Locals

1950 Convention Executive Board Eleven Districts* Chartered Locals

1986 Convention Executive Board Eight Districts Chartered Locals

* When CWA changed to a two-level structure, eleven Districts were created (9 geographic Districts and Western Electric Sales and Western Electric Installations). In 1953, Districts 10 and 11 were dissolved. The consolidation was completed in 1986 when Districts 5 and 8 were dissolved.

1950

The U.S. Senate Condemns the Bell System

In that same year, in response to charges levied by CWA, the Senate Subcommittee on Labor-Management Relations held hearings to investigate the status of collective bargaining and labor-management relations in the Bell System.

During the hearings, which lasted for eleven days in August and September, 1950, the subcommittee heard testimony on these issues from representatives of CWA, AT&T and the associated Bell companies. Joseph Beirne’s testimony alone lasted five days.

Following the conclusion of the hearings, a majority report of the subcommittee was issued. Its conclusions overwhelmingly supported the charges made by CWA. The subcommittee found that:

1. The local associated companies functioned as parts in a closely integrated corporate system completely and directly controlled by AT&T management.
2. The basic cause of poor labor-management relations in the Bell System revolved around the inability of the union to bargain at a level of management which had the authority to make final decisions.
3. The Bell System had actively and continuously conducted an anti-union campaign, including ads in the public press and interference in CWA affairs.

1951

Creation of a National Defense Fund

In 1951, after two days of heated debate on the issue, the delegates to the annual convention voted to establish a national defense fund with contributions of 50 cents per member per month. It was decided in a roll call vote with 133,047 in favor and 101,883 opposed.

1955

Southern Bell Strike

1955 was a year in which CWA undertook its most difficult task since it was formed eight years earlier: a regional strike against Southern Bell that lasted 72 days, encompassing nine states and 50,000 workers. Throughout the strike, CWA expressed its willingness to resolve the bargaining issues through arbitration, but Southern Bell refused. Throughout months of bargaining the company remained adamant that any new contract contain a ban on strikes “or other interruptions of service.”

Ultimately, Southern Bell’s attempt to break the union was unsuccessful. A one-year contract was signed that gave across-the-board gains to CWA members; wage increases; the right to arbitration for suspensions, discharges and job vacancy fillings; reduction of work tour hours; and, most significantly, recognition of the right to strike. The 1955 strike was an early landmark for CWA because of its scope, duration and success.

1963

General Telephone of California Workers Demand Equal Pay for Equal Work

In October, 1963, CWA members went on strike against General Telephone of California for wages and benefits comparable to those enjoyed by Bell employees in the state. At the time, it was possible for a General Telephone worker and a Bell worker to be doing the same type of work across the street from each other, but the General Telephone employee would be receiving considerably less compensation for the job than a Bell counterpart.

1965

The Triple Threat Program — Organizing Growth Resolution #1

In 1965, Convention delegates, at President Beirne’s urging, adopted CWA Growth Resolution #1 which endorsed the Triple Threat program and clearly stated that organizing was a top priority of the union. It was Beirne’s program for broadening the membership base and expanding CWA’s influence in the areas of politics and legislation as well as collective bargaining. For Beirne believed — and it has remained CWA’s philosophy — that all these activities are mutually dependent and equally vital to CWA’s overall success in representing its members.

1968

First National Strike since 1947, Full Health Care Premium

1969 brought the first national strike against the Bell System since 1947. Some 200,000 CWA telephone workers walked out because AT&T refused to agree to wage increases that would meet the rise in the cost of living. The strike lasted 18 days with AT&T ultimately agreeing to a raise in wages and benefits that totalled nearly 20 percent over a three-year period.

It was in this round of negotiations that CWA was able to get AT&T to agree to pay the full premium for the health care plan. Prior to these negotiations, workers had to pay three-fourths of the total premium.

1970

Government Charges AT&T with Discriminatory Employment Practices

On December 10, 1970, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) filed charges against AT&T and its twenty-four operating companies for discriminating on the basis of sex, race and national origin in their employment practices. The specific charges included:

1. Extreme segregation of jobs by sex. The commission found that almost all low paying jobs in the Bell System were held by women.
2. Recruiting, hiring and promotion practices which discriminated against women.
3. Lower wages paid to women than to men for equivalent jobs.
4. Very few Blacks in craft jobs.
5. Very few Hispanic workers anywhere in the Bell System.
6. Minorities grouped in the lowest paying jobs.

The EEOC tried for two years to force AT&T to comply with the equal opportunity requirements of the Equal Pay Act of 1963 and the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Finally, on January 18, 1973, AT&T, the EEOC, the Department of Labor and the Justice Department reached an agreement on the charges. The settlement, called the “consent decree,” provided for compensation for the victims of past discrimination and an affirmative action program for changing the pattern of discrimination in the Bell System.

The settlement included $15 million in back pay to 13,000 women and minority men, and an estimated $30 million in wage adjustments for women and minority workers. A second consent decree signed on May 30, 1974, provided $30 million back pay and wage adjustments to 25,000 employees in lower management positions.

1971

CWA Negotiates Biggest Settlement in Its History — Task Force ‘71 Receives Much of the Credit

400,000 CWA members nationwide went on strike against the Bell System in 1971 for wage increases to offset the devastating inflation of the previous three years. After a one week strike, CWA achieved the biggest economic package ever negotiated with the Bell System and obtained, for the first time, a cost of living adjustment clause (COLA) and big city allowance. In addition, wage progressions schedules were shortened to 5 years and the vacation time was improved to 2 weeks after one year’s service. The total wage benefit package amounted to more than 33.5% over the life of the agreement. A large share of the credit for those successful negotiations went to the Task Force ’71 Mobilization program which President Beirne set up to activate the membership in support of CWA’s bargaining objectives.

Task Force ’71 consisted of 50,000 local union leaders (one for every 10-15 members) who led training sessions, put up informational posters, passed out bargaining leaflets and worked to keep their members informed and activated. The Task Force ’71 participants wore “small potato ’71” pins to identify themselves as part of this important corps of local leaders.

1971

First Special Convention Outlines Duties and Responsibilities of Locals

1971 proved a busy year for CWA, but did not deter more than 1,500 delegates, alternates and guests from attending the first “special convention.” The delegates adopted several constitutional amendments at this convention. The most important of these was the adoption of a constitutional amendment dealing with the duties and responsibilities of Locals. The amendment required all Locals to carry out the union’s policies, participate actively in political and legislative activities, participate in local officers and stewards training programs, and attend all District, state and area meetings.

Also adopted at the convention was a constitutional amendment creating CWA Retired Members Clubs and providing three year terms (prior to 1971 there were 2 year terms) of office at both the International and Local level.

1973

General Telephone Workers in Three States Walk Out

In 1973, 6,000 CWA members in Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky went out on strike against the General Telephone companies of those states. The strike lasted two months in Indiana and Ohio before settlement was reached, but the workers in Kentucky were on the picket line for five months before their contract demands were met. The Kentucky workers were forced out on strike again in 1976. This time the strikers were out for 200 days before a settlement was reached.

1973-1974

CWA Deals With Equity and Discrimination within the Union

During the 1973 CWA convention, extensive discussions were held on the methods by which CWA dealt with the problems of women and minority members. As a result of these discussions, the National Executive Board established a Blacks and Other Minorities Structure Study Committee and a Female Structure Committee. In November, 1973, these committees convened at CWA headquarters and prepared reports for the Executive Board which included recommended policies and procedures.

Extended discussions at the Executive Board meetings in January and February of 1974 led to a resolution recommending that the President develop a “Committee on Equity” concept from the national to the local level of the union. The Executive Board authorized the appointment of a National Committee on Equity consisting of rank and file members from each District which is still in place today.

1974

First National Bargaining with The Bell System; Death of Joseph Beirne, and Election of Glenn Watts

1974 was an historic year for CWA. For the first time, the Bell System agreed to conduct unified national bargaining. The Company had finally given up the charade that claimed its operating companies were independent, self-controlled businesses. The new bargaining was structured so that wages, benefits and contract language would be negotiated at one national table. The 1974 bargaining session was significant because unlike its 1968 and 1971 predecessors, it did not result in a CWA strike.

Joseph Beirne, who had pursued the goal of unified national bargaining for all of his 27 years as CWA President, did not seek reelection and died on Labor Day of 1974. He was succeeded by Secretary-Treasurer Glenn E. Watts, who had first gone to work for C&P Telephone in 1941 and was a member of the founding generation of CWA leaders.

1975-76

Strikes Hit Independents

Three of the most bitter CWA strikes of the 1970’s took place at independent telephone locations: a six month strike at Rochester, New York Telephone over an attack on wage levels, at General of Kentucky in 1976 over medical benefits and work rules, and a three month walkout at New Jersey Telephone over the issue of supervisors performing bargaining unit work.

1978

First National Women’s Conference

CWA held its first annual National Women’s Conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Conference participants attended plenary sessions, workshops and discussion groups. Resolutions on ERA, child care and job pressures were presented to the CWA Executive Board.

1979

National Organizing Department Established

On July 12, 1979, the Executive Board authorized President Watts to establish CWA’s National Organizing Department.

1980-1981

CWA Organizes Public Workers—Public Workers Department Created

Over the course of the decade, CWA began to expand into fields outside of telecommunications. In July, 1980, the CWA Public Workers Department was created. One of the biggest successes in the public sector was the organizing of 34,000 New Jersey state workers in 1981. Today, CWA represents 100,000 public and health care workers across the country.

1981-1983

The Committee on the Future and the Special Convention

The Committee on the Future was created in July, 1981 by action of the CWA convention. The 14 member committee was composed of one elected representative from each District and a representative from the Public Workers sector.

After a year and a half of study and debate the Committee on the Future submitted its final report and recommendations to the delegates to the special convention in Philadelphia in March, 1983. The 1,750 delegates adopted 10 resolutions and two constitutional changes proposed by the Committee on the Future.

1982

First National Conference on Minority Concerns

The first national minorities conference was held in 1982.

1983

CWA Strikes the Bell System

In 1983, only months before the Bell system was to be broken into separate companies, CWA opened national contract negotiations. Not surprisingly, it was a difficult round of negotiations. AT&T was demanding givebacks from workers and seeking substandard job titles. 700,000 CWA members went out on strike on August 7 for better wages, employment security, pension plan changes and health insurance improvements. The strike lasted 22 days when the telephone industry agreed to meet the union’s demands.

This would be the last time that CWA would be able to negotiate at one national table for all its Bell System members because divestiture was only a few months away.

1983

First Minority Leadership Institute (MLI)

In response to recommendations by the National Committee on Equity for training opportunities devoted to minorities, the Executive Board established the Minorities Leadership Institute – a three week intensive study program. The MLI is held annually with participants recommended by District Vice Presidents.

1984

Divestiture and Beyond: New Challenges, New Accomplishments

For CWA, the most significant event of this decade was the divestiture of AT&T on January 1, 1984. The break-up of the Bell System was of great concern to the union. CWA feared that divestiture would bring relocations, personal hardship and repudiation by the new independent Regional Bell Operating Companies (RBOCs) and their subsidiaries of contract gains previously won by the union. Personal hardship and relocation did in fact occur, forcing CWA to work hard to preserve the gains that four decades of sacrifice and solidarity had achieved. Job security issues catapulted to the top of the list of bargaining priorities for 1986. During this difficult period, President Watts often reminded the members that it was AT&T that had broken up, not CWA — the union remained as unified, committed and strong as ever.

Also in this year, the members of the Federation of Telephone Workers of Pennsylvania voted overwhelmingly to merge with CWA. The Executive Board created District 13 to accommodate the 12,250 newly affiliated men and women.

1985

CWA Elects Morton Bahr and James Booe

Changes occurred within CWA itself during the mid-1980s. There were not only structural changes taken in response to the divestiture of AT&T, but there was also a leadership change for only the second time in CWA’s history. In 1985, Present Glenn E. Watts and Secretary-Treasurer Louis Knecht retired after serving eleven years in these offices. Elected to replace them were Morton Bahr and James B. Booe, respectively.

1986

Post Divestiture Bargaining

1986 presented CWA with its first negotiations with the post-divestiture telephone industry. Twelve years after CWA had achieved national bargaining, the union was forced back to the old multiple table way of bargaining. CWA had to bargain not only with AT&T, but with the independent RBOCs and their subsidiaries. National bargaining had been replaced by 48 different bargaining tables.

In the AT&T negotiations, the company attempted to take back health care benefits, lower clerical wages, and eliminate cost of living adjustments obtained in earlier contracts. CWA had no choice but to strike. The strike lasted 26 days and AT&T agreed to provide wage and employment security improvements and retain the health care benefits intact. Although the negotiations with the RBOCs were also difficult, they were less contentious than those with AT&T. Strikes were necessary against some of these operating companies, but none lasted more than a few days.

1987

International Typographical Union Merges With CWA

In 1987, members of the International Typographical Union (ITU) were welcomed into CWA. Members of the oldest union in the AFL-CIO, representing union typesetters and mailers throughout the U.S. and Canada, had approved affiliation with one of the youngest. Recognizing the distinct nature of the work that these members perform, the union created a new Printing, Publishing and Media Workers Sector (PPMWS) and an International PPMWS Vice President.

The merger of ITU, with 9,000 Canadian members, once again made CWA an “International Union.” Canadian telephone workers had left CWA in the early 70’s to establish the Communications Workers of Canada.

1988

Celebrating 50 Years of Achievement

In 1988, CWA celebrated its 50th anniversary. The convention took place in New Orleans, the site of the NFTW’s founding in 1938. From its roots in the NFTW, CWA has grown to become one of the most respected unions in the United States, representing telecommunications workers, state and local employees, printers and health care workers. CWA continues to fulfill its commitment to bettering the lives of workers and their families.

CWA Mobilization was kicked off at the ’88 convention in preparation for a major round of bargaining in 1989. Mobilization—organization, education and collective action— was a way for CWA to get back to the basics of unionism. Members were recruited to work one-on-one to educate members about bargaining and workplace issues. Mobilization strategies and techniques became a way of life for many CWA locals.

1989

Mobilization Key at AT&T Settlement, NYNEX Strike

Mobilization by CWA members around AT&T bargaining “proves how successful we can be when we stick together and fight together,” according to President Morton Bahr. Faced with the solidarity of mobilized workers, AT&T backed off on health care cost shifting demands. The settlement for 175,000 workers broke new ground on child and elder care by creating a $5 million fund to establish care centers and support facilities, granting parental and elder care leave with a job guarantee and paid medical and dental for six months.

Mobilization also was key for NYNEX workers who spent 17 weeks on the picket line fighting management’s attempts to shift health care costs. “Their victory in holding the line against concessions is a victory for tens of thousands of other telephone workers. Because of their sacrifice, others won’t have to endure strikes in our next round of negotiations because we’ve sent a message throughout the industry—we’re solidly united,” President Bahr declared following the Dec. 4, settlement.

But the strike was not without a price. Local 1103 member Jerry Horgan lost his life on the picket line when he was struck and killed by a scab driving a car at a NYNEX facility.

In the summer of ’89, delegates to the convention voted to change the Defense Fund rules so strikers would receive a flat weekly payout beginning in ’92 and continue needs-based funds to provide emergency relief.

1991

CWA’s Mission for the Nineties: Wall to Wall

Delegates to CWA’s 53rd Convention resolved to make the nineties the decade of Wall to Wall for CWA. Delegates reaffirmed their commitment to building the union by working towards making every organized unit “CWA Wall to Wall.” Delegates also made changes to the CWA Constitution to allow the Committee on Equity and the Women’s Committee to give annual reports and recommendations to future conventions.

In an effort to put the bitterness of the ’89 strike behind, CWA and NYNEX negotiated an unprecedented early settlement 11 months before contract expiration. The agreement called for a 13% wage hike, retention of COLA and fully paid health care. It included a breakthrough agreement on company wide organizing, neutrality and card check recognition.

1992

Membership Increases with Affiliations; Union Elects First Woman Secretary-Treasurer

CWA became the biggest union in the Lone Star state of Texas following the affiliation with the Combined Law Enforcement Association of Texas (CLEAT). The Association represents 12,000 police officers, deputy sheriffs and jailors throughout the state.

Members at AT&T worked for six weeks beyond contract expiration during the summer of ’92, carrying out an intensive mobilization strategy against the telecommunications giant. It was the largest bargaining unit ever to attempt a coordinated inside tactics strategy—100,000 members, 500 Locals, 50 states and thousands of work locations.

The coordinated inside tactics by members and massive external mobilization efforts, including generating community and AT&T customer support, proved that sometimes applying pressure in different ways can work better than a strike.

Barbara J. Easterling was elected as the union’s first woman secretary-treasurer. Easterling, an Executive Vice President since 1985 and one time telephone operator, was elected at convention.

After more than 30 years headquartered at the Mercury Building, in Washington, D.C., the union moved to a new building across town which is two blocks from the Department of Labor and four blocks from the Capitol.

1993

NABET Joins CWA; Organizing New Units

The National Association of Broadcast Engineers and Technicians (NABET) affiliates with CWA. NABET represents engineers, technicians and other broadcast workers at NBC and ABC, TV networks and independent TV stations and Cable TV production companies.

CWA membership continues to grow outside the traditional telephone units with three big organizing wins in 1993 at universities. Four thousand graduate students working as teaching and graduate assistants at the State University of New York (SUNY) saw the end to a 13-year organizing struggle when they were finally allowed to vote for union representation. Seventeen hundred clerical and technical workers at the Bloomington campus of Indiana University voted for CWA after a four year campaign. The Union of Technical and Professional Employees (UPTE) with 700 members affiliated with CWA. The professional and technical workers hold nonacademic positions throughout the nine campus University of California system.

1995

The Newspaper Guild Affiliation; Mobilization Makes the Difference in 1995 Bell Atlantic Bargaining; University Research Professionals and Technicians Join CWA

Members of The Newspaper Guild (TNG), representing 40,000 news industry workers in the U.S. and Canada, vote overwhelmingly to affiliate and eventually merge (in 1997) with CWA. Linda K. Foley is elected TNG’s first woman President.

After 5 months with no contract, Bell Atlantic finally fell in line with the mainstream of the telecommunications industry offering its 37,000 CWA workers double digit wage and pension increases, employment security protections and access to future jobs. Over 6000 members were suspended for such actions as sickouts, refusing overtime and passing out “Block 900” flyers. The workplace mobilization effort was strengthened by a multi-million dollar advertising and corporate campaign.

In 1995 and early 1996, 7800 professional and technical university workers joined the CWA family. In 1995, 4000 technical workers employed by the University of California system voted to be represented by CWA in UPTE-CWA (Union of Professional and Technical Employees). Fifteen months later, in March 1996, 3700 professional researchers throughout the University of California system voted overwhelming for CWA representation as part of UPTE-CWA.

1997

TNG Joins CWA; CWA Obtains Historic Card Check Agreement with SBC and PacTel; US Airways Workers Win a CWA Voice; CWA Endorses Atlantic Alliance

The Newspaper Guild (TNG), representing 40,000 news industry workers in the U.S. and Canada, merges with CWA.

A five year campaign that integrated continuous bargaining, membership education, political action, mobilization and strategic organizing, culminates in March 1977 with CWA and SBC (Southwestern Bell Corporation) signing the most far-reaching card check agreement in the union’s history. A similar agreement was reached with PacTel in April.

CWA won the biggest private sector organizing victory in a decade when 10,000 passenger service professionals at US Airways voted to join CWA.

CWA joined forces with two of the United Kingdom’s biggest telecommunications unions — the Communications Workers Union and the Society of Telecom Executives — and endorsed an Atlantic Alliance of the three unions to exchange information and to plan coordinated strategies to protect our members and to organize new members in the global telecommunications marketplace.

1998

CWA Signed an Alliance with the Independent Union of Telephone Workers of Puerto Rico; 7,500 Workers of SNET Join CWA

In the aftermath of the 41-day strike and a 2-day general strike against the privatization of the Puerto Rico Telephone Company, CWA entered into an alliance with the PRTC workers. The agreement calls for joint bargaining and organizing strategies in response to the acquisition of the PRTC by GTE.

In a representation election that culminated a 14-year effort, the workers of the Southern New England Telephone Company joined CWA.

2000

International Union of Electronic, Electrical, Salaried, Machine and Furniture Workers (IUE) merged with CWA; CWA strikes Verizon

October 1, 113,000 members of IUE voted to merge with CWA at their 27th National Constitutional Convention held in Cleveland, Ohio. Earlier, at CWA’s 62nd Annual Convention, held on August 29th, delegates voted to welcome them. The merger brings CWA’s numbers to more than 700, 000 members.

On August 6th, 87,000 CWA telephone workers went on strike against Verizon communications. Later in August a settlement was reached. The settlement included a break through agreement for neutrality and card check recognition to help Verizon Wireless workers unionize. Other highlights are reductions in mandatory overtime and provisions to reduce stress in customer service and operator call centers.

2003

Association of Flight Attendants merges with CWA

The Association of Flight Attendants merged with CWA, adding its professionalism and expertise on airline industry issues.

2005

Larry Cohen is elected CWA’s President and Jeff Rechenbach is elected Executive Vice President

Convention delegates adopt CWA Ready for the Future Resolution which called for members at every level of the union to examine the challenges CWA faces and identify ideas and recommendations to best meet them. A discussion guide was prepared and distributed to locals. During the eight months following adoption of the resolutions, thousands of meetings were held across the union and a dedicated RFF website open to all members produced a lively dialogue. Labor leaders, academics, journalists and elected officials took note and praised CWA as one of the very few unions willing and determined to engage members such an open discussion about some of the most serious and critical aspects of the union.

2006

Convention delegates adopted “Ready for the Future: CWA Strategic Plan” with 11 specific items.

A bold new Strategic Industry Fund (SIF) was established as part of the plan. The fund allows for the financing of major large scale campaigns to increase our bargaining power and carry out pro-active campaigns. The strategic plan also established a National Telecom Office to increase focus on the telecom industry and mandated that the Executive Board bring to the 2007 convention specific proposals to increase Board diversity.

2007

Convention delegates adopted a resolution and corresponding constitutional changes adding four at-large diversity Executive Board members to be elected at the 2008 convention.

2009

CWA and Ver.di form new global union TU for T-Mobile workers.

Congress extends FMLA protections to flight attendants a big victory for AFA-CWA.

2011

45,000 CWA Verizon workers from Virginia to New England went on strike for 16 days. A settlement was reached in 2012.

Larry Cohen was re-elected President and Annie Hill was elected Secretary Treasurer. The Executive Vice President position was eliminated.

CWA, Sierra Club, NAACP and Greenpeace launch the Democracy Initiative(DI) to restore the core principals of political equality; money in politics, voter rights and senate rule reform.

2013

The convention approves the establishment of Growth Funds to support building a movement for economic justice and democracy and enhance the union's organizing, leadership development, research and industry analysis.

CWA leads successful “Give me 5” campaign to fill all five NLRB seats.

2014

American Airlines Passenger Service Agents Vote Big for Union Representation

After a 19-year struggle, 9,000 new American Airlines passenger service agents voted to join CWA members at US Airways to form a new bargaining unit of 14,500 agents. By an 86 percent vote, airport and reservations agents overwhelmingly chose union representation making it one of the largest labor organizing victories in the South in decades.

2015

Chris Shelton is elected CWA’s President and Sara Steffens is elected Secretary-Treasurer

Convention delegates adopt red as the official color of CWA.

At the TNG Convention, delegates approve changing the union's name to The News Guild-CWA, to better reflect the current news industry and diversity of Guild units.