Biden, Gaza, and Union Democracy

A Statement from the CWA Local 7250 Executive Board

At the urging of a group of represented members, CWA Local 7250's Executive Board has voted unanimously to call on our union, Communications Workers of America to reconsider its endorsement of Joe Biden for President of the USA for the following reasons:

1. President Biden has given "unwavering support" to the Israeli military's genocidal assault on the Palestinian people in Gaza leaving millions displaced, over 34, 000 killed (two-thirds women and children - the vast majority of civilians); hospitals, schools, and civilian infrastructure in ruins - including the headquarters of the Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions. The early union support for Biden is effectively a blank check to continue this policy.

2. The US supports Israel with diplomatic cover in the UN and with billions in military aid that could be better spent on education, housing, and health care. 

3. Joe Biden has lied to the people, and justified police violence against campus protesters - including CWA members - by claiming that solidarity with Palestinians is "hate speech" and that protesters are motivated by antisemitism, despite the large number of Jewish participants in the protests. Members of CWA United Campus Workers in Arizona have been arrested and beaten for exercising their rights to protest. https://www.ucwarizona.org/ucwaz-statement-on-asu-mass-arrests

4. The endorsement of Joe Biden came without even polling the union’s membership, let alone engaging the union in democratic discussion and decision-making. CWA members have wide and diverse views and decisions like this should not be made top-down, but bottom-up with the members involved and in charge. There are many very good reasons to fear Biden’s major opponent, Donald Trump. We do not support Trump either.

But to effectively fight authoritarianism requires more democracy - not less.

Our union should empower our members, and encourage discussion, debate, and democracy. We should not just be the rubber-stamps and foot soldiers for any politician.

For these reasons we call on CWA to rescind its endorsement of Joe Biden and facilitate a democratic process to consider options, make demands, set conditions, and look at real alternatives to the present political set-up. 

- CWA Local 7250 Executive Board, May 3rd 2024

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Sassafras workers condemn national CWA Biden endorsement

April 26, 2024

"Dear Executive Board of CWA 7250,

We, the workers of Sassafras Tech Collective, are against the national CWA’s endorsement of Biden for the 2024 presidential election. Biden and his administration are directly responsible for funding and supporting Israel’s ongoing genocide of the Palestinian people where, as of writing this letter, over 33,899 Palestinian people have been murdered by Israel since October 7th, 2023.

Biden is sending tens of billions of taxpayer dollars and weapons to Israel to continue their criminal war, money that could be going to working people and our families, our public schools, libraries, and healthcare. The fact that the national CWA would endorse Biden unilaterally and without caveats, without democratic input from union members -- who pay their salaries and fund their campaign pools -- is an abuse of power. We call on the e-board to bring this issue to our local, district, and national CWA.

Sincerely,

The workers of Sassafras Tech Collective
Members of CWA Local 7250"

 

Details

Rove Bargaining Report #24

May 1st 2024

 

This week we met with the company two times.

The company introduced a counter proposal for wages filled with beetle references to signify levels of company achievement.  This seemed somewhat appropriate considering the proposal was filled with dung (beetles). The Union team asked so many questions, the company withdrew the proposal and will introduce it again after they “simplify it”???  Which will probably be worse.

The company’s counter proposal on AI – stripped out most of the financials that the Union originally proposed.   We may have better luck negotiating with an AI company rep with less emotion.

The company refused to paycheck deduction for Union dues and PAF citing not wanting to complicate the payroll process and keeping the company out of “the business the union”. 

Respectfully submitted, 

CWA 7250 Bargaining team at Rove 

Co-Chairs: Bruce Nielsen & Shari Wojtowicz

Members: Greg Bute, Hector Capote 

Alternate: Zach Sager

Details

Rove Bargaining Report #22

April 18th 2024

We met with the company twice this week and felt like it was two times too many.

The company presented three counter proposals which seemed to go the opposite direction of progress.

We present several proposals on economics including wages and benefits.

Due to the company’s continued robotic responses to our proposals we presented a proposal on AI.

We finally saw the boat!

Respectfully submitted,
CWA 7250 Bargaining team at Rove
Co-Chairs: Bruce Nielsen & Shari Wojtowicz
Members: Greg Bute, Hector Capote
Alternate: Zach Sager

Details

Rove Bargaining Report #21

April 4th 2024

Two steps forward, one step back...
This week we were able to reach a TA on 2 proposals: personnel records & contract printing/distribution. After passing 5 versions of contract proposal back and forth, it seems the company finally understood the importance of solidarity and supporting other Union businesses.

The company presented several counter proposals, some moving in the right direction, others not so much.

We have TA'd about 19% of the proposal topics that have been introduced. The company has rejected 10% of the proposals topics the Union brought forward without offering counter proposals.

We have two sessions scheduled for next week.

Respectfully submitted,

ove Bargaining Report #20
CWA 7250 Bargaining team at Rove
Co-Chairs: Bruce Nielsen & Shari Wojtowicz
Members: Greg Bute, Hector Capote
Alternate: Zach Sager

Details
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