COMMUNICATIONS WORKERS OF AMERICA

The Communications Workers of America (CWA) is a prominent labor union in the United States, representing over 500,000 members across various sectors. Established in 1938 as the National Federation of Telephone Workers, it was renamed the Communications Workers of America in 1947.

CWA's membership spans a diverse range of industries, including telecommunications, customer service, media, airlines, health care, public service, education, manufacturing, and high technology.

The union's primary mission is to advocate for economic justice and democracy for working people. This involves collective bargaining to secure fair wages, benefits, and working conditions for its members.

Additionally, CWA engages in legislative and political activities to support policies that benefit workers and their families.

Mergers and Expansion

Over the years, CWA has expanded its reach by merging with several other unions, broadening its representation. Notable mergers include:

• National Association of Broadcast Employees and Technicians in 1994
• The Newspaper Guild in 1997
• Association of Flight Attendants in 2004

In 2020, CWA launched the Campaign to Organize Digital Employees (CODE-CWA) to unionize tech, video game, and digital workers, marking its significant presence in the tech industry.

Community Involvement and Alliances

CWA's influence extends beyond the workplace through its community involvement and alliances with various organizations. The union is a founder of The Democracy Initiative.

It also collaborates with groups like Jobs with Justice, the AFL-CIO, and Change to Win, and maintains close international relations with the Canadian Labour Congress and UNI Global Union to address international labor issues.

Tech and Gaming Industry Advocacy

In recent years, CWA has been active in advocating for workers in the tech and gaming industries. Nearly 200 developers from Blizzard Entertainment's Overwatch 2 team formed a union under CWA, highlighting its growing influence in this sector.

Furthermore, CWA has negotiated agreements with major corporations like AT&T, securing benefits for thousands of employees across multiple states.

Leadership

CWA's leadership includes President Claude Cummings Jr., the first Black man elected to lead the union in 2023, and Secretary-Treasurer Ameenah Salaam.

The executive board is comprised of vice presidents for seven geographic districts, six industry sectors, the Canadian director, and four at-large members.

Location

• Headquarters in Atlanta, GA, USA

In summary, the Communications Workers of America plays a pivotal role in advocating for workers' rights across a multitude of industries, striving to ensure fair treatment, economic justice, and democracy for its members.