News

A Message from CWA President Larry Cohen

23 Dec, 2014

Happy Holidays and a Great 2015!

2015 will be a major bargaining year for more than 200,000 of our members. As we proclaim on the cover of the new CWA News, "It's Our Turn." The economic recovery that has propelled stocks to record highs has made the 1% much richer again this year, with average share prices up over 12%.

Now, "It's Our Turn," time for our families to celebrate that we have collective bargaining rights and the improvements this brings compared to 88% of American working families who have no voice. But we are also putting CWA employers on notice that economic recovery must work for us, not just management and shareholders. Whether public or private sector, we will bargain under that banner in 2015. And we say to our President and Congress, from city hall to the state house, that if necessary, we will fight for our share of the American dream.

As we celebrate the holidays we will not forget our FairPoint strikers (click here to contribute).

We will not forget the Cablevision 99, and Jerome Thompson fired by the billionaire CEO in August and still waiting for the NLRB to act. We will not forget all those in bargaining now, still facing down employers demanding cuts while they enrich themselves.

We also will not forget that 2015 brings us the biggest trade battle of our lives – the fight against Fast Track and the Trans-Pacific Partnership. The fight against the corporate state getting stronger while our nations and our families lose jobs, earning power and rights. Whether we have voted for this President in the past or not, whether we voted for the Republican majority or not, we say to both loud and clear—NO! No more trade deals for the multinational corporations. It is our turn!

From the bargaining table to the halls of Congress, the CWA voice has never been stronger or louder or more righteous—"IT IS OUR TURN."

Happy holidays and New Year! Solidarity forever, Larry