CWA District 1 Holds Annual Leadership Conference

Last week, CWA members from across District 1 met in Atlantic City, N.J., for the district's annual leadership conference. CWA District 1 Vice President Dennis Trainor hosted the gathering, which focused on its theme, "Many Voices, One District: United For The Future."

In his remarks, CWA President Claude Cummings Jr. echoed the theme of the conference, focusing on the need for unity as we move forward. "Now it is time to re-unite around our shared values. No matter who is in office, our goals are always the same: to use our collective power to protect our rights, to improve our working conditions, and give everyone an opportunity to have a union voice on the job. Corporate CEOs are intent on dividing us against each other so they can drive down wages and cut corners on safety to boost profits for big investors. We cannot let that happen. We are going to keep organizing, keep mobilizing, and keep fighting!"

Vice President Trainor reinforced that message. "Union family, look around this room. We are teachers and technicians, maintenance workers and medical staff, office professionals and operations specialists, public sector workers, and private sector workers. Each of us brings a unique voice, a unique story, a unique struggle. But when we unite these voices-when we stand as one district, shoulder to shoulder, fighting for what's right-there is no force that can stop us. Our diversity is our strength. Our unity is our power. And our solidarity is what will secure not just our future but the future of every worker who will follow in our footsteps."

Secretary-Treasurer Ameenah Salaam; Local 1180 President and Northeast Region At Large Executive Board Member Gloria Middleton; District 2-13 Vice President Mike Davis; NewsGuild-CWA President Jon Schleuss; Public, Health and Education Workers Vice President Margaret Cook; National Retired Members Council President Gwendolyn Parker; and District 1 Retired Members Council Vice President Pat Welsh also addressed the group.

In addition to attending bargaining unit and sector meetings, conference participants heard from Human Rights Committee chairs from Locals 1101, 1106, and 1180 about the district-wide plan for upcoming trainings, including anti-racist union training, gender justice, and a new economic justice training soon to be rolled out. Members were also able to select from a list of workshops including "Mental Health in the Workplace," "Communications and Social Media Best Practices," "Grievance and Arbitration in the Private Sector," and "Mobilization While Working from Home/Teleworking."

CWA District 1 Vice President Dennis Trainor (above) and Secretary-Treasurer Ameenah Salaam (below) spoke passionately on the theme of this year's District 1 Leadership Conference, "Many Voices, One District: United for the Future."

Executive Board Members of IUE-CWA Local 81381 showed off their union and district pride.