This is the next post in our series that will take a deeper look at each of our affiliates. The series will run weekly until we've covered all 65 of our affiliates. Next up are the Communications Workers of America (CWA).
Name of Union: Communications Workers of America
Mission: CWA members and retirees fight for economic justice and democracy at the bargaining table, on the job, and in the legislative and political arena. They are committed to building a movement that reaches beyond the workplace to build power for working families.
Current Leadership of Union: Claude Cummings Jr. is the president of CWA. A Houston native, Cummings is a longtime community activist who believes in the power of bringing people together to identify their common interests and solve problems. In 2023, he became the first Black man elected to lead CWA.
Ameenah Salaam serves as secretary-treasurer. The executive board also includes vice presidents for seven geographic districts, six industry sectors, the Canadian director and four at-large members.
Number of Members: More than 500,000
Members Work As: Telecommunications technicians, customer support specialists, manufacturing workers, flight attendants, passenger service agents, journalists, broadcast technicians, public service workers, educators, research scientists, video game designers and testers, health care providers, and many more.
Industries Represented: Communications and information industries, as well as the news media, the airlines, broadcast and cable television, public service, higher education, health care, manufacturing, high tech, video games, and more.
History: CWA was founded in 1938 as the National Federation of Telephone Workers. The union became the Communications Workers of America in 1947. Because of CWA’s democratic tradition and membership involvement, a number of other unions have affiliated with CWA over the years, including the International Typographical Union (1987), the National Association of Broadcast Employees and Technicians (1994), The Newspaper Guild (1997), the Independent Association of Publishers’ Employees (1997), the International Union of Electronic Workers (2000), and the Association of Flight Attendants (2003).
Current Campaigns/Community Efforts: CWA’s national programs focus on supporting sustainable jobs and a secure retirement for members; making it easier for workers to take collective action, join together in unions and negotiate fair contracts; and ensuring that working people’s voices are heard in our democracy. CWA’s national legislative priorities include expanding collective bargaining and organizing rights, reducing the use of low-wage and offshore contractors, investing in infrastructure, and holding corporations accountable. CWA trains members and retirees to advocate for these issues at the federal, state and local levels. Through its Political Action Fund, CWA helps elect candidates who will fight for working people. CWA has an app, CWA Strong, to provide information directly to members, and it publishes a weekly newsletter. It also keeps members and supporters engaged through a rapid-response text network. CWA offers other benefits to members, including scholarships, and branded merchandise is available in its online store. CWA also offers constituent groups for retired members and young workers.
Learn More: Website, Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, Bluesky