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Officers Message

cWa 74 t h c O n v e n t i O n a p r i l 22-23, 2013

cWa: WOrking fOr ecOnOMic Justice and deMOcracy


Across CWA districts, sectors and industries, bargaining and organizing have never been tougher. But there is a path forward. CWA: Working for Economic Justice and Democracy is part of it. But as hard as we work, its not enough. We cant do it alone. Its not just CWA facing this crisis. All union workers face a broken collective bargaining system. Union workers still are the lucky ones, however, because bargaining, even with a broken process, makes all the difference. The systematic and relentless attack by opponents and extremists on collective bargaining and organizing rights has meant that today, just 7 percent of private sector workers are covered by collective bargaining. This attack has been turned on public workers too, with the same goal: to get rid of workers bargaining rights. The inability of working Americans to have a union voice and bargaining rights means that for our members, its as though unorganized workers in competing companies are on the management side of the negotiating table. Our fight is to restore bargaining and organizing rights, to bring about secure retirement and health care benefits for working and retired families, to create and expand quality, secure and sustainable jobs. But our efforts, as well as those of our allies and partners, are blocked by barriers to economic and social justice. And this is the fight we must take on. We must break down the barriers of corporate money in politics, the broken Senate, and the attacks on the right to vote and on immigrants. Thats the only way we can achieve our goals. It will take a movement of 50 million people who share and support our goals, as we support theirs. And were building that movement today. Were building alliances and building a movement with members of the Sierra Club in Texas, California and Virginia, with Take Action Minnesota, with the NAACP in New Jersey and other states, with Common Cause and other groups fighting to get money out of politics, with religious, students and social justice groups at every level. At the same time, CWA members have the support of many progressive allies in contract fights. By standing up for each other, and standing together, well get to our goal of economic justice and democracy for all.

It was tough in the earliest days of the union movement, when workers and communities banded together to fight the power of big corporations. Its tough today, but not hopeless. We have a path forward. Since our last convention in 2011, weve continued to put in place the changes that delegates have voted to our structure and use of resources. Were in better financial shape today as a result of the careful use of those resources and the determination of all of us to fight for our members, working families and CWA priorities. We look forward to carrying out our mission of economic justice and democracy together, on all sides of the CWA Triangle.

In solidarity,

Larry Cohen

Annie Hill

General InformatIon
The CWA Constitution, Article VIII, Section 1, provides that the Union shall meet in Biennial Convention at a place selected by the Executive Board or the Secretary-Treasurer when authorized by the Executive Board to do so. Section 3 of the same Article provides that all Locals be notified in writing of the date and place of the Biennial Convention not later than 90 days in advance of the opening date of the Convention. Therefore, this is to advise that the 74th CWA Convention will be held at the David Lawrence Convention Center, Pittsburgh, PA, beginning at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, April 22, 2013.

r e G I s t r at I o n
Delegates, Alternates, Retirees and Guests can register Sunday, April 21st, 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and Monday, April 22nd, 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. at the David Lawrence Convention Center.

sessIons
The Convention will be held April 22-23, 2013.

Place

of

meetInG

David Lawrence Convention Center 1000 Fort Duquesne Boulevard Pittsburgh, PA 15222

conventIon commIttees
The Resolutions/Rules Committee will convene on April 18, 2013. The Appeals Committee will convene on April 18, 2013. The Finance Committee will convene on April 19, 2013. The Constitution Committee will convene on April 19, 2013. The Credentials Committee will convene on April 19, 2013. The Defense Fund Oversight Committee on April 18, 2013. National Committee on Civil Rights and Equity on April 19, 2013. National Womens Committee on April 19, 2013. The Convention Committees will have their respective meeting rooms at the Omni William Penn available to those who may need to contact them. The Credentials Committee will be meeting at the David Lawrence Convention Center.

Housing information
Delegates, Alternates and Guests attending the Convention should make their hotel reservations in advance. Housing registration will open on Friday, January 18, 2013. CWA will be using four (4) hotels this year. Reservations can be made online or by calling the hotels directly at the following numbers: Omni William Penn 530 William Penn Place Pittsburgh, PA 15219 Westin Convention Center 1000 Penn Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15222 412-281-7100 1-800-THE-OMNI (800-843-6664)

412-281-3700 1-800-WESTIN1 (800-937-8461)

Doubletree Hotel by Hilton (PPMWS) 412-586-1858 One Bigelow Square 1-800-560-7753 Pittsburgh, PA 15219 Wyndham Grand Hotel (IUE & TNG) 600 Commonwealth Place Pittsburgh, PA 15222 412-391-4600 1-800-WYNDHAM (800-996-3426)

Confirmation from the hotel will be sent via email or fax upon request. All pertinent information can be found at www.cwa-union.org/convention. The cut-off date for making reservations is March 26, 2013.

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