The Communications Workers of America (CWA) union issued the following statement in response to Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s decision to veto historic legislation that would have allowed public service workers to collectively bargain for fair wages, benefits, and working conditions:

Governor Spanberger has broken faith with working people across the Commonwealth, turning her back on 500,000 Virginians working in public service. Spanberger campaigned on a promise to address the affordability crisis and give public service workers the same right to negotiate collectively for a better life as private sector workers. But this veto aligns the Governor with her predecessor, Glenn Youngkin, rather than the working people who gave her their trust.

For six years, this bill was debated fully by the General Assembly, with all sides having the chance to weigh in. This year, when universities successfully lobbied to remove higher education faculty, we called on the Governor to restore their rights. She instead cut more workers and sent down a version that would take away the ability of workers to have an equal and fair footing in negotiations. With this action, Spanberger has shown that she was never truly on our side.

Since 2020, CWA has worked tirelessly and invested our members’ resources to win these fundamental rights for public service workers, from state services to our university campuses. These workers include correctional officers who have fought for decades for the right to address longstanding concerns over their safety and staffing. Campus workers across the Commonwealth have been organizing to bargain over stable jobs, predictable course loads, and academic freedom. Instead of keeping her promise to make their lives better by granting this fundamental labor right, the Governor chose to veto historic legislation that would empower hundreds of thousands of workers. It is stunning that any Democratic Governor, who ran on easing the cost burden of the working class, would say no to an opportunity to make such a big difference in so many Virginians’ lives.

We will continue to fight for the working people who serve the common good until every worker in Virginia has the right to bargain for the living wages, affordable benefits, and safe workplaces.

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About CWA: The Communications Workers of America represents working people in telecommunications, customer service, media, airlines, health care, public service and education, manufacturing, tech, and other fields.

cwa-union.org @cwaunion

On Tuesday, United Airlines Flight Attendants represented by AFA-CWA voted to ratify a new contract, ending a more than four-year fight for fair benefits, housing, and pay. The agreement provides a 31% average initial wage increase for the nearly 30,000 Flight Attendants covered by the contract, plus boarding pay (an additional 7-8% compensation on average) this summer and $741 million in retroactive pay, among many other improvements.

The contract was ratified with 82% voting for the agreement and 88.85% of all eligible votes cast. Members reached this contract at the National Mediation Board with the assistance of mediator Michael Kelliher.

“The United Airlines Flight Attendant contract now leads the industry in total value for Flight Attendants,” said AFA-CWA International President Sara Nelson. “We will continue to press forward with all of our contracts and build power with our organizing to ensure Flight Attendants are respected with meaningful return for our work as aviation’s first responders.”

Click here for more contract details.

Congratulations to all of our United Airlines AFA-CWA Flight Attendants!

In a historic new agreement reached in April, CWA and IUE-CWA members across six shops have ratified a national agreement with New Flyer, the largest transit bus manufacturer in North America. Members are leading the manufacturing of zero-emission hydrogen-powered and electric-powered buses. Shops include the newly organized warehouse in Louisville, Ky. (IUE-CWA Local 83600); parts fabrication shops in Jamestown, N.Y. (IUE-CWA Local 81500) and Shepherdsville, Ky. (IUE-CWA Local 83600); and bus assembly and manufacturing shops in Anniston, Ala. (IUE-CWA Local 83700); St. Cloud, Minn. (CWA Local 7304); and Crookston, Minn. (CWA Local 7304).

Members across all six shops voted to ratify the agreement by an overwhelming 77%. Approximately 1,360 employees represented by IUE-CWA and 1,000 represented by CWA District 7 will now be part of the New Flyer national agreement, which includes language guaranteeing additional holidays, locked-in healthcare costs, clarity on seniority and transfers, better training, and stronger safety protocols. For IUE-CWA Local 83700 Chief Steward Stevie Joe Thornton, one of the biggest wins came in the form of exact payment dates for perfect attendance bonuses. “Management can no longer delay,” Thornton said. “Workers can finally plan with certainty.”

From the North to the South, workers at New Flyer are celebrating their win and looking to build on the momentum in the future. They know much more is possible when they are united!

Read more about the New Flyer national agreement.

Congratulations to our CWA and IUE-CWA members at New Flyer!

Last week, leadership with the CWA Telecommunications and Technology sector, headed by CWA Telecommunications and Technologies Vice President Lisa Bolton, announced the overwhelming ratification of an agreement with DirecTV-Field Services.

The four-year contract includes wage increases each year along with cost-of-living adjustments over the final three years. It also secures increased severance payments, provides greater security and support for members facing unexpected transitions, and establishes a new boot allowance to help offset out-of-pocket costs of essential gear.

On work-life balance, the new contract includes double-time pay after 54 hours, creating stronger incentives for fair scheduling while compensating members more appropriately when extra hours are required.

“Our bargaining team did an awesome job representing our members and achieving a fair and equitable contract that will benefit members in the years to come,” said CWA Telecommunications and Technologies Vice President Lisa Bolton. “Together we are stronger and our solidarity is unbreakable!”

Congratulations to our CWA Telecommunications and Technology members at DirecTV!

This week, CWA submitted a petition to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) signed by over 3,500 people across the country, including nearly 1,700 CWA-represented telecommunications workers. The petition urges the FCC to classify Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) as a “common carrier” telecom service under Title II of the Communications Act.

While a majority of phone calls are now completed over the internet via VoIP, as opposed to traditional copper wire, the federal government still exercises oversight of those calls under legacy rules. As legacy networks are phased out, the federal government is set to lose this oversight authority and will be unable to require large providers to ensure service quality or to interconnect with other providers. The end result could be large gaps in vital services, including emergency 911 calls.

In response, members of CWA’s Broadband Brigade mobilized in their communities to gather thousands of petition signatures to demand the FCC update its oversight rules for the 21st century.

“As a worker in the telecommunications industry, I’ve seen firsthand how the lack of federal oversight on VoIP impacts my community; for example, the increased risk of outages,” said CWA Maryland State Broadband Lead Marcus Chambers. “My neighbors don’t understand the risks when their phone service over VoIP is not regulated like a traditional connection. They just expect that their phone will work if they need to call 911 or make another vital call. It’s time for the FCC to take action so that phone calls over the internet are regulated in the same way as phone calls placed over traditional copper wire.”

CWA journalists have taken home a slew of awards recently.

Last week, members of the Pulitzer Prize Board announced the 2026 recipients of the prestigious award. NewsGuild-CWA members at the Washington Post (TNG-CWA Local 32035) and the New York Times (TNG-CWA Local 31003) won awards for Public Service reporting and for Investigative Reporting, respectively. Journalists at the Post won their award for “piercing the veil of secrecy around the Trump administration’s chaotic overhaul of federal agencies,” while Times reporters won for “deeply reported stories that exposed how President Trump has shattered constraints on conflicts of interest and exploited the moneymaking opportunities that come with power.” Members from The Minnesota Star Tribune, San Francisco Chronicle, Reuters, and more publications were also awarded the top prize in journalism.

For the National Newspaper Awards in Canada, CWA Canada members took home awards in categories including breaking news, local reporting, best photo story, and project of the year. Canadian members also received the honor of being finalists in several other categories.

Click here for a complete list of members and their National Newspaper Awards.

Finally, last week brought the announcement that NewsGuild-CWA President Jon Schleuss earned a seat on the Executive Committee of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) during the IFJ’s World Congress in Paris, France. Schleuss will represent journalists across North America. Delegates also elected a new president from Peru, vice presidents from Palestine, Canada, and Tunisia, and a treasurer from Italy.

Congratulations to all of the CWA members and President Schleuss on well-deserved victories for journalistic excellence!

In April, members of CWA’s Retired Members’ Council (RMC), along with CWA Chief of Staff Sylvia J. Ramos, attended the 2026 National Membership Meeting for the Alliance for Retired Americans (ARA). The event, which was held in Las Vegas, Nev., was themed “Retiree Power: 25 Years and Growing.” Chief of Staff Ramos stood in for CWA President Claude Cummings Jr., who will be taking a seat on the ARA Board of Directors.

The CWA RMC was well-represented, with board members from nearly every district and sector in attendance. This strong participation allowed attendees to gain greater insight into the Alliance’s mission, coalition work, and advocacy initiatives. They heard directly from ARA leadership, including ARA President Robert Roach Jr. and ARA Executive Director Richard Fiesta, who provided insight into current national issues impacting retirees and older Americans.

One key focus of the conference was the need for effective communication and organizing strategies. Workshops included instruction on best practices for social media content creation, awareness of current artificial intelligence scams targeting older people, and protecting Social Security. Attendees also had the opportunity to participate in a roundtable discussion to identify the greatest challenges and opportunities for retiree engagement leading into the 2026 midterm elections.

The meeting also featured coalition discussions and strategic planning sessions focused on strengthening retiree engagement and advocacy efforts heading into 2027 and beyond.

 
CWA Retired Members’ Council (RMC) board members and CWA staff attended this year’s National Membership Meeting for the Alliance for Retired Americans (ARA). Attendees included (left to right, back row) CWA Supervisor I and RMC Liaison LareRonita Ratcliff; ARA President Robert Roach, Jr.; IUE-CWA RMC Vice President Penny Franklin; CWA Chief of Staff Sylvia J. Ramos; CWA RMC National President and CWA District 3 RMC President Gwen Parker; CWA District 7 RMC Vice President Mary Cooke; CWA District 1 RMC Vice President Denise Hawley; CWA RMC member Christopher Prescott; and (left to right, front row) PHEW-CWA RMC Vice President Mabel Thomas; CWA District 9 RMC Vice President Foxyne Hinton; and AFA-CWA RMC Vice President Marian Bruns.

For Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, celebrated every May, the AFL-CIO has chosen AFA-CWA member Sasha Kahele-Manners for her dedication and union spirit.

Sasha Kahele-Manners is a Flight Attendant with Hawaiian Airlines and proud member of AFA-CWA. Kahele-Manners currently serves as the reserve committee chair for AFA-CWA Council 43 (AFA-CWA Local 29043) in Honolulu, Hawaii, where she supports AFA-CWA members by helping them understand and navigate their collective bargaining agreement. Kahele-Manners’ union work is driven by a deep respect for the protections her contract provides—ensuring balance, preventing burnout, and affirming the value of Flight Attendants’ work.

Congratulations to AFA-CWA Flight Attendant Sasha Kahele-Manners!

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** If you purchase a new, qualifying union-assembled vehicle and are a union member in good standing, you will receive a gift card for $100 within 6 to 8 weeks after purchase. (The gift cards come from Union Plus and not from the dealer). Union Plus receives a monthly report on the sales activity from the program provider to verify that a gift card should be sent to a member who purchased a qualifying vehicle. This process is automated, there are no forms to complete to request the rebate. Keep a copy of your Union Plus Auto Buying referral email and proof of vehicle purchase as these documents can assist in researching your purchase if you think you qualified for a rebate but did not receive a gift card. Rebate offer expires 180 days after vehicle purchase date.

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In a public petition to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), telecommunications workers demand the agency update its oversight rules for the 21st century.

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) — As carriers phase out traditional phone service over copper wires, Americans risk losing public oversight of voice service altogether. To ensure reliable service for all and protect good, union jobs, the Communications Workers of America (CWA) submitted a public petition to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) urging the agency to classify Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) as a “common carrier” telecom service under Title II of the Communications Act. The petition was signed by over 3,500 people across the country, including nearly 1,700 telecommunications workers who are members of CWA.

While a majority of phone calls are now completed over the internet as opposed to traditional copper wire, the federal government still exercises oversight of those calls under legacy rules. As legacy networks are phased out, the federal government is set to lose this oversight authority and will be unable to require large providers to ensure service quality or to interconnect with other providers. The end result could be large gaps in vital services, including emergency 911 calls.

“There have been many changes since I first started working in the telecommunications industry decades ago. But what hasn’t changed in over two decades is how the FCC regulates phone service over the internet,” said Claude Cummings Jr., President of the Communications Workers of America. “CWA is dedicated to reversing decades of deregulation and achieving democratic oversight of the communications networks of the 21st century. Classifying VoIP as a common carrier is a key part of that strategy.”

“As a worker in the telecommunications industry, I’ve seen firsthand how the lack of federal oversight on VoIP impacts my community, for example, the increased risk of outages,” said CWA Maryland State Broadband Lead Marcus Chambers. “My neighbors don’t understand the risks when their phone service over VoIP is not regulated like a traditional connection. They just expect that their phone will work if they need to call 911 or make another vital call. It’s time for the FCC to take action so that phone calls over the internet are regulated in the same way as phone calls placed over traditional copper wire.”

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About CWA: The Communications Workers of America represents working people in telecommunications, customer service, media, airlines, health care, public service and education, manufacturing, tech, and other fields.

cwa-union.org @cwaunion