A Look at the National Communication Workers of America...

Beginnings     

The Communications Workers of America (CWA) is a young union - it was founded in New Orleans in 1938.

Size                                                    

CWA is the largest telecommunications union in the world, representing nearly 700,000 workers in public and private sector employment.

Composition                           

CWA members are employed in the telecommunications and information technology industry, print and news media, public service, health care, education, broadcast and cable television, law enforcement, transportation industry, security industry, manufacturing and other fields.

Geographic Spread                

There are more than 1,200 CWA chartered local unions throughout the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico. CWA members live and work in more than 10,000 communities across North America.

Collective Bargaining             

CWA holds over 1,000 contracts.  Among the largest employers are AT&T, the regional Bell operating companies, Windstream and other independent telephone companies, state governments, and major newspapers.

Union Democracy                   

CWA holds regular conventions as outlined in the CWA National Constitution.  Elected delegates attending CWA conventions are the union’s highest policy making body.