Communications Workers of America history

The 1949 convention mandated that the Executive Board establish a special Constitution Committee to investigate the possibility of setting up a two-level structure.

Communications Workers of America, Local 2201 was formed in the mid-forties and chartered in 1950.

In 1951, after two days of heated debate on the issue, the delegates to the annual convention voted to establish a national defense fund with contributions of 50 cents per member per month.

* When CWA changed to a two-level structure, eleven Districts were created (9 geographic Districts and Western Electric Sales and Western Electric Installations). In 1953, Districts 10 and 11 were dissolved.

The 1955 strike was an early landmark for CWA because of its scope, duration and success.

In October, 1963, CWA members went on strike against General Telephone of California for wages and benefits comparable to those enjoyed by Bell employees in the state.

In 1965, Convention delegates, at President Beirne’s urging, adopted CWA Growth Resolution #1 which endorsed the Triple Threat program and clearly stated that organizing was a top priority of the union.

1971 proved a busy year for CWA, but did not deter more than 1,500 delegates, alternates and guests from attending the first “special convention.” The delegates adopted several constitutional amendments at this convention.

During the 1973 CWA convention, extensive discussions were held on the methods by which CWA dealt with the problems of women and minority members.

Extended discussions at the Executive Board meetings in January and February of 1974 led to a resolution recommending that the President develop a “Committee on Equity” concept from the national to the local level of the union.

A five year campaign that integrated continuous bargaining, membership education, political action, mobilization and strategic organizing, culminates in March 1977 with CWA and SBC (Southwestern Bell Corporation) signing the most far-reaching card check agreement in the union’s history.

On July 12, 1979, the Executive Board authorized President Watts to establish CWA’s National Organizing Department.

In July, 1980, the CWA Public Workers Department was created.

The Committee on the Future was created in July, 1981 by action of the CWA convention.

The first national minorities conference was held in 1982.

In 1983, only months before the Bell system was to be broken into separate companies, CWA opened national contract negotiations.

Morton Bahr became CWA third president with his election on July 16, 1985, after serving 16 years as vice president of District 1, covering New York, New Jersey and New England.

Job security issues catapulted to the top of the list of bargaining priorities for 1986.

In 1988, CWA celebrated its 50th anniversary.

CWA Mobilization was kicked off at the ’88 convention in preparation for a major round of bargaining in 1989.

CWA membership continues to grow outside the traditional telephone units with three big organizing wins in 1993 at universities.

Members of The Newspaper Guild (TNG), representing 40,000 news industry workers in the United States and Canada, vote overwhelmingly to affiliate and eventually merge (in 1997) with CWA. Linda K. Foley is elected TNG’s first woman President.

As of 2000, the CWA had successfully negotiated more than 2,000 collective bargaining agreements granting its members higher wages, benefits, better working conditions, and training and educational programs with child-and family-care provisions.

The strategic plan also established a National Telecom Office to increase focus on the telecom industry and mandated that the Executive Board bring to the 2007 convention specific proposals to increase Board diversity.