Legislative/Political Committee
Taking action for our members!
Committee Members
Robert Longer, Executive Vice President &Legislative-Political Director
Julie Bratcher, Steward & Chair
Darrin Simmons, Secretary-Treasurer
Alice Hodges, 3rd Vice President
Jim Gordon, CWA Local 9421 Retired Members Chapter President
Michael McConnell, Chief Steward
Susan O'Keefe, Steward
Heladio Saldivar
Mission Statement: To engage in the legislative and political process for the benefit of our members and all working families; to lobby and advocate our issues at all levels of government; to promote candidates and elected officials who will advance our agenda; to make the voice of CWA heard.
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Current News/Events:
2012 Candidate Interviews & Endorsements
PROCESS UNDERWAY TO SELECT CWA's CANDIDATES
More to come...
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Past News/Events:
December 22, 2011
Crack Down on Overseas Call Centers!
SUPPORT THE CALL CENTER BILL IN CONGRESS
Right now you can help to crack down on overseas call centers by taking action in support of H.R. 3596, The United States Call Center Worker and Consumer Protection Act, a bipartisan bill in Congress that is sponsored by Representatives Tim Bishop (D-NY) and David McKinley (R-WV).
H.R. 3596 takes three important steps to address off shoring of jobs and to protect not just the workers in the customer service and call center industries, but also U.S. consumers. Specifically, it would require:
- Creation of a “Bad Actor” List: Requires a public record of all employers that have relocated call center work overseas. Said companies would be ineligible for federal grants or guaranteed loans for five years after appearing on the list.
- Disclosure to Consumers: Requires relocated off shore center agents to disclose the center’s location.
- Transfer Rights: Customers would have the right to request their call be transferred to a customer service agent who is physically located in the United States.
We have a chance to take meaningful action now by supporting this bill!
Tell your Representative to sign on to support The US Call Center Worker and Consumer Protection Act right now. Take action NOW by going HERE and HERE.
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AT&T / T-Mobile Merger is Off
SIGNIFICANT LOSS FOR WORKERS IN THE FUTURE
December 20, 2011
From: Larry Cohen, CWA International President
The proposed AT&T/T-Mobile USA merger is off. All that remains is a roaming agreement and a $4 billion payment in cash and Spectrum from AT&T to Deutsche Telekom.
What was lost was significant. First, 23,000 T-Mobile USA workers are left employed by a company using yesterday’s technology without a path to modernize their network. Also lost was AT&T’s guarantee of no layoffs at both AT&T and T-Mobile, the opportunity to use the integration to create a high speed network covering 97 percent of America, and the commitment AT&T was willing to make to bring back 5,000 call center jobs currently in Asia.
All this makes our work even more important.
T-Mobile workers are now fighting for a union voice – a unit of technicians in Connecticut has been bargaining for several months for a contract and another group of technicians on Long Island will vote on the question of union representation in January. Their courage and commitment is inspiring. Both face concentrated T-Mobile management campaigns based on fear and intimidation.
At AT&T, we will continue all efforts to secure our jobs, customers, and standard of living.
None of this is easy, but the work goes on.
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September 26, 2011
Stand Up for Seniors
Tell Congress: Hands Off Our Medicare!
For nearly 60 years, our country has kept a commitment to seniors and retirees – providing health coverage and a secure retirement regardless of one’s ability to pay.
But today, some in Congress are considering breaking that promise in order to fund another round of corporate loopholes and tax breaks for billionaires. The House Republican Budget Plan would make deep cuts to Medicare, jeopardizing the benefits that millions of Americans rely on every day.
Send a letter to your Senators and Members of Congress urging them to protect the American dream by voting down the Republican plan.
Sign a letter by clicking HERE.
Thanks!
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September 6, 2011
Countdown to Shutdown
Union Busting Won't Fly
Delta Air Lines is holding billions of dollars in funding for crucial FAA projects hostage by insisting that Congress pass new, undemocratic rules for airline workers trying to organize a union. Delta wants union elections to count workers who don't take part as voting "No"--an absurd demand that would undermine the entire system of majority-rule voting.
Earlier this month Congress temporarily restored FAA funding but, on September 16th, Delta's powerful allies in Congress could continue to insist on the new election rule, causing another shutdown.
This shameful union-busting behavior already cost U.S. taxpayers $400 million when the FAA was shut down recently this year, delayed important airport infrastructure projects, and left thousands of FAA inspectors and other agency employees without a paycheck.
CWA represents tens of thousands of flight attendants at several airlines nationwide in our AFA (Association of Flight Attendants) sector. Please support your brothers and sisters of AFA-CWA.
Please sign the petition to send Delta a clear message that union-busting won't fly.
Sign the petition by clicking HERE.
Thanks!
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August 8, 2011
Update as of 8/20/11: CWA, IBEW Reach Agreement on Bargaining With Verizon, Members to Return to Work Tuesday, August 23
Following is a statement by the Communications Workers of America and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers:
Washington, D.C. – Members of CWA and IBEW at Verizon Communications will return to work on Tuesday, Aug. 23, at which time the contract will be back in force for an indefinite period.
We have reached agreement with Verizon on how bargaining will proceed and how it will be restructured. The major issues remain to be discussed, but overall, issues now are focused and narrowed.
We appreciate the unity of our members and the support of so many in the greater community. Now we will focus on bargaining fairly and moving forward.
CWA and IBEW represent 45,000 workers at Verizon covered by this contract from Virginia to New England.
To see the full terms of these agreements: CLICK HERE
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SUPPORT THE VERIZON STRIKE!
45,000 CWA members are on strike in Verizon East. Verizon Management is earning billions in profits while trying to strip everything we have achieved at the bargaining table in the last 50 years--pensions, health care, vacations--you name it, Verizon wants to take it away. 
And this strike affects us all. Our 5,000 Verizon West members in District 9 will be bargaining in about 18 months, and their fate hangs in the balance. Next year's AT&T contract negotiations will be affected by this strike. Our strength as a union is being tested, and if we come up short we will all feel the pain. Every middle-class American suffers when they come after our jobs and benefits, whatever the employer and whether you are retired or still working.
We must all understand the implications here: Verizon has aligned itself with the far right in this country, which is bent on destroying collective bargaining and which has its hand in the pocket of every working class family in this country. That means ALL OF US. We will not stand by while they mug us in broad daylight.
This is a large strike--one of the largest in many years. All of organized labor will be watching, as well as AT&T. In our District, it is our job to stand up, unite, and win.
You can get to work right now and join the strike support activities that are going on around the District.
1. Get online right now and sign the online petition, demanding that CEO Lowell McAdam stop attacking the middle class: www.cwa-union.org/verizongreed. Send this link out to friends and family, and make sure that your co-workers sign on. This is critically important.
2. “Like” us on Facebook and change your Facebook and/or Twitter profile picture in solidarity. This only takes a few minutes and has a significant impact.
3. Attend your local union meetings to stay informed.
This is what solidarity and unity requires, and this is how we will prevail.
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February 4, 2011
SERVICE OUTAGES & CWA ACTION
At the urging of CWA, State Senator Alex Padilla held a hearing on February 4th on a vitally important topic: 'Telephone Service Outages and Infrastructure Needs'.
This was a HUGE opportunity to turn the spotlight on AT&T and Verizon's poor and worsening record of reliability. Customers are still angry over the outages, and CWA District 9 Vice President Jim Weitkamp and other witnesses testified and told the truth about the cause: deep job cuts, inadequate maintenance, and a lack of concern for customer service.
CWA is actively working with the Legislature to hold more hearings in Sacramento and other venues to put the spotlight on AT&T and Verizon's job cuts and the resulting impact to customers.
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ELECTION 2010 RESULTS
To see full results of the November 2, 2010 General Election, visit:
For Statewide races and ballot propositions: http://vote.sos.ca.gov/
For Sacramento County races: http://sacresults.e-cers.com/resultsSW.aspx?type=STATE&map=MPRC
For Placer County races: http://www.placerelections.com/election-night-results.aspx
For Yolo County races: http://www.yoloelections.org/returns/
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ELECTION 2010
2010 CWA-ENDORSED CANDIDATES FOR PUBLICLY ELECTED OFFICES & INITIATIVE POSITIONS
- NOVEMBER 2, 2010 GENERAL ELECTION -
The candidates listed below have been thoroughly interviewed and vetted by CWA at all levels. All candidates were personally interviewed by the CWA Local 9421 legislative committee, with the exception of candidates for statewide office and the U.S. Senate, which were interviewed by CWA District 9. Candidates were endorsed based on their specific support of CWA's issues, their past labor history with regard to CWA and the labor movement in general, their voting record (if applicable), and multiple other questions in a formal interview and questionnaire process. Please rest assured that we have endorsed only those candidates who will actually stand up and fight for CWA members and labor. This list reflects a mix of new candidates and incumbents; however, all candidates were screened to ensure that they will be strong labor candidates...we will not support candidates who have not or will not support us!
OVERVIEW LIST (PARTIAL):
OFFICE RUNNING FOR/RACE |
CANDIDATE |
US SENATE, CA |
Barbara Boxer |
US CONGRESS, 3rd District, CA |
Amerish (Ami) Bera |
US CONGRESS, 4th District, CA |
Clint Curtis |
US CONGRESS, 5th District, CA |
Doris Matsui |
CA GOVERNOR |
Jerry Brown |
CA LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR |
Gavin Newsom |
CA TREASURER |
Bill Lockyer |
CA ATTORNEY GENERAL |
Kamala Harris |
CA INSURANCE COMMISSIONER |
Dave Jones |
CA SECRETARY OF STATE |
Debra Bowen |
CA CONTROLLER |
John Chiang |
CA BOARD OF EQUALIZATION, Dist 2 |
Chris Parker |
CA SUPERINTENDENT |
Tom Torlakson |
CA SENATE, 6th District |
Darrell Steinberg |
CA ASSEMBLY, 3rd District |
Mickey Harrington |
CA ASSEMBLY, 4th District |
Dennis Campanale |
CA ASSEMBLY, 5th District |
Richard Pan |
CA ASSEMBLY, 8th District |
Mariko Yamada |
CA ASSEMBLY, 9th District |
Roger Dickinson |
CA ASSEMBLY, 10th District |
Alyson Huber |
CA ASSEMBLY, 15th District |
Joan Buchanan |
Sacramento County Sheriff |
Jim Cooper |
Sacramento City Council, District 5 |
Patrick Kennedy |
Sacramento City Council, District 7 |
Ryan Chin |
West Sacramento Mayor |
Greg Potnick |
Folsom City Council, District |
Kerri Howell |
Roseville City Council |
David Larson |
Elk Grove City Council, District 2 |
Davies Ononiwu |
Elk Grove City Council, District 4 |
Gary Davis |
FULL LIST:
Click on the link above to see a FULL LISTING of CWA's endorsed candidates and ballot propositions.
Click on the link above to see a convenient Union Voter Guide
Click on the link above to see a CWA candidate comparison flyer
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Website Exposes Meg "Wall Street" Whitman's Attempt at a Hostile Takeover of California
Meet Meg “Wall Street” Whitman – the billionaire ex-CEO and Wall Street insider who could scarcely be bothered to vote during the brief time she’s lived in California, yet now wants to buy her way into the Governor’s seat and “run California like a business.”
Between her shady dealings on the board at Goldman Sachs and her promises to lay off 40,000 state workers while giving massive tax breaks to the wealthiest Californians, there is no doubt that Wall Street Whitman is attempting a hostile corporate takeover of our state.
With our budget crisis growing worse by the day and unemployment at record levels, the last thing California needs is an out-of-touch corporate executive with zero relevant experience suited to the job of Governor. It’s time to expose the truth about Wall Street Whitman and the scams, shady insider deals and mortgage-backed securities that made her and her cronies rich at the expense of countless families’ homes and jobs.
From the budget to health care to education to jobs and workers’ rights, Wall Street Whitman is threatening everything that working Californians care about the most.
Click here to learn where Whitman stands on the issues that matter most to you.
Ready to join the campaign to stop Wall Street Whitman? Sign up here.
Stop Wall Street Whitman on Facebook
Follow @WallStWhitman on Twitter
Labor Endorses Jerry Brown for Governor, Launches Massive Grassroots Campaign
California Labor Federation delegates have voted unanimously to endorse Jerry Brown for Governor, and committed to reject Meg Whitman's hostile takeover attempt of California.
"Jerry Brown has spent a lifetime fighting for working families. Time and again, he's shown that he's on our side on jobs, health care, retirement security and so many other issues," said California Labor Federation's Art Pulaski. "The choice is clear. Jerry Brown is the people's candidate -- a proven, experienced leader who will stand up to the big banks and corporations and stand with working families to rebuild our economy."
Learn more about Jerry Brown at http://bit.ly/dlfGw8
Delegates also voted on endorsements for state constitutional officers, ballot measures, and state and federal legislative races. The endorsements mark the launch of a massive grassroots campaign to take back the Governor's office and send more friends of working families to Sacramento.
View the complete list of Labor Fed endorsements at http://bit.ly/cKbrU5
View the complete list of CWA's endorsements HERE
Learn more about the campaign at http://bit.ly/9FUL5v
Paid for by the California Labor Federation. Not authorized by a candidate or committee controlled by a candidate.
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CWA LOCAL 9421
PHONE BANKS UNDERWAY
Call Union voters for Ami Bera & Richard Pan!
Please call Alice at 916-484-9421 to schedule the shift you are available to make calls!
From September 28th through October 28th, the phone banks will run:
Tuesdays through Thursdays: 5:30 - 8:30 PM
Location:
CWA Local 9421
2725 El Camino Avenue
Sacramento, CA 95821
FOOD & DRINKS PROVIDED!
Join CWA Local 9421 in making a difference on Election Day, November 2nd, by electing two labor warriors who will fight for CWA members in Congress and the State Assembly: Dr. Ami Bera and Dr. Richard Pan. Both candidates are physicians and educators, and are committed to fighting for jobs, fair pay and strong communities at both the state and federal level. Furthermore, both candidates are endorsed by CWA Local 9421, the Sacramento Central Labor Council, and the California Labor Federation. The 3rd Congressional District encompasses parts of Sacramento County, including Elk Grove, Fair Oaks, Carmichael, Citrus Heights, Rancho Cordova, Folsom; parts of Solano County; and the entire Counties of Alpine, Amador and Calaveras. The 5th State Assembly District encompasses Sacramento, Natomas, Citrus Heights, Folsom, Arden-Arcade, Carmichael, Fair Oaks, Foothill Farms, North Highlands, Orangevale and parts of Roseville and Granite Bay.
Please join us for CWA-sponsored phonebanks every week until the General Election on November 2nd. Together, we will elect our labor friends!
Food & Drinks will be provided!
WHAT
Phonebanks for Ami Bera & Richard Pan.
Make quick and easy calls to voters in a comfortable setting. You don’t need any prior experience!
WHEN
Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday of each week (except Tuesday, October 12th), September 28th – October 28th, 5:30 – 8:30pm
If you can’t make it at 5:30pm, show up at 6 or 6:30pm…we are flexible! If you need to leave early, that’s fine too! Just pick a date…or two…whatever works for your schedule!
WHERE
All phonebanks will take place at the CWA Local 9421 Union Hall located at 2725 El Camino Ave, Sacramento 95821.
By Fulton Ave, in between the Country Waffles restaurant and the church. Remember, food will be provided!
WHY
The 3rd CD is an important seat in Congress. As well, the 5th AD is a very important seat in the California Assembly.
If we can get a labor-backed candidates elected, we will have a direct voice in Congress and the State Legislature to fight for CWA members and all working families!
HOW
It’s easy, just RSVP and then show up.
It’s that simple! See below…
RSVP
Please RSVP by e-mailing Alice Hodges, CWA Local 9421 Legislative Committee Chair at alicehodges@sbcglobal.net or calling Alice at 916-484-9421.
So we can know how much food to order, please RSVP. Thanks!
We promise that this will be an easy and fun experience. CWA has a really good to chance to help elect candidates who will fight for OUR interests. Please help!
If you have any questions, please call Alice at 916-484-9421. Thanks!
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October 10, 2010
Join AFL-CIO's Arlene Holt-Baker and Help Get Out the Vote
AFL-CIO Executive Vice President Arlene Holt Baker will be coming out to California to hit the streets and help get out the vote to permanent vote-by-mail voters in Sacramento. On Sunday, October 10th, join Holt Baker and CWA Local 9421 for a precinct walk in Sacramento, beginning at 1:30pm at the Sacramento Central Labor Council, 2840 El Centro Rd, #111, Sacramento 95833.
For more info, contact Alice Hodges at alicehodges@sbcglobal.net or at 916-484-9421.
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September 25, 2010

LABOR'S CANVASS KICK-OFF & BBQ
Join Us for a free BBQ & speak with Union voters in Congressional District 3 about Jerry Brown, Dr. Ami Bera, Dr. Richard Pan and Alyson Huber!
September 25th @ 12:30 PM
Holiday Inn Capitol Plaza,
300 J Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
Join California’s top labor leader, Art Pulaski of the California Labor Federation, as well as CWA Local 9421, for a BBQ and to walk precincts to talk to union voters for this critical General Election to elect Jerry Brown for Governor and defeat anti-worker candidate Dan Lungren.
Jerry Brown has spent a lifetime fighting for working families. During his nearly four decades of public service, he has compiled an impressive record in support of the issues that matter most to us. And his forward-thinking vision for the future is just what California needs to get our economy back on track, create quality jobs, restore our education system and revive other vital public services that have been decimated under Governor Schwarzenegger.
For more information, please contact Greg Larkins at 916-927-9772 or glarkins@sacramentolabor.org.
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August 10, 2010
CWAers tELL California LAWMAKERS: 'KEEP JOBS HERE'

More than 100 CWA activists (including ten from CWA Local 9421) descend on the State Capitol in Sacramento for California Jobs Lobby Day.
More than 100 CWA members from across California (including ten from CWA Local 9421, led by Vice President Robert Longer) converged on the State Capitol in Sacramento on August 10th with a big Lobby Day message for members of the Senate and Assembly: "Keep Jobs in California."
At the Capitol, CWA members met with elected officials from the legislature about CWA priorities, and in particular, three critical bills. CWAers urged the closing of loopholes in the corporate tax code that would help raise revenues; pressed for tax incentives to keep jobs in the state; and called on lawmakers to require AT&T and Verizon to obey the 2006 Digital Infrastructure and Video Competition Act that requires the companies to keep a set number of jobs in California.
CWA members also got an overview of the union's top legislative initiatives and some key state proposals, including Proposition 23, a measure that would repeal California's Global Warming Solutions Act. California's efforts to address global warming made national headlines because it established a state-wide cap on greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 and won the support of a broad coalition of labor and community groups, including the Blue Green Alliance. CWA is a partner in the BGA, and along with the Sierra Club and other organizations, is working to create quality, sustainable jobs and sustainable communities.
The Lobby Day is a project of CWA's California Jobs Strategic Industry Fund.
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2010 CWA-ENDORSED CANDIDATES
FOR PUBLICLY ELECTED OFFICES
- JUNE 8, 2010 PRIMARY ELECTION -
The candidates listed below have been thoroughly interviewed and vetted by CWA at all levels. All candidates were personally interviewed by the CWA Local 9421 legislative committee, with the exception of candidates for statewide office and the U.S. Senate, which were interviewed by CWA District 9. Candidates were endorsed based on their specific support of CWA's issues, their past labor history with regard to CWA and the labor movement in general, their voting record (if applicable), and multiple other questions in a formal interview and questionnaire process. Please rest assured that we have endorsed only those candidates who will actually stand up and fight for CWA members and labor. This list reflects a mix of new candidates and incumbents; however, all candidates were screened to ensure that they will be strong labor candidates...we will not support candidates who have not or will not support us.
OFFICE RUNNING FOR/RACE |
CANDIDATE |
US SENATE, CA |
Barbara Boxer |
US CONGRESS, 3rd District, CA |
Amerish (Ami) Bera |
US CONGRESS, 5th District, CA |
Doris Matsui |
CA GOVERNOR |
Jerry Brown |
CA LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR |
Janice Hahn |
CA TREASURER |
Bill Lockyer |
CA ATTORNEY GENERAL |
Alberto Torrico |
CA INSURANCE COMMISSIONER |
Hector De La Torre |
CA SECRETARY OF STATE |
Debra Bowen |
CA CONTROLLER |
John Chiang |
CA BOARD OF EQUALIZATION, 2 |
Chris Parker |
CA SUPERINTENDENT |
Tom Torlakson |
CA SENATE, 6th District |
Darrell Steinberg |
CA ASSEMBLY, 5th District |
Richard Pan |
CA ASSEMBLY, 8th District |
Mariko Yamada |
CA ASSEMBLY, 9th District |
Roger Dickinson |
CA ASSEMBLY, 10th District |
Alyson Huber |
CA ASSEMBLY, 15th District |
Joan Buchanan |
Sacramento County Board of Sups, 1 |
Phil Serna |
Sacramento County Sheriff |
Jim Cooper |
Sacramento County Board of Educ, 1 |
Greg Geeting |
Sacramento City Council, District 1 |
Ray Tretheway |
Sacramento City Council, District 3 |
Steve Cohn |
Sacramento City Council, District 5 |
Patrick Kennedy |
Sacramento City Council, District 7 |
Ryan Chin |
Elk Grove City Council, District 4 |
Gary Davis |
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PRIMARY ELECTION IS JUNE 8TH!
The primary election takes place on Tuesday, June 8th. This election is important, as we have the opportunity to remove some politicians and elect new labor-friendly candidates who will fight for CWA members and working families.
To see who CWA and the California Labor Federation endorse, look here:
View the complete list of CWA's endorsements HERE
View the complete list of Labor Fed endorsements at http://bit.ly/cKbrU5
The most important thing that you can do is to please VOTE on Tuesday, June 8th! Remember, polls close at 8pm.
If you are a registered absentee/vote-by-mail (VBM) voter, you can vote by mail now or anytime until June 8th!
To see what else you can do to directly help out, please read below.
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PHONEBANK FOR RICHARD PAN
CWA Local 9421 has teamed up with the Dr. Richard Pan for Assembly 2010 campaign. Richard Pan is endorsed by CWA Local 9421, the Sacramento Central Labor Council, and the California Labor Federation for his candidacy in the 5th Assembly District (AD). The 5th AD encompasses Natomas, Sacramento, Citrus Heights, Folsom, Arden-Arcade, Carmichael, Fair Oaks, Foothill Farms, North Highlands, Orangevale and parts of Roseville and Granite Bay.
Please join us for CWA-sponsored Thursday night phonebanks every Thursday until the Primary to help Richard get elected!
FOOD WILL BE PROVIDED!
Details:
WHAT
Making calls.
Phonebanks for Dr. Richard Pan.
Make quick and easy calls to voters in a comfortable setting. You don’t need any prior experience!
WHEN
We will be phonebanking these nights:
Thursday, April 29th, 6 – 8:30pm
Thursday, May 6th, 6 – 8:30pm
Thursday, May 13th, 6 – 8:30pm
Thursday, May 20th, 5:30 – 8:00pm
Thursday, May 27th, 5:30 – 8:00pm
Thursday, June 3rd, 5:30 – 8:00pm
Pick one or two dates--whatever works for your schedule!
WHERE
The first three phonebanks will be held at the Dr. Richard Pan for Assembly 2010 campaign headquarters located at 4690 Natomas Blvd, Suite 140, Sacramento 95835 (in the shopping center at Truxel Rd. & Del Paso Rd. in Natomas – by the Kohl's). The last three phonebanks will be held at the CWA Local 9421 Union Hall located at 2725 El Camino Avenue, Sacramento 95821 (by Fulton Avenue).
WHY
The 5th AD is a very important seat in the California Assembly. If we can get a labor-backed candidate elected, we will have a direct voice in the Legislature to fight for CWA members and all working families!
HOW
It’s easy, just RSVP (see below) and then show up (see above). That simple!
RSVP
Please RSVP by e-mailing Robert at robert@cwalocal9421.org or calling CWA Local 9421 at 916-484-9421.
So we can know how much food to order, please RSVP. Thanks!
We promise that this will be an easy and fun experience. CWA has a really good to chance to help elect a candidate who will fight for OUR interests. Please help!
If you have any questions, please call Robert at 916-484-9421. Thanks!
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May 3, 2010
Today, Vice President Robert Longer attended the State Assembly Committee on Utilities and Commerce hearing for Assembly Bill 2690 (AB2690), a bill that deals with call centers. Unfortunately, this bill did not garner enough votes to make it out of Committee and is now dead. Again, this goes to show the tremendous amount of opposition that we face from the corporate lobbyists in AT&T and Verizon, among others. It is very sad that the Legislature succumbed to the money and influence of these corporations instead of listening to and fighting for working people.
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April 28, 2010
Today, Vice President Robert Longer spent the day lobbying at the State Capitol again regarding Assembly Bill 2690 (AB2690), a bill that deals with call centers. This bill was originally scheduled to be heard by the State Assembly Committee on Utilities and Commerce on April 19, 2010; however, the new hearing date has been changed to May 3, 2010 at 3pm (if you are interested in attending it is open to the general public; call Robert at 916-484-9421 for more information). Unfortunately, AT&T's corporate lobbyists and Republican Assemblymembers have lobbied hard to change this bill from a mandate/fiscal bill to a reporting/non-fiscal bill. While it will still be a good start, this legislation has changed from its original form (see April 15, 2010 post below). Even in its current form, AT&T lobbyists and Republican Assemblymembers are fighting hard to kill this bill. This goes to show how monied corporate interests and the politicians they have in their pockets are always fighting against the interests of working people and labor in general; it also shows why we must not let them have the only say regarding our futures and why we must continue to fight for our beliefs and the advancement of working people's interests. To that end, and as an update on progress of related work, we are happy to report that another bill, Senate Bill 1040 (SB1040), did make it out of the California Senate's Energy, Utilities and Commerce Committee during the hearing on April 6, 2010 (see April 6, 2010 post below) and now moves to the Senate body as a whole for a vote.
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April 15, 2010
Today, Vice President Robert Longer spent the day lobbying at the State Capitol; specifically, Robert met with 7 members of the State Assembly Committee on Utilities and Commerce regarding AB 2690, a bill that deals with call centers and keeping jobs in California and the United States. This bill will be heard by the Committee on April 19, 2010, so garnering support to pass this bill is critical. To see the letter that Robert circulated to legislators, read below:
On behalf of the Communications Workers of America, Local 9421, representing some 2,200 members in the telecommunications industry in Sacramento, I am writing to ask you to please support and vote yes on AB 2690 (De La Torre); as you know, this will be before your committee on April 19, 2010.
Unfortunately, CWA Local 9421 knows all too well the reality of job losses in the telecommunications industry: since November 2009 and by the end of June 2010, AT&T has/will have moved some 565 jobs out of Sacramento alone. These are 565 members that we no longer represent and who are out of work.
As public utility call centers leave the state and/or country our current consumer protection practices and requirements that have been in place to protect Californians may now be at risk for privacy invasions. This can lead to fraud and theft of a person’s identity. To ensure that Californians have a choice to be serviced by a call center in California when available, AB 2690 would help facilitate this
for Californian consumers who choose to exercise their consumer rights pursuant to this legislation.
AB 2690 would require a customer call center for a public utility, upon request to inform any customer that telephones the call center of the location of the call center and whether the call center is operated by the utility or is a contracted vendor of the utility. The bill would also upon request require a customer call center that is outside the state the ability to direct a telephone call to a call center located in the state, and a customer call center that is outside the United States, upon request and availability, to direct a telephone call to a call center located within the United States.
We believe AB 2690 will also help retain jobs in the state of California and increase job growth for the state by creating the need to keep the current call centers in the state open and create additional call centers for public utilities that provide services for the citizens of California.
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April 6, 2010
Today, Vice President Robert Longer testified before the California Senate's Energy, Utilities and Commerce Committee during a legislative hearing held regarding broadband buildout and Senate Bill 1040. Below was Robert's testimony (as spoken and submitted via letter):
I am pleased to express CWA's support for SB 1040, relative to the California Advanced Services Fund (CASF). This bill will help California bridge the digital divide and help bring broadband infrastructure to unserved and underserved communities.
According to the Broadband Task Force, approximately 1.4 million Californians and 2,000 rural communities have no access to broadband. In 2008, SB 1193 (Padilla) codified the California Advanced Services Fund, which provided grant opportunities for providers to build out broadband infrastructure in these unserved and underserved communities. As of December 17, 2009, the CPUC has approved 38 projects, totaling $57.61 million, covering 11,045 square miles and benefiting an estimated 115,706 households in unserved areas and 82,379 households in underserved areas. With additional pending projects, the $100 million currently allocated for the CASF program may not be enough to fund these projects.
SB 1040 would extend the operation of the California Advanced Services Fund (CASF) until January 1, 2018, and appropriate an additional $125 million to the CASF. The bill would also appropriate funds to help continue the important work of the Regional Consortia, which have assisted local regions with broadband demand aggregation, identified existing broadband community assets that are key in furthering broadband deployment. Approximately 79% by dollar amount and 83% by households served by the CASF projects were associated to the Regional Consortia. SB 1040 would also create a Broadband Infrastructure Revolving Loan Fund, which would provide loan capital for providers to build out broadband in remote communities.
SB 1040 will enable California to continue its efforts to expand broadband deployment in the state while creating jobs.
CWA has been a leader nationally in our Speed Matters campaign (www.speedmatters.org) for the past several years. Through this campaign, we have developed large-scale broadband mapping capabilities by which we can identify under-served areas across the nation, including California. Matching the needs identified via our campaign to broadband buildout will not only deliver much needed access to communities--thereby bridging the digital divide--it will also create good jobs.
For all of the above reasons, we are pleased to support this bill.
At the end of the day, our goal is simple: "no child left offline."
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March 10, 2010
CWA Local 9421 Legislative Committee members Robert Longer, Vice President, and Alice Hodges, Chair, were at the State Capitol again for another round of lobbying to save jobs in both Sacramento and California. We met with 1 State Senator and 4 State Assemblymembers.
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March 9, 2010
Vice President Robert Longer attended the Sacramento Central Labor Council's legislative meeting today with 1 State Senator (Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg) and 6 State Assembly-members to hear what support our elected officials will give labor to benefit working people.
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March 8, 2010
Today, CWA Local 9421 and CWA District 9 set-up another legislative hearing, this time with the California State Assembly's Committee on Utilities and Commerce at the State Capitol. Again, the purpose of this sister-hearing (the second of its kind, following the Senate hearing on February 16th) was to present evidence that AT&T and Verizon have been moving jobs and work out of California.
President Lupe Mercado again testified before the Committee and presented information that shows since 2006, when the Digital Infrastucture Video Competition Act (DIVCA) was passed by the Legislature, AT&T has shed more jobs than they have created. AT&T has been a negligent employer not just to its employees, but to all of the customers they 'serve' in California. Despite reaping the highest level of profits from California consumers, AT&T (and Verizon) continue to move work out of the state at a rapid pace. The Committee was concerned at this information and is looking into further action.
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February 16, 2010
Today, CWA Local 9421 and CWA District 9 set-up a first: a legislative hearing of the California State Senate's Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee at the State Capitol (we were hopeful that we could persuade legislators to hold hearings; our work paid off). The purpose of this hearing was to present evidence that AT&T and Verizon have been moving jobs and work out of California.
President Lupe Mercado testified before the Committee and presented information that shows since 2006, when the Digital Infrastucture Video Competition Act (DIVCA) was passed by the Legislature, AT&T has shed more jobs than they have created. AT&T has been a negligent employer not just to its employees, but to all of the customers they 'serve' in California. Despite reaping the highest level of profits from California consumers, AT&T (and Verizon) continue to move work out of the state at a rapid pace. The Committee was concerned at this information and is looking into further action.
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January 19, 2010
CWA Local 9421 Legislative Committee members Robert Longer, Vice President, and Alice Hodges, Chair, were at the State Capitol again for another round of lobbying to save jobs in both Sacramento and California. We met with the State Senate President Pro Tem's office and 2 more State Assemblymembers.
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January 14, 2010
CWA Local 9421 Legislative Committee members Robert Longer, Vice President, Alice Hodges, Chair, and Jim Gordon, Retired Members Chapter President, and all Locals throughout California spent the entire day at the State Capitol lobbying to save jobs in both Sacramento and California. We met with 2 State Senators and 3 State Assemblymembers, including the new Assembly Speaker-Elect, John Perez, and both heads of the Utilities' Committees (Senate and Assembly) which oversee AT&T. We are hopeful that hearings will emerge to expose AT&T's job cuts and that positive changes would follow.
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