CWA Delegation Builds Solidarity at Global Union Conference

President Claude Cummings Jr. led a CWA delegation to South Africa this week for the Information, Communications, Technology, and Related Services (ICTS) UNI Global Conference. The conference, held every four years, was attended by approximately 200 participants from unions representing workers in telecommunications and technology from all over the world. During the conference, CWA leaders had the opportunity to learn from other unions about their struggles, deepen relationships with key partner unions from around the world, and highlight our tech organizing successes.

Joining President Cummings were Ameenah Salaam, CWA Secretary-Treasurer; Mike Davis, Vice President, CWA District 2-13; Linda L. Hinton, Vice President, CWA District 4; Susie McAllister, Vice President, CWA District 7; Chief of Staff Sylvia J. Ramos; and Shane Larson, Assistant to the President. Autumn Mitchell, a QA tester at the CWA-represented Zenimax video game studio, also joined the delegation.

In his speech to the UNI audience President Cummings said, “These are challenging times for all workers across the world. And the tech industry is no different. But we are seeing workers rise to this challenge and they are embracing organizing and collective bargaining as a way to build power.”

In the opening session, titled “Workers Rising in Tech and Games,” President Cummings moderated a panel discussion focused on Google, with panel members from Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and Sweden. Shane Larson gave a presentation on the Labor Neutrality Agreement between CWA and Microsoft, while Autumn Mitchell led an information session specifically on organizing in the tech and game industries.

On the final day, Chief of Staff Ramos delivered a presentation on CWA’s A.I. Principles and Recommendations. “Unions remain the most effective instrument we have for ensuring that the voices of working people are heard in all arenas,” said Ramos.

Secretary-Treasurer Salaam summed up the conference saying, “We recognize that our employers are operating across borders with a global approach. We as workers must form partnerships across borders, learn from one another, and stand together against those employers wishing to exploit us.”

In a show of international solidarity, delegates joined together during the conference to demand that AT&T bargain a fair contract with CWA members at AT&T West.

 
Attendees at the ICTS UNI Global Conference stood together to show global solidarity in our bargaining with AT&T West.

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President Claude Cummings Jr. (upper right) addressed the audience at this year’s ICTS UNI Global Conference. Other speakers included Chief of Staff Sylvia J. Ramos (upper left), Assistant to the President Shane Larson (lower left) and QA tester at the CWA-represented Zenimax video game studio, Autumn Mitchell.

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This post originally appeared on cwa-union.org.