CWA Shop Stewards Meet, Discuss Plan to Fight Back

Submitted by seth on Fri, 01/22/2010 - 9:05pm

Photo Courtesy of Local 1040 Viewpoint

[Editor's Note: We are having trouble at the moment with the captions to the pictures.  All pictures in this article are courtesy of CWA Local 1040 Viewpoint]

CWA State Worker Shop Stewards met at the War Memorial in Trenton on Wednesday to discuss a plan of action to mobilize against increasing attacks against public sector workers, and how to promote a fair and sustainable course for New Jersey's finances. 

Union leaders from all corners of the state heard from CWA Local Presidents, District 1 Vice President Chris Shelton and New Jersey Area Director Hetty Rosenstein, as well as elected leaders from throughout state.

Rosenstein kicked off the morning with an impassioned speech advocating for a defense of the Social Contract in New Jersey.  She brought the house down.

"We are, without question, facing our greatest challenge as public workers in our history as a union here in New Jersey," said Rosenstein.  "The attack against us is going to be great.  It’s going to come from many sides.   For us to withstand, we will need to be smart, strong, brave and united and we are going to need to be angry."  (Rosenstein's full speech can be seen here.)

Assembly Majority Leader Joe Cryan Addresses the Stewards (Photo Courtesy of Local 1040 Viewpoint)Several elected leaders from around the state addressed the group as well, including Assembly Majority Leader Joe Cryan (D-Union), State Senator and Legislative Black Caucus Chair Ron Rice (D-Newark) and fellow union member and Assemblyman Wayne DeAngelo (D-Hamilton).

The shop stewards were also brought to their feet with a pledge of solidarity--and strength--from NJEA Director of Government Relations Ginger Gold Schnitzer.

Having dedicated the morning to addressing the challenges facing New Jersey's public workers and seeing a presentation of the legal issues surrounding the budget process from CWA legal counsel Steve Weissman (presentation seen here), the union's leaders spent the afternoon charting out a plan of action.

Local 1032 President Patrick Kavanagh discussed the plan for action, including pickets, a Legislative Accountability Project, the utilization of new technology to develop and activate Rapid Response Teams, and direct actions, including walking off the job if necessary. 

State Worker Stewards filled the auditorium at the War MemorialKavanagh was followed by Local 1037 Presdent Ken McNamara, who showed Shop Stewards how to take a positive message back to the workroom floor and empower members to become involved in creating an activist army (see the leaflets and educational materials McNamara used by clicking here).

And even though Governor Christie spent the morning trying to deny CWA members the ability to participate in political elections--an action that pleased him so much he went out of his way to keep the pen he used to sign the order--more than 60 shop stewards took the opportunity to sign up to contribute money to the union's political action program, COPE.

"We know we have a huge challenge ahead of us," said Rosenstein.  "But if we stay united, and that means all of us, every single one, I know we can come through this together."