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CWA Member Honored for Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month May is Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month. As part of its yearly celebration of leaders from the AAPI community who are shaping the labor movement for the future, the AFL-CIO featured AFA-CWA Local 29043 member Folafolaga Avei. Folafolaga Avei has been a Flight Attendant with Hawaiian Airlines for nine years, where he also has served as the master executive council chairperson for the airline's human rights committee. As a representative, Avei has been at the forefront of educating members about issues related to the Asian American Pacific Islander community. Through these efforts, he has rallied the community to demand an end to anti-Asian hate, marched for racial equality and justice, and campaigned to protect children and women against human trafficking. Avei has also worked to reduce poverty and homelessness. — May 26
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America’s Test Kitchen Workers Form Companywide Union with Communications Workers of America The Dedicated Team of Workers Behind the Famous Brand Seek Voluntary Recognition from ATK Leadership After a Strong Majority Signed Cards in Favor of Forming a Union Boston, Mass. — In a major step forward for workers organizing in the media industry, a strong majority of workers at America’s Test Kitchen (ATK) have signed cards indicating their desire to form a union with the Communications Workers of America (CWA). Their union, ATK United, is seeking voluntary recognition from management. In addition, they have filed for an election with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) should ATK refuse to voluntarily recognize the union. The workers are organizing to form a union and bargain a fair contract that will include competitive salaries; affordable healthcare plans; improved benefits and wellness programs; increased subsidization of commuting costs; transparent and consistent processes for hiring, performance reviews, promotions, and pay raises; a sincere commitment to diversity at all levels; a continuation of remote work flexibility; and the establishment of processes for employee input regarding in-office policies. “We want a seat at the table in the decision-making that affects us. We need good health benefits and fair compensation for our work including overtime pay, with wages that keep pace with the cost of living,” said Afton Cyrus, Deputy Food Editor at ATK Kids. “The company’s revenue has soared in recent years, in large part due to our hard work creating incredible content. However, our contributions are not being valued financially. Many of us cannot afford to work at ATK without help from second jobs or family members. Forming a union will give us the agency to negotiate a fair, transparent, and enforceable contract, and the security of knowing that jobs and benefits cannot be threatened or revoked.” For nearly 30 years, America’s Test Kitchen, which includes Cook’s Illustrated and Cook’s Country magazines, as well as America’s Test Kitchen Kids, award-winning podcasts, and the upcoming Amazon-produced reality TV series ATK: The Next Generation, has been teaching home cooks the skills they need to be confident and capable in the kitchen. The dedicated team of workers behind the famous brand help produce and support ATK’s award winning content in multiple ways. “We are passionate about our jobs and our commitment to maintaining and building upon our brand’s excellent reputation. However, people have been struggling for years with serious challenges working at ATK,” said Camila Chaparro, Senior Editor for ATK Books. “Many departments are chronically understaffed, requiring employees to work beyond a standard workday without additional pay, just to meet basic deadlines. Many of us feel completely unable to take paid time off without jeopardizing our projects. There is a growing disconnect between the people making decisions at the top about expanding programming and those on the ground who have to make it happen. We are tired of our contributions being constantly undervalued. It is time that our voices be heard and we are given the respect and dignity we deserve.” Members of ATK United (CWA Local 1400) are proud to join the wave of recent worker organizing efforts among similar media companies such as Condé Nast, the New York Times Wirecutter, and Gimlet Media, and stand in solidarity with all workers organizing to transform the food media landscape for the future. ### About CWA: The Communications Workers of America represents working people in telecommunications, customer service, media, airlines, health care, public service and education, manufacturing, tech, and other fields. cwa-union.org @cwaunionatk-united.com @atk_united — May 25
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CWA Statement on the Mass Shooting at Robb Elementary School Once again our country is in mourning over a mass shooting. Once again children and teachers have been injured and killed in a senseless, preventable act of violence. Our thoughts are with the grieving families in Uvalde, Texas, a community that will be marked forever by this tragedy. ### — May 24
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Qualtek Tower Climbers Vote to Join CWA Henderson, Nev. — A majority of wireless tower climbers at QualTek have voted for union representation with the Communications Workers of America in an election that was conducted yesterday. The workers, members of the Tower Climbers Union/CWA, are the first group of tower climbers in the United States to win formal union representation. “This is an exciting moment for us and for every tower climber who wants better working conditions and improved safety,” said Derek Combs, a Tower Technician II at Qualtek and member of the new union. “We are the bedrock of the wireless communications industry, but our lives have consistently been taken for granted and neglected. To win respect you need power, and when you are a worker, power comes from negotiating a union contract.” Dubbed “the most dangerous job in America,” tower climbing involves scaling towers to perform inspections and tests, handle repairs, and install equipment ranging from antennas, amplifiers, and fiber optic cable, to lighting systems. The major carriers who build and own the towers often farm out the maintenance work to contractors like Qualtek. In addition to their work taking place hundreds of feet off the ground, tower climbers must also haul up and down a tower all the tools and equipment needed to perform their job. The dangerous nature of this work coupled with lack of adequate training and equipment has led to a number of safety hazards, including deaths and injuries of workers. Over the past 5 years alone, there have been 33 reported deaths at wireless tower sites. “Qualtek tower climbers put their lives at risk every day to maintain the wireless network for AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile. By voting for their union, they have taken the next step toward building power to raise wages and benefits and ensure a safer workplace,” said CWA President Chris Shelton. “Now it is time for Qualtek to show these workers the respect they deserve and bargain a fair contract.” ### About CWA: The Communications Workers of America represents working people in telecommunications, customer service, media, airlines, health care, public service and education, manufacturing, tech, and other fields. cwa-union.org @cwaunion — May 24
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Raven Quality Assurance Workers Celebrate Historic Win, Game Workers Alliance (CWA) Becomes First Certified Union at Activision Blizzard (Middleton, Wis.) — Today, Quality Assurance workers at Activision’s Raven Software video game studio won their union election and will be represented by the Communications Workers of America. 86% of the votes were in support of the union. The workers, known as Game Workers Alliance (CWA), are the first group to win union representation at Activision Blizzard. “Five months ago, we formed the Game Workers Alliance-CWA on the principles of solidarity, sustainability, transparency, equity, and diversity. Activision Blizzard worked tirelessly to undermine our efforts to establish our union, but we persevered. Now that we’ve won our election, it is our duty to protect these foundational values on which our union stands. Our biggest hope is that our union serves as inspiration for the growing movement of workers organizing at video game studios to create better games and build workplaces that reflect our values and empower all of us. We look forward to working with management to positively shape our working conditions and the future of Activision Blizzard through a strong union contract,” said members of Game Workers Alliance (CWA). Earlier this year, Raven workers announced the formation of Game Workers Alliance (CWA), after going on strike for five weeks. The strike began December 6, when over 60 Raven Software workers walked out in protest after Activision Blizzard laid off 12 of the studio’s quality assurance testers. The Raven QA strike was the third work stoppage since Activision Blizzard was sued in late July over sexual harassment and misconduct claims. The Raven QA team predominantly works on the studio’s popular Call of Duty series. The workers’ organizing campaign was supported through CWA’s Campaign to Organize Digital Employees (CODE-CWA). CODE-CWA has previously helped workers form unions at other game studios, such as Vodeo Games and Paizo. “Activision did everything it could, including breaking the law, to try to prevent the Raven QA workers from forming their union. It didn’t work, and we are thrilled to welcome them as CWA members,” said CWA Secretary-Treasurer Sara Steffens. “Quality assurance workers at Raven Software are bringing much-needed change to Activision and to the video game industry. At this critical time for the company and its employees, these workers will soon have an enforceable union contract and a voice on the job.” ### Follow Game Workers Alliance (CWA) at @WeAreGWA The Campaign to Organize Digital Employees (CODE-CWA) is a network of worker-organizers and their staff working every single day to build the voice and power necessary to ensure the future of the tech, game, and digital industries in the United States and Canada. — May 23
News
- CWA Member Honored for Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
- America’s Test Kitchen Workers Form Companywide Union with Communications Workers of America
- CWA Statement on the Mass Shooting at Robb Elementary School
- Qualtek Tower Climbers Vote to Join CWA
- Raven Quality Assurance Workers Celebrate Historic Win, Game Workers Alliance (CWA) Becomes First Certified Union at Activision Blizzard