The CWA audience cheered both Democratic presidential contenders Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama and a parade of other speakers who made it clear that workers’ rights, health care reform, fair trade and retirement security will be top priorities for a Democratic President and worker-friendly House and Senate.

Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama had CWA members jumping to their feet, cheering and clapping wildly during speeches in which both candidates pledged support for the Employee Free Choice Act, health care reform, universal broadband and other key CWA issues.

"We cannot turn the tide without your help," said Rep. Andre Carson (D-Ind.), who was elected in March with labor’s support to fill the seat of his late grandmother, Julia Carson. Reps. David Obey (D-Wis.) and Rob Andrews (D-NJ) also spoke, as did West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin, a Democrat who is credited with bringing new, living-wage jobs to his state and enacting tough worker safety laws. On the final morning of the conference, DNC Chairman Howard Dean spoke, emphasizing that the party has two extraordinary candidates—and that one of them can, and must, beat John McCain.

As participants registered for the four-day conference, April 6-9, they filled out postcards urging what will be the new Congress and new President to take immediate action to pass the Employee Free Choice Act. The labor movement is gathering 1 million postcards and will submit them with photos of many of the signers so that they can be displayed in the Capitol after the November election, putting both names and faces to the fight. CWA has committed to getting 15 percent of its membership, about 90,000 people to sign cards.

The Conference attendees were EVP Mike Harris, VP Darryl Wallace and Stewards Valerie Matthews-Monroe and Darryl J. Wallace.

This Conference immediately followed the Legislative Conference from April 9-12 at the Washington Court Hotel. The conference theme "A Movement…Not a Moment" supports the fact that one of the greatest strengths of our on-going efforts is the diversity of our membership.

As workforce demographics have changed, so have the demographics of our unions. This highlights the necessity of this conference, as well as other minority functions, which requires the full participation of women, people of color and other groups who have not always been sufficiently included in the union leadership structures and program activities.

"We’ve made a great deal of progress," says CWA President Larry Cohen, noting that four seats have been added to the CWA Executive Board which have been filled by persons of color and women. Alluding to the conference theme…"we have to keep this energy going," he added.

Dr. Dorothy Height		Norman Hill and Julian Bond
Mike Harris, Larry Cohen, Keith Leonard & Jeff Rechenbach		Val Matthews-Monroe, Keith Leonard, Mike Harris & Terez Woods
Keith Leonard, Rep. John Lewis, & Val Matthews-Monroe		Rep. John Lewis & Mike Harris

The Conference attendees were EVP Mike Harris and Stewards Keith Leonard and Valerie Matthews-Monroe.

Bargaining submission forms have been mailed to the homes of our members at Verizon Communications, Verizon Connected Solutions and Idearc Media. On this form you may submit any suggestions that you would like to have added to the bargaining agenda for this upcoming round of negotiations.

Some of our members have already submitted suggestions. However, if you have not, please take the time to fill out this form and return it to the local office at 5321 1^st Place NE, Washington, D.C. 20011 or give it to a steward in your work location no later than the end of the day on Friday, May 2, 2008.

On Wednesday, April 2, 2008, the coalition of CWA and Jobs with Justice assembled at the Marriott Hotel on 14^th Street NW, Washington D.C. to greet Verizon CEO Ivan Seidenberg and remind him of our dissatisfaction with the fact that FiOs is not yet available for the residents of the District of Columbia. Ivan was in town to receive an award.