Last week, a gunman opened fire in Washington, D.C., killing Army Spec. Sarah Beckstrom and leaving Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe fighting for survival. Both are members of the West Virginia National Guard and were deployed to the nation’s capital. As of this writing, Sgt. Wolfe is in critical condition but has responded to basic requests, such as giving a thumbs up and wiggling his toes.

Staff Sgt. Wolfe is a member of CWA Local 2222 in Martinsburg, W.Va., and a lineman with Frontier Communications.

In a joint statement released last week, CWA President Claude Cummings Jr. and CWA District 2-13 Vice President Mike Davis condemned the violence against our military. They offered prayers for Wolfe’s recovery and for the family, friends, and others affected by the tragedy.

Hundreds of well-wishers, including CWA members, have posted messages of support to a Kudoboard dedicated to Staff Sgt. Wolfe. Click here to add your own message. You can also send a card or note of encouragement to Berkeley County Sheriff’s Dept., 510 South Raleigh Street, Martinsburg, WV 25401. Please address it to “Andy Wolfe.”

As the Trump administration’s Federal Communications Commission (FCC) looks to expand the dangerous, anti-worker "One Touch, Make Ready" (OTMR) policy, CWA filed comments with the agency, emphasizing how OTMR creates safety risks for both workers and the public.

CWA members have repeatedly advocated against the deployment of OTMR, which was initially adopted by the first Trump administration in 2018. Now during Trump’s second term, the FCC is moving to broaden the use of OTMR to complex make-ready work—including work that involves cutting or splicing existing wires. CWA’s comments oppose this expansion and call on the agency to prioritize safety. For example, the industry has also requested that the FCC force utilities to allow practices like “boxing the pole,” which can create unsafe climbing conditions for CWA members, especially members who free-climb to access equipment.

CWA members know from on-the-job experience that pole attachment work is complex, and if done incorrectly by untrained, low-wage contractors can cause serious safety issues like electrocution, downed poles, and outages. The Commission should protect public and worker safety, good jobs, and halt the dangerous expansion of OTMR.

Last week, after months of arbitration, journalists at POLITICO won a decisive victory in the fight against the misuse of artificial intelligence. Approximately 260 journalists at POLITICO and E&E News are represented by the PEN Guild, part of the Washington-Baltimore News Guild (TNG-CWA Local 32035).

The arbitrator ruled that POLITICO management violated two key contract provisions by failing to provide 60 days’ notice to bargain over newly introduced AI tools and by launching new technology to perform tasks without human oversight. The case marks one of the nation’s first major labor-arbitration rulings addressing the impact of AI on journalists’ work, setting an important precedent for the entire U.S. news industry.

“This ruling is a clear affirmation that AI cannot be deployed as a shortcut around union rights, ethical journalism, or human judgment,” said Unit Chair of the PEN Guild Ariel Wittenberg. “This is a win for our members at POLITICO fighting to ensure that AI strengthens our newsroom rather than undermining it.”

News of the win broke just days before the NewsGuild-CWA launched its “News, Not Slop” week of action to protect journalists and the public from AI misinformation. You can find more information on how to support journalists on Bluesky, X/Twitter, and Facebook and sign their petition calling for the ethical use of AI in newsrooms.

Days before Thanksgiving, members and retirees of IUE-CWA Local 88502 in Campbellsburg, Ind., held a press conference to demand that Metal Powder Products (MPP) stop delaying negotiations. Over 50 community allies, including Secretary-Treasurer of the Indiana State AFL-CIO Shawn Christ, stood in solidarity with members as they presented a signed Appeal for Justice urging MPP and its owners to negotiate in good faith.

The appeal calls on MPP owners to reinvest in the Campbellsburg facility, address safety hazards and equipment issues, renegotiate MPP’s rent burden, and direct MPP management to bargain a fair contract with members.

“Private equity took tax breaks, stripped assets, and left us with a plant that’s less safe and less stable,” said Brian Smith, a member of IUE-CWA Local 88502. “Workers are doing everything we can to keep MPP strong. But we can’t do it alone—and we shouldn’t have to.”

IUE-CWA Local 88502 member Melinda Green said, “I need to be able to take my child to medical appointments and buy school supplies without choosing between bills. That’s all any of us want—to take care of our families. But MPP’s wages and conditions make that harder every year.”

Members at MPP have been in contract negotiations for over a year, and the company faces multiple unfair labor practice charges currently under NLRB investigation. Despite delays, workers remain united and committed to securing a fair first contract that recognizes their hard work and ensures stability for their families and communities. IUE-CWA Local 88502 also represents MPP workers in St. Marys, Pa., who will begin contract negotiations soon.

Members of IUE-CWA Local 88502, along with retirees and supporters, held a press conference where they submitted an Appeal for Justice to the company urging Metal Powder Products to negotiate in good faith.

Sundance Institute has officially recognized its staff union, represented by CWA Local 9003, paving the way for Sundance workers to negotiate a union contract.

“We warmly welcome the dedicated professionals at the Sundance Institute into our union family,” said CWA Local 9003 President Marisa Remski. “This recognition represents an important milestone in our ongoing efforts to strengthen solidarity, promote fairness, and empower creative workers throughout the industry. Together, we look forward to continuing the work of building a stronger, more equitable future for all workers in the creative community."

The workers formed their union to empower and protect the staff as they call for improvements to support the Institute’s growing scope of work. In order to fulfill Sundance Institute's mission, staff concerns need to be prioritized with reasonable timelines and benchmarks set for the organization. Collectively, the members will negotiate for a union contract that guarantees equitable salary, benefits, and working conditions across departments.

“I’m grateful to work with such dedicated and thoughtful colleagues, and our union will enable us to double down on the impact and sustainability of our work,” said Evan Neff, a Documentary Film Fund Coordinator at Sundance.

The Sundance Institute is a nonprofit organization founded by actor Robert Redford to promote independent artists and support emerging and aspiring filmmakers, directors, producers, film composers, screenwriters, playwrights, and theater artists. Sundance workers also produce the critically acclaimed Sundance Film Festival.

In November, CWA members from multiple Districts met in Denver, Colo., to learn about ways they can support their AT&T Mobility Orange bargaining team and mobilize to win a strong contract. The current contract expires in February 2026.

Last month, 19 new CWA staff members graduated from CWA Staff School hosted by the CWA Education Department and the University of Iowa Labor Center. The school provides training to equip participants with the tools and knowledge to serve our union in their new roles. Participants exercised a variety of skills, including strategizing in arbitration, organizing, bargaining, and building activism and mobilization. In addition to the University of Iowa Labor Center educators, participants received training from experienced CWA staff from headquarters, Districts, and Sectors.

CWA President Claude Cummings Jr. spoke with the students on the critical role they will play in the service of our members and on the importance of getting involved in activism work within their communities. Students also heard from CWA Secretary-Treasurer Ameenah Salaam, CWA Chief of Staff Sylvia J. Ramos, CWA Organizing Director Tim Dubnau, CWA Human Resources Director Marilyn Klinger, CWA Legislative Political Director Dan Mauer, and CWA General Counsel Matt Holder.

New CWA staff members graduated from CWA Staff School last month.

This week, as we observed World AIDS Day and Giving Tuesday, CWA members and retirees across the country came together to support our Charity of Choice, the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF).

For children living with HIV, treatment isn’t just important; it is lifesaving. Every dollar given supports care and treatment for a child, transforming their lives.

On behalf of EGPAF, thank you for your continued partnership and commitment to a future free from pediatric HIV. This fight isn’t over, but together we can achieve an AIDS-free generation.

To learn more, please visit www.pedaids.org/cwa.

CWA Locals 1037 and 7076 received Arial Glaser Awards at the 2025 CWA Convention for their fundraising efforts on behalf of the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation. The award is in honor of Elizabeth Glaser’s daughter, who died from complications from the AIDS virus at the young age of seven years old in 1988. Pictured, from left: CWA District 1 Vice President Dennis Trainor, CWA Local 7076 President Megan Green, CWA Secretary-Treasurer Ameenah Salaam, CWA President Claude Cummings Jr., CWA Local 1037 President Ken McNamara, and CWA Public, Healthcare, and Education Workers Vice President Margaret Cook.