Unionized Veterans Join Labor’s Fight Against Trump

Summary of the Text: Veterans & union Activism within the CWA

This text highlights the growing involvement of veterans in the Communications Workers of America (CWA) union, focusing on their activism around issues of social justice, political depiction, and worker rights. Here’s a breakdown of the key points:

* Deep Roots in Labor & Veteran Communities: The piece centers around Al Marshall, a third-generation union member from a West Virginia coal mining family with a strong history of union involvement (including his grandmother’s work with the Black Lung Association). He’s a 25-year CWA member actively involved in safety, conventions, and local leadership.
* Intersection of Identity & Activism: marshall and others like Britni Cuington (an Air Force vet and CWA steward) are involved in multiple organizations – CWA’s Minority Caucus, the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists, the NAACP, and Common defense – demonstrating a commitment to both labor rights and racial/social justice.
* Fighting Voter Suppression: Cuington and Marshall are actively lobbying against gerrymandering in Texas, arguing it disenfranchises minority veterans and working-class communities.
* Organizing Fellow Veterans: Marshall is instrumental in organizing Common Defense field organizers (many of whom are veterans) into the CWA, and helping them negotiate their first union contract. He also encourages veteran participation in the CWA’s “Veterans for Social Change” program.
* Leadership & Representation: Keturah Johnson exemplifies veteran success within the CWA, rising to become the first queer woman of color and combat veteran to serve as international vice president of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA.
* Tragedy & Critique of Political Decisions: the text details a tragic incident where a young CWA member, Andrew Wolfe, was seriously wounded while deployed with the National Guard in Washington D.C. Marshall criticizes the Republican governor for putting National Guard members in harm’s way, and the article reveals the assailant had a disturbing background as a CIA-trained former death squad member.

the text portrays a powerful narrative of veterans leveraging their skills and experiences to become active participants in the labor movement, fighting for social and economic justice, and challenging political decisions they deem harmful. It showcases the CWA as a union actively welcoming and empowering veteran members.