Frank Mathews, the Administrative Director for District 4 of the Communication Workers of America, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the recent wave of pro-labor election victories.
The CWA was involved in the election victories in Wisconsin and Chicago, as well as the vote to repeal So-Called “Right-to-Work” legislation in Michigan. Mathews shared the excitement he feels seeing the recent success. He claimed these voting results are a microcosm of what’s to come for the labor movement and believes that candidates running that promise to support workers’ rights will see the most success.
Mathews discussed the processes used by the CWA in Michigan to educate the voting public. Along with the Michigan AFL-CIO, the CWA delivered educational mailers to registered voters. Mathews said the goal was to educate people on the importance of unions and the facts behind the So-Called “Right-to-Work” states and workers’ wages. He believes the start of the process to repeal the legislation dates back to the return of fair and equitable districts in 2018.
In Wisconsin, Mathews credits the campaign's success to resonating with voters by delivering a message supporting women’s and workers’ rights. While in Chicago, the CWA led labor marches and rallies in support of the new mayor, Brandon Johnson. Mathews believes Johnson has the ability and charisma to change the city of Chicago for the better.
Listen to the entire episode to learn more.