Communications Workers of America (CWA) District 4 Administrative Director Frank Mathews joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast and discussed a recent win by CWA Local 4502 workers in Columbus, Ohio to receive hero pay and a vaccine reward.
In July 2021, the Columbus City Council unanimously authorized $1,000 per employee for hero pay in July 2021, but the original Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) from the Mayor’s Office directed half of that amount toward a vaccine reward. The membership of CWA Local 4502 fought for and won the full $1,000 in hero pay to full-time frontline workers, $500 to other full-time employees who worked during the applicable time period and a separate $500 vaccine reward.
The win serves an important recognition of the work essential workers performed during the pandemic, Mathews said. The rewards are funded from money Congress allocated as part of the American Rescue Plan.
Mathews also talked about a recent push from National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) General Counsel Jennifer Abruzzo to make captive audience meetings a labor violation. He noted Abruzzo was the Special Counsel for Strategic Initiatives at CWA before being chosen by President Biden to lead the NLRB. Such a move would be a game changer and further proof that elections matter, he added.
Lastly, Mathews discussed the recent successful vote to unionize by Amazon workers at a Fulfillment Center in Staten Island. He celebrated the win and said it would change the lives of Amazon workers for decades. The win represents encouraging progress for workers everywhere, he added.
Listen to the entire episode to learn more about these topics.