LOCAL STRIKE PREPARATION

1. USE OF COMMUNITY SERVICES

The successful conduct of any strike requires full usage of all facilities at hand. In recognition of this, the AFL‑CIO has established its Community Services Committee. The program of these Committees dealing with strike relief places special emphasis upon the use of the facilities and aid to be obtained from Community Welfare Organizations during strikes.

Organized labor, including CWA, is a mainstay in the support of such community agencies, contributing through its memberships millions of dollars annually. There should be no reluctance of any kind attached to the utilization of the relief facilities of these organizations during periods of economic stress, since we have helped to make them possible. Good sense, therefore, dictates that we first utilize these means wherever possible to alleviate suffering during such periods.

The CWA Constitution requires all Locals to establish Community Services Committees. Such committees are designed to meet the immediate health and welfare needs of the CWA represented workers for medical care, hospitalization, family and child guidance, legal aid, recreation, and other services on the basis of need regardless of cause. Utilization of such assistance from community-supported groups is a part of our growing understanding of our place in our respective communities. Since workers contribute generously to all such campaigns in times of distress, workers are entitled to receive the benefits therefrom and techniques have been developed to do so. Successful development of such a program within CWA should take a great burden off the Defense Fund and the Members’ Relief Fund and in many cases supplement expenditures from the Funds.

It is apparent, however, that we must extend our activities in this field on a year‑round basis, in order to benefit properly in times of need.

2. In accordance with provisions of the CWA Constitution, a Community Services Committee must be appointed to function in at each headquarters town of a Local. There should be a chair of this committee appointed by the appropriate authoritative body of the Local and subject to the supervision and authority of the governing structure of the Local. The Committee should consist of not less than five (5) members at all times and should, during periods of emergencies, be expanded to the particular needs of the Local.

3. ln multi‑Local locations, the committee should be composed of members from all Locals affected by the strike operating as a single unit under the supervision and governing authority of the CWA City Council to insure and carry out uniform assistance treatment for all strikers of the Locals on strike in the community. The committee should have a number of subcommittees to handle and take care of the overall Members' Relief Fund program for the Local or Locals affected by the strike, based on the size of the community operation.

4. Necessary subcommittees should handle specific assignments such as “counseling”, “investigating”, “records and files”, “finance”, and such other additional subcommittees as may be needed to assist the Community Services Committee in the overall operation of an efficient and well‑operated assistance program. The committee, during the strike, should meet daily to work on the overall assistance program. The committee should have joint meetings with all of the subcommittees as the need arises to cover matters applicable on the overall assistance program. The committee should also hold separate meetings with each subcommittee as the need arises to cover specific problems as applies to each subcommittee function.

5. Locals shall be responsible for administering the funds and any strike preparation costs.

6. After a strike has commenced, Locals shall be responsible for establishing an account for the CWA Defense Fund and another account for the CWA Members’ Relief Fund. The two accounts must be kept separate from all other funds of the Local.

7. The amount advanced from the Defense Fund to a particular Local shall be determined by the CWA Funds Director, based on recommendations of the Fund Agents, Field Representatives, and the Vice Presidents.

8. Allocations to the Locals from the Members' Relief Fund shall be set by the Funds Director consistent with the Members' Relief Fund Rules, and subject to the availability of funds. The amount of the allocation will be based on the Locals' current number of members and agency‑fee payers.

9. Fund advances issued to a Local are to be deposited and maintained in checking accounts designated "CWA Local _______ Defense Fund" and

"CWA Local Members' Relief Fund."