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MINUTES OF THE

TNG-CWA Human Rights and Equity Committee

March 30, 2010

PRESENT: Carl Younger, Chair; Sheila Lindsay, Chair SEC HRE Committee, Yoko Kuramoto-Eidsmoe, Melissa Nelson, Bruce Nelson, Vernon Clark,  

MINUTES PREPARED BY Carl Younger.  Called to order at 6:30 pm eastern time.

Carl discussed information received on the Boston Globe Demographics and initial percentage breakdown he put together until the CWA completes a full research document, (please see attached excel spread sheet).

Melissa suggested that we should wait to receive the data from the other presenters to send it all in at the same time.

Vernon is in contact with his local’s administrative officer to expedite the Philadelphia data.

Vernon stated that a lot of companies have lost focus on diversity issues due to the economic crisis and they should put it to the top of their list as we recover.

Vernon asked about concrete steps we should provide to people attending our workshop.

Carl said one of the first would be to create a renewed imperative to get the demographic data from our survey initiative to help us bring diversity and inclusion to the top of managements to do list.

Bruce inquired about current participation of minorities and equity seeking people in our locals and could that be used as anecdotal information at the Tri council meeting.

Vernon discussed about how his locals minority numbers are down overall but they have finally hired 2 more minority reporters. He had been the only one left as a result of the economic turndown.

Bruce discussed the importance of reaching out to equity groups to find out their issues then find leaders within those groups.

Melissa suggested that Carl should use the public school out reach he and Dan Totten did informing young people of the history and merits of unions as anecdotal information at the workshop.

The group agreed.

Vernon discussed outings he had with newly hired young employees in Philadelphia.

Outline for Cleveland:

Presenters: Carl, Vernon, and Sheila (Social Justuce Inclusion and equality in the workplace. Vernon and Carl; Sheila staff union initiatives)

Frame discussions around unions, inclusion and community support.

Inclusion and outreach which keeps unions from becoming irrelevant.

Goal setting (Internal and external)

Internal: organizing the existing minority and equity workforce around their issues.

Form sub committees.

External organizing: example Carl’s public school outreach program

Vernon; our focus is on building stronger ties and support within our unions working with the diversity we have to boaster our unions.

Bruce suggested a title “Building power through diversity”

All approved.

The discussion went to our program moves beyond diversity being a moral imperative to building the power our locals need to survive and grow.

Melissa agreed that we need a diverse membership to survive in our new labor environment.

Adjourned at 7:35 pm eastern time.

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