30Apr
New York, NY — Common Defense, a national veteran-led grassroots nonprofit, announced today that it has voluntarily recognized Communications Workers of America (CWA), as the bargaining representative for its non-managerial employees.
This decision was made after months of constructive dialogue, initiated by employees advocating for union representation.
Jose Vasquez, Executive Director of Common Defense, said the following:
“For veterans, the values of solidarity and looking out for those beside you are not just slogans, they’re the core of our service. As the son of a retired NYC transit worker, a former organizer at CIR-SEIU and member of PSC-CUNY myself, I know that this same collective power is the bedrock of a just society. By voluntarily recognizing CWA as our staff’s union, Common Defense is ensuring that our internal operations mirror the equitable world we fight for everyday – democratizing decisions about our wages, benefits, and working conditions. Our staff are on the front lines of this movement, and they deserve a seat at the table to ensure their labor is respected and their voices are heard.”
Brian Garcia, C4 Board Chair for Common Defense, said the following:
“On behalf of the Board of Directors, I want to express how genuinely proud we are of the Common Defense staff for forming their union with the Communications Workers of America. This organization has always believed that people are stronger together. Veterans and military families know better than anyone that solidarity must be a practice. Unions build better workplaces by ensuring that every voice is heard, every concern is addressed, and every worker is treated with the dignity they deserve. Strong organizations require strong teams, and unions are proven to create the conditions where workers thrive, organizations retain talent, and missions are advanced with greater force and focus. We are proud of our staff and enthusiastic about what this union means for our work and for the communities we serve.”
With this formal recognition now established, Common Defense leadership looks forward to engaging in a collaborative and good-faith collective bargaining process with CWA in the coming months.
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Common Defense Civic Engagement (501c4) (CDCE) is a grassroots, veteran-led organization that was founded in 2016. We empower veterans to stand up for our communities against the rising tide of racism, hate, and violence, to organize against the entrenched powers that have rigged our economy, and to champion an equitable and representative democracy, where “liberty and justice” truly is for all. For too long, politicians from both political parties have attempted to use veterans as unwilling political props, and Common Defense serves as a home for veterans to organize and speak for themselves and support the candidates who truly share our values.