New Era Unit at Demopolis Votes ‘Yes’ for CWA

CWA won a substantial victory on April 24th as a unit of 354 New Era workers voted overwhelmingly for union representation at their Demopolis, Alabama factory. The tally was 202 to 66 in favor of the union. The victory capped a month-long drive that was aided by leaders from CWA’s Local 14177 at the New Era plant in Derby, New York who met with their counterparts at Demopolis several times during the campaign.

Representatives from the Derby plant approached company officials earlier this year, requesting that the company join in on a neutrality agreement at the Demopolis plant. The company agreed.

The drive was supervised by CWA District 3 organizer Liz Roberson, with assistance from Local 14177 President Jane Howald and local organizers Joy Edery (CWA Local 3122) and Dave Skinner (Local 3108). Roberson credited key leaders of the inplant committee — Alma Null, Laurie Fendley and Janette Maner “who worked very hard to make this campaign a success.

“It was an exciting experience. The workers are enthused, involved and very creative. The victory really belongs to them,” said Roberson.

She said members of the in-plant committee are already at work soliciting ideas for the unit’s first contract. Roberson said following a brief training program, emerging leaders from the unit will get a formal CWA charter and expect to begin bargaining for their first contract shortly after that.