Heat wave in Washington

Leaders of the CWA's Association of Flight Attendants channeled Norma Rae while delivering news of their organizing campaign at the new Delta Air Lines.

It's one of the biggest organizing efforts in the country and highlighted talk of a national renewal for labor during the CWA's annual convention, under way this week in Washington, D.C.

Delegates included Michael Cabanatuan, Silvia Barden, Gloria La Riva and Carl Hall of the California Media Workers.

CWA President Larry Cohen, seated at right in photo, acknowledged the batterings of a tough economy and right-wing political attacks, but said the situation is "not hopeless, just hard, and we've done hard before." (More.)

The CWA convention and a separate Guild sector conference voted several changes to direct more resources to organizing and member services. Conventions, for instance, will be held every other year, rather than annually, to cut costs. The CWA has been the only AFL-CIO affiliate that holds the big annual meetings.

Guild delegates also met with their counterparts from Oakland-based CWA Local 9415, CWA District 9 chief Jim Weitkamp and national Guild President Bernie Lunzer to discuss plans for a possible merger. The merger effort may start with a focus on CWA and Guild units in Hawaii -- a first step toward creation of an expanded Pacific Communications Guild.