A majority of our brothers and sisters in the California Federation of Interpreters want to leave our Pacific Media Workers Guild, TNG-CWA Local 39521, and start a new local of their own.

I want to help them achieve this goal.

CFI leaders have made it clear that no other option will work. In fact, they claim they have a right to leave anytime they choose, citing a provision in their affiliation agreement with us. I believe this right lapsed years ago, but see no point arguing it any more. It’s time for swift and decisive action.

Last week, I proposed a referendum inviting CFI members to vote whether to stay or go. I still favor the principle that members should decide such fundamental questions. But I have seen enough petitions and statements and mass emails to convince me that the members already have decided.

It’s time for CFI to exit Local 39521.

The Executive Committee of Local 39521 will meet at 10 am Saturday, March 29. I have placed on the agenda a proposal asking our parent union, the Communications Workers of America (CWA), to remove the CFI jurisdiction from our Charter.  If the proposal is approved, we will invite CWA to take CFI out of Local 39521. It would take a three-fourths majority vote of the CWA executive board to do this.

CFI and our national union leadership then can move forward to create what I hope becomes a great new local in the TNG-CWA family.

In Unity,

Carl Hall
Executive Officer
TNG-CWA Local 39521

 A statement from our TNG president and secretary-treasurer (acting) follows in the next post.