WASHINGTON, D.C. — While attending the 55th annual Communication Workers of America (CWA) Legislative-Political Conference, CWA Local 6360 members experienced something they hadn’t before — to speak with local U.S. congressional district representatives.
Held from June 1 through June 3 at the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. the conference attracted CWA unions from across the country, including CWA Local 6360 and its President Tom Gebken and Executive Vice President, Darrick Inscho. Originally founded in 1947, CWA began hosting its annual legislative-political conference in 1971, following what resulted as the largest economic package negotiation with what was the Bell Telephone Company’s “Bell System” — now composed of AT&T and Verizon, among other technology conglomerates — from an over 400,000 participant worker-strike to fight for increased wages in an inflation surplus, according to CWA’s website.
However, along with its traditional sessions, break out rooms and gathering of locals, Missouri 5th District U.S. Congressional District Representative Emanuel Cleaver II served as a conference speaker. He also allowed CWA Local 6360 to schedule a private visit, which the local additionally held with Kansas 3rd Congressional District U.S. Representative, Sharice Davids.
“Emanuel Cleaver was one of the favorite speakers we had,” Inscho said in an interview. “It was the first time that we were able to meet with the representatives themselves; we had a packet of talking points to cover with [Davids and Cleaver] — fortunately, they’re both allies of labor; we didn’t have to hit too hard with the agenda.”
Over the weekend, Gebken shared CWA Local 6360 — along with scheduled conference activities — walked the offices across the street from the U.S. Capitol and viewed the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool — noticing a difference in crowd appearance from previous years.
“[What’s happening in government] is impacting the tourists; people didn’t seem to be smiling as much — they weren’t as jovial,” Gebken said in an interview. “People know something’s not right.”
Inscho, who attended the legislative-political conference for his third time, while he highlighted the speaker’s quality, he, along with Gebken emphasized the conversations, which the conference sparked — including the importance the upcoming fall elections will have for the labor community.
“Everybody there was focused on a lot of the same things,” Inscho said in an interview. “We have an anti-labor administration in D.C. right now; we’ve all got our work cut out for us. We’re hoping to shift things in November — hoping to get pro-labor legislation passed, get the PRO Act passed.”
“It was a good time; there’s a lot of people ready to go and do things this election season, so that’s good,” Gebken said in an interview. “We had a lot of good speakers and good motivation; there was enthusiasm that labor people are going to sweep into office.”
Julia Williams — a Kansas City native — is a reporter and digital producer for The Labor Beacon. A University of Missouri School of Journalism alumna, she previously served as the editor-in-chief of The Northeast News before joining The Labor Beacon staff.
Williams’s grandfather was a Claycomo Ford Motor Company retiree and avid UAW Local 249 supporter, allowing her to understand the union difference from a young age.
In her free time, Williams enjoys spending time with her family, traveling to see her friends and hanging out at home with her cat, Greta. She loves a good cup of coffee, seeing local, live music and shopping secondhand. With a passion for storytelling, she hopes to bring her knowledge of journalistic integrity to the Kansas City union community — giving union and labor workers a voice, while holding people in powerful positions accountable.
