The Tower Climbers Union (TCU)/Communications Workers of America (CWA) has reached a new milestone with the launch of their new Local, CWA Local 9424.

The Local also has a National Charter for all Tower Hands.

The launch follows a series of powerful actions by TCU/CWA Members who’ve been actively mobilizing to fight for improved safety standards and working conditions.

Following the release of a safety survey in May, TCU/CWA Members launched a petition and traveled to Verizon and Crown Castle shareholders meetings to rally for changes and demand meetings with executives to discuss their rights on the job.

Thanks to their continued efforts, the Members secured meetings with high-level executives of both companies - as well as AT&T, which held a virtual shareholder meeting.

During their meetings, the Members highlighted the critical need to improve Worker safety and shared the experiences and ideas of Tower Hands.

Tower Hands climb towers or poles to install, modify, repair, and perform routine maintenance on electrical equipment, such as power lines, cell tower components, or radio antenna equipment.

The job requires these Workers to climb up very tall structures, such as lattice towers and monopoles, to work on this equipment, sometimes in remote areas to troubleshoot problems, such as a downed transmission line.

Tower Hands also help with power plant construction or decommissions.