This page is maintained by the Rank and File (RAF) Caucus of AWU-CWA Local 9009. For questions, reach out to a RAF organizer. Understanding how AWU-CWA Local 9009 is organized helps you navigate the union, participate effectively, and hold leadership accountable. This page explains the key bodies, roles, and documents that define our union's structure.
Two key documents define how AWU operates:
When in doubt about how the union should operate, these are the authoritative sources.
AWU-CWA is an open-source union — meaning it is open to all workers at Alphabet and its contractors, vendors, and temps (TVCs), regardless of job title, employment status, or location. This is different from most traditional unions, which are "recognized" unions that only cover specific bargaining units. Members join by paying dues and signing the membership form at go.awu.fyi/join. Membership dues are managed via the Stripe Billing Portal. Members in good standing can participate in meetings, vote, run for office, and join committees.
The Member Meeting is the primary democratic body of the union. All members in good standing can attend, speak, and vote. Major union decisions — including passing proposals, approving budgets, and directing strategy — happen at member meetings. See Meetings & Procedures for how to participate. Meeting times are on the AWU Public Calendar.
The AWU Assembly is a representative body that can act on behalf of members between member meetings. The Assembly is made up of delegates from chapters and other groups. Assembly proceedings are documented and available to members.
The Executive Board (EB) is elected by the membership and is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the union. EB members are officers of CWA Local 9009. Typical Executive Board roles include:
The EB is accountable to the membership. EB meeting agendas and minutes are available to members.
AWU is organized into chapters — geographic or workplace-based groups that allow members to organize locally. Chapters can hold their own meetings, run local campaigns, and have representation in the Assembly. Chapters are a key way to connect with coworkers in your area and plug into on-the-ground organizing. Consult the AWU Organizing Portal or ask a fellow member about chapters in your area. Chapter spending guidelines are available at go.awu.fyi/chapterspendingguidelinesChapter.
AWU has several standing committees that work on specific areas of union life. Committees do important work and are open to member participation. Examples of committees include:
To get involved with a committee, ask at a member meeting or reach out through union channels.
The AWU Organizing Portal is a member-facing tool for regional organizing committees.
As a registered labor union, AWU-CWA Local 9009 is required to file public financial disclosures. You can view the most recent LM-2 filing at go.awu.fyi/lm-2. The most recent approved budget is at go.awu.fyi/budget.
AWU operates as an open-source union — it is not a traditional "recognized" bargaining unit. This means:
This model has trade-offs. Learn more at About AWU and Collective Bargaining.
Maintained by the RAF Caucus | Wiki Home | Content reflects RAF Caucus perspective and may not represent official AWU-CWA positions.