William T. Mahaffey II age 79, passed away peacefully at his residence on May 16, 2023. Mahaffey was one of the founding members of the Columbus Municipal Association of Government Employees (CMAGE), known today as CWA Local 4502.  Mahaffey was instrumental in the union’s formation and eventual affiliation with CWA. He was a long-term board member and a champion of the professional workers in the city of Columbus – they had gone several years with no pay increases prior to the formation of CMAGE. He dedicated 19 years to the cause and served the city for 37 years, working in the Division of Water. He was a US Army Veteran, an active board member with The National Management Association (Columbus Public Service Chapter), a die-hard Buckeye and Yankee fan, an avid gardener, and outdoorsman.

“CWA Local 4502 is broken-hearted at the news of our brother Bill Mahaffey’s passing. Bill was very instrumental in the organizing of the Columbus Municipal Association of Government Employees (CMAGE) and in CMAGE’s affiliation with CWA. He was an original member of our Retirees Chapter. Bill was a friend, confidante, and mentor. I signed my union card because of Bill. Bill is remembered as being quick with a joke, having a positive outlook, and always knowing the right thing to say. I was priviledged to work with Bill and will miss him greatly.” Susan Wilson, President CWA Local 4502.

Friends will be received Friday, May 26, 2023 from 2-6 pm, at the MAEDER-QUINT-TIBERI FUNERAL HOME, 1068 South High Street. Burial is at 10 am Wednesday, May 31 at St. Joseph Cemetery – Our Mother of Sorrows Chapel, 6440 South High Street.

Full Obituary: maederquinttiberi.com/obituary/william-mahaffey-ii

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Disabled American Veterans at www.dav.org.

I Love my CWA Negotiations Team, seen here hard at work again today! Left to right: Hugh Williams, Brent Writesel, Jim Weber, Susan Wilson, (Eric Cunningham – absent) and Sarah Ingles (attorney).

The team along with our attorney have been meeting twice per week since January, (now three times per week) in preparation to begin negotiations February 27.

Members wishing to receive negotiations updates should provide their home/personal email address and home/cell phone to: [email protected].

I Love my CWA Negotiations Team, seen here hard at work again today! Left to right: Hugh Williams, Brent Writesel, Jim Weber, Susan Wilson, (Eric Cunningham – absent) and Sarah Ingles (attorney).

What is union-busting? Union-busting is when an external organization encourages union members to stop paying union dues. Their aim is to destroy unions and deprive workers of workplace benefits, such as pay raises, health-care, vacation time, personal business holidays, our birthday holidays, and so much more.

What they say: That union members can save money by stop being a dues-paying member of CWA Local 4502, and still get the benefits of membership with no adverse consequences or effects on contracts and collective bargaining.

What it means: Weaken the Union’s ability to bargain for improved pay, benefits and working conditions – our contract – and eventually leads to the Union disappearing. Don’t forget that the employer is not legally obliged to give us any benefits. Who will negotiate for us then? The Union-buster? NO! They have not put a dime into our pockets but they want to take money from our paychecks to fund billionaires.

They do not care about our pay or how we will feed our family and fill the car with gas. Dues-paying union members get more from the union than the union takes from us through exclusive union benefits and collective bargaining power.

The choice is easy.

What they say: That you have a choice to pay your union dues and that you should choose not to. 

What it means: It means that the Union will lose strenth and may eventually disappear. Regardless of how you might feel about Unions, you enjoy the benefits that come with it. Consider this: If you were at the store and a coworker’s cart was full of groceries and they have just paid for it.  Would you take some of, or all, of your coworkers’ groceries, just because you could?

What they say:  Unions only want your money to give to politicians who do not represent your values.

What it means: How do these people know what your values are? CWA has a Political Action Fund (PAF), which is separate to paying union-dues.  Members choose if they wish to contribute to that fund, which goes to candidates at a state or national level.

CWA Local 4502 gives small amounts of money to a few local labor friendly political candidates from both parties. We do this to advance members’ interests at work. If you know of any candidates who are labor friendly and will help our members, please let us know.

We are political because we have to be to get the best contracts for our members, but we are not party political as union-busters claim  Many people do not care for the political aspect, which is understandable; however, just about every company out there has lobbyists who work for, or are affiliated to politicians or their parties because it gives them influence. Unions have a duty to get the best for workers and are the only voice working people and families have – Unions serve as our lobbyists. “If you’re not at the table, you’re probably on the menu” (Pat Rusk, a teacher’s union president).