Getting to Know Britni Cuington, Lead Activist for District 6

It's time to learn more about our new Lead Activist in District 6. Her name is Britni Cuington, and she's based in Dallas, TX.

Britni is a union steward for Local 6215 and member of the Broadband Brigade. She became a technician for AT&T after graduating from Howard University and serving in the Air Force as a telecommunications expert in Qatar. Britni transferred to the Air Force reserve when she had her son, Parker, so that she could live closer to her family. When it was time to look for a new job, she remembered her grandfather's advice:

"Always choose a union job so you'll have someone to fight for you when you need it."

Britni says her grandfather knew what he was talking about, "The benefits CWA has bargained for over the years at AT&T are essential because they help me every day in caring for my son, who has Autism and needs a variety of therapies."

She explains, "The reason I'm so passionate about the Broadband Brigade now is that we're advocating for the rights of all Americans to have access to fast, modern internet connections. People of all ages, including my son, are able to access telehealth options if they have solid broadband, and that makes our lives better. The same is true for online education. If kids and teachers don't have broadband, they just can't get some of the resources they need, and are totally cut off when a crisis like the pandemic hits."

Why did Britni decide to join CWA Next Gen as a Lead?

"I've always wanted to do work I'm passionate about and work for a cause, not just a company," she says. "That's what I'm doing now with both Next Gen and the Broadband Brigade. With the Brigade, I'm fighting for equal access for everyone. And with Next Gen, I'm organizing and mobilizing young people to fight for fair wages, good benefits, and work-life balance in the future. I see so much enthusiasm at my union hall. As young workers, we want to take action for what we believe in, raise money for important causes, and just connect with each other. This is going to be an amazing year."

Britni started the year off with a bang by speaking at an online forum featuring Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal in January. The forum was about a Broadband Brigade priority-making sure that public money is spent on good jobs instead of enriching Wall Street fat cats. You can watch the whole forum on YouTube here and read more about the Broadband Brigade below.