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research dossier

COMMUNICATIONS WORKERS OF AMERICA LOCAL NO 1168

AMHERST, NY · EIN 521276658 · Form 990 · FY2024 · Medium ($1M-$10M) · cwa1168.org

revenue

$3.1M

expenses

$2.7M

net assets

$4.0M

employees

mission · from form 990

LABOR UNION.

profile · synthesized from sources

Communications Workers of America Local 1168 is a labor union representing healthcare and service workers in New York, primarily in the Buffalo and Rochester areas. The union negotiates collective bargaining agreements, advocates for worker rights, and provides representation in workplace disputes. It focuses on securing fair wages, benefits, and safe working conditions for its members.

named programs · 4 · from sources

What they call their work

Grievance and Arbitration

Provides representation for members in disciplinary actions and contract violations, with the right to pursue binding arbitration.

Health & Safety Program

Develops training and educational materials on workplace health and safety issues for union members.

Legislative Action

Advocates for labor-friendly policies at local, state, and federal levels; promotes voter registration and supports endorsed candidates.

Organizing & Mobilization

Supports workers in non-union workplaces to organize and join the union; led by the Director of Organizing.

activities · 10 groups

What they do

Labor Union Representation & Organizing 2 activities
- Engages in political advocacy and legislative lobbying
  
  Operates a non-partisan political action committee to increase workers’ political power. Promotes union legislative positions, lobbies public officials, supports voter registration, encourages PAF contributions, and assists campaigns for CWA-endorsed candidates.
- Provides union representation and collective bargaining for healthcare and public service workers
  
  Represents multiple bargaining units across healthcare facilities, pharmaceutical sites, and Planned Parenthood locations in New York through contract negotiation, grievance handling, and enforcement of labor rights. Covers institutions including Kaleida Health, Catholic Health/SJC, BGMC, DMP, and Absolut of Gasport.
Organizational DEI Capacity Building 1 activity
- Advances worker equity and inclusion initiatives
  
  Collects workforce data, supports individuals facing discrimination, and promotes minority participation in union activities to advance equity within the membership and represented workplaces.
Regular Membership Meetings 1 activity
- Builds steward capacity through regular training and meetings
  
  Hosts monthly stewards' meetings on the third Tuesday of each month via Zoom to train and coordinate union stewards in their roles representing members.
Union Member Communications 1 activity
- Distributes contracts and labor communications to members
  
  Distributes collective bargaining agreements at worksites after ratification and maintains online access via the union website. Publishes over 5,000 labor news stories since 2008 and produces a TV program, “Western New York Labor News… NOW!”, streamed from the website front page.
Member Business Referral & Discount Programs 1 activity
- Facilitates access to legal, financial, and discount benefits for members
  
  Arranges legal assistance for members injured on the job or disabled through a partnered law firm. Offers product and service discounts including mortgages, car rentals, cell phones, and legal services. Provides financial education resources to union members.
Nonprofit Organizational Management 1 activity
- Manages local union operations and administrative functions
  
  Runs a local office open Monday–Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, manages finances, monitors budgets, makes annual budgetary recommendations, and uses member dues to fund office operations, equipment, supplies, utilities, and leadership salaries.
Student and User Data Privacy & Security 1 activity
- Monitors staffing levels and enforces safe staffing standards
  
  Developed an online Safe Staffing Hub allowing members to report unsafe staffing conditions, track complaints, identify trends, and monitor compliance with New York’s Clinical Staffing Law (2805-t) and union contracts.
Labor Union Member Support Services 1 activity
- Operates a member support system for workplace issues and union rights
  
  Maintains a support structure staffed by Chief Stewards available Monday–Friday to respond to member inquiries and workplace concerns. Provides guidance on members’ right to union representation during disciplinary interrogations, including pre-meeting consultation, presence during questioning, and post-interrogation clarification.
Volunteer Mobilization for Community Improvement 1 activity
- Supports community outreach and charitable programs
  
  Coordinates member participation in United Way fund drives, clothing collections, food bank donations, and other community programs.
Uncategorized 1 activity
- Develops health, safety, and educational programs for members
  
  Creates and implements a Health & Safety Program, produces educational materials, delivers training on health and safety topics, and conducts orientation programs for new employees. Maintains the union’s website and develops informational content.

financials · form 990 · fy2024

revenue

Total revenue$3.06M

Contributions & grants$00%

Program service revenue$2.55M83%

Investment income$159K5%

Other revenue$354K

expenses

Total expenses$2.67M

Program expenses—

Admin / overhead—

Fundraising—

Salaries & benefits$2.10M

Grants paid out$26K

Largest expense lineCompensation

balance sheet

Total assets$4.15M

Cash$1.21M

Investments$2.65M

Liabilities$140K

Net assets$4.01M

Liquid reserves17.3 mo

6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +24.0%

leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 16

Name	Title	Hours/wk	Compensation
CORI GAMBINI	PRESIDENT	30	$119K
CHRISTINA RODRIGUEZ	AREA VICE PRESIDENT (BEG 1	23	$106K
PATRICK WEISANSAL II	VICE PRESIDENT	25	$87K
ROBERT ANDRUSZKO	EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT	26	$86K
JULIE GRIMM	AREA VICE PRESIDENT	23	$84K
ULANDA FRANK	VICE PRESIDENT	25	$79K
JOANNA BURKE	AREA VICE PRESIDENT	23	$78K
ELAINE MORLEY	AREA VICE PRESIDENT	23	$77K
HEATHER LAWRENCE	AREA VICE PRESIDENT	23	$77K
CURTIS PAINE	SECRETARY/TREASURER	26	$77K
KIMBERLY KORNOWSKI	AREA VICE PRESIDENT	23	$72K
JEFFREY COHAN	AREA VICE PRESIDENT	23	$62K
MYRIAH KIN	AREA VICE PRESIDENT	23	$60K
NADINE LAFALCE	AREA VICE PRESIDENT	23	$53K
KAREN HOWARD	AREA VICE PRESIDENT	23	$48K
JENNIFER HOGUE	AREA VICE PRESIDENT	23	$46K

relationships · 15

Who they work with

AFL-CIO Network — Recognized by AFL-CIO as an affiliated organization providing benefits to union members.
Absolut of Gasport Partner — Represents union members in the Absolut of Gasport bargaining unit.
CWA Executive Board Government — Appointed a National Trial Panel and oversees disciplinary processes for CWA Local 1168.
CWA Local 1168 Network — Local union chapter providing member support and representation under the Communications Workers of America.
CWA Local 1400 Partner — Supported through solidarity actions during a 1989 strike.
CWA Locals Network — Hosts steward lists on cwalocals.org, indicating affiliation with a broader network of CWA locals.
CWA-Union Network — Member organization of the national Communications Workers of America union.
Catholic Health Partner — Represents union members across all bargaining units at Catholic Health/SJC.
Kaleida Health Partner — Represents union members across multiple Kaleida Health facilities and bargaining units.
Lipsitz Green Scime Cambria LLP Partner — Law firm providing legal services to members for workers' compensation and disability cases.
Planned Parenthood of Central and Western New York Partner — Represents union members at Planned Parenthood of Central and Western New York.
U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics Government — Source of labor statistics cited in advocacy materials
UAW Partner — Represents the union's full-time administrative assistants and bookkeeper.
United Way Partner — Coordinates with United Way for community fund drives and service initiatives.
WNYLaborToday.com Partner — Partner organization that operates an online labor newspaper and TV program in collaboration with COMMUNICATIONS WORKERS OF AMERICA LOCAL NO 1168.

strategies · 4

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

Collective Bargaining as Enforceable Worker Protection

methodology: collective_bargaining
By using legally binding collective bargaining agreements, the union secures enforceable rights and defined working conditions for workers, because formal contracts create structural power to counterbalance employer authority and prevent exploitation.
Data-Driven Advocacy for Systemic Change

methodology: data-driven_advocacy
By collecting and analyzing member-reported data through the Safe Staffing Hub, the union identifies and advocates against systemic workplace issues, because empirical evidence strengthens credibility and effectiveness in policy and bargaining demands.
Equity-Centered Unionism to Address Structural Inequities

methodology: equity-centered_unionism
By integrating equity analysis into union activities—such as collecting workforce data and supporting victims of discrimination—the union increases minority representation and inclusion, because targeted action is necessary to dismantle systemic barriers within labor structures.
Worker Organization as Power Equalization

methodology: organized_labor
By organizing workers collectively, the union counters corporate power and advances worker rights, because group solidarity and coordinated action create leverage that individuals lack in employer negotiations.