Nestor Soto, Union Leader in Puerto Rico, Named to Executive Board of CWA

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=PRNI2&STORY=/www/story/10-19-2007/0004685957&EDATE=

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, Oct. 19 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Nestor Soto,
president of UPAGRA Local 33225, has been named to the international
executive board of its parent union, the Communications Workers of America.

Soto, president of the local Union of Journalists, Graphic Artists and
Associated Branches since 2002, is one of 23 board members setting policy
and directing programs for the union. CWA represents 700,000 members in
telecommunications, media, the public sector, health care, education,
manufacturing and airlines across the United States, Canada and Puerto
Rico.

Soto and three other new CWA Executive Board members were sworn in Oct.
17. Their positions, approved by delegates to the union's annual convention
in July, were created to increase diversity in CWA's leadership by bringing
local officers and activists on board.

For 12 years, Soto has also been vice president of the AFL-CIO of
Puerto Rico. Working on behalf of all the people of Puerto Rico, he has
served for five years as president of the League of Cooperatives, working
to extend employee ownership and financial security to all citizens.

Soto has fought hard to save local television production in Puerto Rico
in the wake of Univision's arrival. After the media giant wiped out local
production for UPAGRA members, Soto helped form a coalition, APAGA, with
the Actors Guild of Puerto Rico. APAGA has since formed a cooperative,
COOPAR, that is generating work for actors and technical workers with new
island television productions.

Soto has been an UPAGRA member since 1980, a member of its local board
since 1984 and has held executive positions since 1992. The local is part
of The Newspaper Guild-CWA, one of CWA's three media sectors. Soto has been
vice president of the Guild's Southern District Council since 2002.

During his years as an officer, he led successful organizing drives at
EFE, Channel 40 and Accurate Printers, the first unionized print shop in
Puerto Rico. He has negotiated contracts for the TV stations and news
services.


SOURCE Communications Workers of America