Stand Up to Verizon, Aug. 9, 2012 Update

Leafleting continues outside Verizon Wireless stores.

Tens of thousands of workers will unite this Saturday in Philadelphia — the birthplace of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights — to demand economic freedom and opportunity for all.

CWA and IBEW workers will be kicking off the activities with a demonstration at the Verizon building at 900 Race Street.

We will then march to Eakins Oval, in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, where we will join more than 30,000 people from all over the country to stand up for the middle class and urge all Americans — especially elected officials — to stand with us. The centerpiece of that push is America's Second Bill of Rights, a list of priorities that we want featured at the Democratic and Republican national conventions. Sign your name by clicking here.

At the rally, Jennifer Travis — a member of Local 13000 and one of 28 CWA members fired by Verizon after last year's strike — will speak out against the outrageous and false allegations that cost her job.

Also on Saturday, D9 members will rally in Oxnard, Calif., to support CWAers and the fair contract fights at Verizon Southwest and Verizon East.

The Philadelphia rally ends a week of action to stand up to Verizon greed.

On Black Monday, customer service representatives wore black armbands and ribbons and displayed black balloons at call centers to draw attention to the excessive discipline that they've experienced over the past year. Members of Local 13500 held a big rally at the Verizon Mega center.

On Retiree Tuesday, Verizon retirees joined current workers at actions throughout the footprint to call attention to the company's outrageous healthcare proposals, which would cost retirees thousands more than they now pay for their healthcare.

Also on Tuesday, Jobs with Justice activists supporting Verizon workers delivered thousands of postcards to the Philadelphia office of Verizon board member and Aramark chairman Joseph Neubauer, calling on him to show leadership and help resolve the contract dispute at Verizon. "Mr. Neubauer and all the members of the board share responsibility for the way Verizon treats its workers," said Justin Harrison, a Splicing Technician and member of CWA Local 13000 in Philadelphia. "It's time that they stand up and take responsibility. My co-workers and I are going to be standing up to Verizon and those who support its job-killing policies today and every day until we win a fair deal."

On Wireless Wednesday, workers and allies took their message to Verizon Wireless customers in leafleting at stores.

On Solidarity Thursday, allies joined Verizon workers at practice pickets and rallies. At the Chesapeake Complex in Silver Spring, Md., CWAers from Local 2108 demonstrated how Verizon is turning its back on workers by standing with their backs to traffic with letters on their shirts spelling out V-E-R-I-Z-O-N. Lots of banners reinforced the message that Verizon is "turning its back on customers and employees."

Tomorrow, Family Friday, Verizon workers will be taking family members and friends to picket lines and rallies to show Verizon just whose future we're fighting for.