Bargaining Update

Verizon

Today, CWA activists and allies held a National Day of Action to focus attention on Verizon's corporate greed. The 39,000 CWA and IBEW members remain on strike, pushing the company to stop offshoring jobs and to keep good jobs in our communities, so customers can get the quality service they deserve.

More than 400 protests were held nationwide, at Verizon Wireless stores and other locations in dozens of cities. In New York City, some 2,000 workers, supporters and elected leaders marched to a Verizon Wireless store on Wall Street.

At the Verizon annual shareholders meeting in Albuquerque, 250 Verizon workers, CWA members and allies protested outside the meeting. Inside, CWA activists spoke on shareholder resolutions and presented more than 300,000 petitions from customers to CEO Lowell McAdam.

Later, 15 union members and community supporters were arrested after they draped a 70-foot banner reading "Verizon: Good Jobs, No Greed" across Rio Grande Blvd and then lay down on the banner to block traffic.

"As long as corporate executives put short-term profits ahead of the workers who make those profits possible and the communities they promised to serve, the calls for a change of course at Verizon will only grow stronger," said protestor Bianca Cunningham before she was arrested alongside fourteen other protestors for civil disobedience. Cunningham is a former Verizon Wireless worker who was fired in September while helping her fellow employees form a union.

Read more about today's Day of Action and all the latest on the Verizon strike at www.facebook.com/standuptoverizon and www.standuptoverizon.com.

CWA members and allies demonstrate outside the Verizon annual meeting in Albuquerque.

Can you hear me now? Recently, Verizon CEO Lowell McAdam walked up to a picket line and told striking workers, "This makes no sense to anybody. To be honest, I'm not sure why you're out here." Betsy Derr, a customer service representative in Bloomsburg, Pa., accepted that challenge and offers up a clear explanation on Medium that's become one of the site's most popular articles.

CWA has set up the Verizon Striking Families Solidarity Fund to make sure that members who are facing financial hardship during the strike have a place to turn. Donations may be made by going to StandUpToVerizon.com/solidarity. Checks should be made out to Verizon Striking Families Solidarity Fund and mailed to Strikers Solidarity Fund, 501 Third St NW, Washington DC 20001. Contributions will go to help CWA and IBEW strikers.

AT&T West Workers Mobilizing in Contract Fight

In bargaining, AT&T West continues to demand more health care cost shifting, cuts to job security and concessions for premises technicians, among other demands.

CWA members are standing strong and mobilizing while working without a contract. Keep up with the latest here.

CWA Local 9511 techs show support for their suspended brother in Escondido, Calif.

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Members of CWA Locals 9400, 9410, 9404, 9412, 9415 and 9423 demonstrated their solidarity at a company director meeting. "We had to wear gloves to ensure we wouldn't catch any bad juju from the company. They got the message," said CWA Local 9423 President Jason Hall.

Spirit Airlines

AFA-CWA Spirit Airlines Flight Attendants voted for a new contract with significant improvements covering more than 2,200 Flight Attendants. The agreement was reached with the assistance of the National Mediation Board.

"Spirit Flight Attendants made a collective decision that will carry us through the next five years. This contract moves us forward and establishes a strong foundation for our future," said Jorge Buchelli, AFA-CWA Master Eexecutive Council president at Spirit Airlines. "Spirit Flight Attendants play a key role in the winning strategy and record profits of this airline. AFA pressed hard for an agreement that recognizes our effort and dedication."

The five-year deal dramatically increases wages, locks in the best health insurance coverage for Flight Attendants in the industry and improves job protections and work rules.