CWA Members Get Ready for Final Week of Verizon Bargaining

An informational picket by members of Local 1106 in Queens, N.Y. is one of scores of mobilization activities by CWA members fighting for a fair contract at Verizon.

CWA members throughout Verizon East territory will get on the bus this Saturday for the mega-mobilization rally in New York City just outside Verizon headquarters.

With a week to go before contract expiration, CWAers and members of the IBEW are ready to rally to defend middle class jobs and to keep the American Dream alive for working families.

Verizon has demanded hundreds of give-backs, despite posting $19.5 billion in profits and paying out $258 million to its top five executives over the past four years. Current CEO Ivan Seidenberg, who will remain chairman of the board after Lowell McAdam takes over as CEO on Aug. 1, earns $55,000 A DAY.

Verizon's greed resulted in an overwhelming vote by CWA members at Verizon to authorize leaders to call a strike if a fair contract can't be reached. Ninety-one percent of voting members approved the strike authorization.

On an activist call last night, more than 5,000 Verizon members heard from local, district and national leaders about what's at stake. They also heard reports about mobilization building throughout Districts 1 and 2-13, with members being pretty creative in making sure managers know that CWAers are serious about a fair contract.

"These negotiations are all about good jobs," said CWA District 1 Vice President Chris Shelton. "Companies like Verizon should be investing in rebuilding the American economy, not contributing to the destruction of good, middle-class jobs."

CWA District 2-13 Vice President Ed Mooney said the strong strike vote shows that "CWA members are determined to fight back against Verizon's corporate greed and bargain a fair contract, one that reflects workers' contributions to Verizon's success."

For more information and updates, and to send a message to new CEO Lowell McAdam, go to www.cwa-union.org/verizon. Make sure you sign up for Unity@Verizon updates. You also can text "mobilize" to 49484 to get updates on your mobile phone. And check out and like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/UnityatVerizon2011.